Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme
By April 2025, all international visitors who do not need a visa (except British and Irish citizens) need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK.
It costs £10 per applicant and applies to visitors staying up to six months for business and tourism.
Eligible non-European national visitors are required to have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK on or after 8 January 2025 and can apply now.
Eligible European visitors who are travelling or transiting through the UK on or after 2 April 2025 can apply from 5 March 2025.
Check the UK visas and immigration website for more information on the different requirements.
Visa information for the UK: A guide for UK business event planners [PDF 320 KB]
Save time on group orders in London
As an official Transport for London (TfL) distributor, the London Convention Bureau team can help you organise group Oyster cards ahead of your event, saving you precious time. A card costs £5, doesn’t expire and comes pre-loaded with your chosen amount of credit, so it’s ready to be used by your delegates. A minimum order of 50 cards apply. Please allow two months for this process.
Getting to London
Choose from one of London’s six international airports or arrive via the high-speed Eurostar.
Fastest journey times to the centre
- London Heathrow: 15 minutes from terminals 2 and 3 to Paddington Station on the Heathrow Express.
- London Gatwick: 30 minutes to Victoria Station on the Gatwick Express.
- London Stansted: 47 minutes to London Liverpool Street on the Stansted Express.
- London City: 22 minutes to Bank Station on the Docklands Light Railway.
- London Luton: 40 minutes (average) to several London stations on Thameslink.
- London Southend: 52 minutes to London Liverpool Street on Greater Anglia.
Eurostar
For many business travellers arriving from mainland Europe, the Eurostar represents a fast, efficient and often cheaper alternative to flying when organising your corporate business travel. Group travel can be made extra special by hiring a whole carriage. Explore Eurostar’s group travel page.
Getting around London
Elizabeth line
The Elizabeth line is a great and efficient option to travel to and around central London. The line connects east to west through some of London's major stations and districts, including Paddington, the West End, Liverpool Street, Canary Wharf and Stratford.
The line is a fantastic option for passengers going from Heathrow Airport, with approximately 30-minute travel times from the airport to Paddington.
Passengers can get from Heathrow to ExCeL London exhibition centre without interchanges in about 45 minutes.
The line connects with the London Underground, DLR, London Overground, National Rail and links to and from London's Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Southend airports.
Visit Transport for London's website for more details about fares and timetables.
The London Underground
With nine zones and 11 colour-coded lines – the oldest underground system in the world is a brilliantly efficient and easy way to get around the city.
For late-night events, delegates can benefit from the Night Tube.
The easiest way to travel around London’s public transport system is by using an Oyster card. This contactless payment card can be used on a variety of public transport, including the Heathrow Express, allowing you and your business delegates to travel around London seamlessly and without needing multiple tickets.
Accessible public transport
Find your way around the capital with this helpful guide to accessible and wheelchair-friendly travel.
Other ways to travel around London
| Transport | Features |
| London Overground | 112 stations across six routes. |
| Bus | Enjoy an iconic double-decker experience. |
| Bicycle | Hire starts from only £2 each day. |
| Boat | River buses run every 12 minutes from key locations. |
| Black taxis | One of the world's oldest regulated taxi service. |
| Cable car | Experience a bird's-eye view of London. |
| Coaches | Coach parking facilities at major attractions. |
Discover more
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