A former RAF base famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, London Biggin Hill has reinvented itself as one of Europe's most efficient business aviation gateways. Located just 19 km from the City of London, this airport is entirely dedicated to private aviation and offers the quickest access to the heart of the capital — a rare advantage compared to Heathrow or Gatwick.
Unlike Heathrow or Gatwick, Biggin Hill operates without slot restrictions. The airport accommodates last-minute schedule changes and, in summer, it is the only London airport where you can land freely between 6:30 and 7:00 in the morning with no slots — a valuable advantage for long-haul operators flying in from the United States.
By car, central London is around 45 minutes to 1h15 away depending on traffic — often heavy in the South East. That is why Biggin Hill offers a six-minute helicopter shuttle to Battersea Heliport, in the heart of the capital: the ideal way to bypass congestion altogether.
Perched on one of the highest points in Kent, 183 metres above sea level, Biggin Hill began as a Royal Flying Corps camp in 1917, dedicated to early wireless communication experiments. But it was during the Second World War that the airport entered legend: as a major fighter station under Fighter Command, it played a decisive role in the Battle of Britain, defending London and the South East. The RAF fighters based at Biggin Hill downed 1,400 enemy aircraft, at the cost of 453 aircrew lives. Having become a civilian airport in 1994, it has since reinvented itself as one of Europe's most prestigious business aviation gateways — while keeping the soul of a place steeped in history.
