Plan a trip
Questions and answers
The questions people ask most, each with a source.
Each answer links to its source.
Questions answered
Is there a helicopter heliport in central London?
Yes. The London Heliport at Battersea is described as the only CAA-licensed heliport serving London since the City floating helipad closed in 1985; it opened in 1959. londonheliport.co.uk
How much does it cost to land at the London Heliport?
Landing fees by type in the 24 Aug 2026 schedule range from GBP 420 (R22/R44) to GBP 2,485 (Chinook-class), with landing slots normally a maximum of 15 minutes. londonheliport.co.uk
How much does a London sightseeing helicopter flight cost?
Published examples: Heli Air 50-minute tour GBP 245 per seat or GBP 675 for 3; a Redhill operator GBP 830 for two (35 minutes). heliair.com
How much does a helicopter charter cost per hour?
One 2026 published guide gives GBP 1,800-2,800/hr for an H125 and GBP 2,800-4,500 for an AW109; extras such as landing fees and VAT are often quoted separately. globalcharter.com
Is VAT charged on a helicopter charter?
HMRC says zero-rating applies to aircraft with at least 10 seats; below that passenger transport is standard-rated unless special conditions apply. gov.uk
How do I check a helicopter operator is legal?
Ask for the AOC holder's name and number and check the CAA's list of UK aeroplane and helicopter AOC holders. caa.co.uk
What is the difference between an operator and a broker?
A broker arranges the flight; the operator flies it and must hold an AOC (BHA-hosted leaflet addressed to the CAA). britishhelicopterassociation.org
Can I take a helicopter to the Cheltenham Festival?
Yes: a licensed temporary ACS Helipad a few hundred metres from the racecourse operates during the Festival; show race-day tickets on arrival. thejockeyclub.co.uk
How safe are UK helicopters?
CAA reports for 2025: no VTOL fatalities; onshore sector 1 accident and 2 serious incidents; ~50 onshore AOC operators with about 100 aircraft. caa.co.uk
How long is Eurostar from London to Paris compared with a helicopter?
Eurostar says most trains take 2h16; a 2017 operator quote gave about 1h15 Battersea to Issy by helicopter (may not be current). eurostar.com
Sources and checks
Facts on this page come from these sources, last checked 2026-11-03. Where a source could not be reached or did not say, we left the fact out.
- londonheliport.co.uk londonheliport.co.uk
- londonheliport.co.uk londonheliport.co.uk
- heliair.com heliair.com
- globalcharter.com globalcharter.com
- gov.uk gov.uk
- caa.co.uk caa.co.uk
- britishhelicopterassociation.org britishhelicopterassociation.org
- thejockeyclub.co.uk thejockeyclub.co.uk
- caa.co.uk caa.co.uk
- eurostar.com eurostar.com