A London helicopter tour puts the whole river city in one window: the River Thames bending through Westminster, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye side by side, the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, then the Tower of London and Tower Bridge where the river opens out east. You fly at about 1,000 feet, just above the height of the Shard, with the pilot talking you through it.
Every flight on the London hub is private, so the helicopter is yours. All three start at the same price for the shortest route, and the choice comes down to who is flying and how far east you want to go.
Which London helicopter tour to book
- London Thames 35-Minute Private Helicopter Tour, from £1,055 per helicopter for up to 3 guests. About 35 minutes in the air. You join the river at Barnes and follow it past Parliament, the London Eye, Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s, the Globe, the City, the Tower and HMS Belfast to Tower Bridge, with the Olympic Stadium and Canary Wharf also named on the route. Flies Tuesday to Sunday.
- London Champagne 35-Minute Private Helicopter Flight for Two, £1,055 per helicopter for 2 guests, with a bottle of champagne or a non-alcoholic alternative. The same central river run, ending at Tower Bridge. It does not include the Olympic Stadium or Canary Wharf. Flies Tuesday to Sunday.
- London Olympic Park 45-Minute Private Helicopter Tour, from £1,210 per helicopter for up to 3 guests. The longest flight: after the central river it carries on east past Canary Wharf to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The route map also shows the Isle of Dogs, the Dome, the Thames Barrier and Greenwich, but those are on the map, not promised close passes. Flies year-round.
For a couple marking an occasion, the champagne flight costs the same as the Thames tour and adds the bottle. For three people, book the Thames tour. If east London matters to you, or you can only fly on a Monday, the 45-minute flight is the one.
What the flight is like
You take off from Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey, not from the city, cross the Surrey countryside and the M25, and pass through the Heathrow control zone before reaching the river. That approach is part of the flight, so the central London section is the second half of the outbound leg. On the Thames tour, allow about an hour in total for the visit.
Before you go
- Where: Redhill Aerodrome, Hangar 1, Kings Mill Lane, RH1 5JY, about 20 miles (32 km) south of central London. There is no pickup, and no space for bags on board; you can leave items at the office.
- Check-in: every passenger must check in online at least 48 hours before the flight, with names, dates of birth, nationality, weights and photo ID details. Arrive 30 minutes before take-off with photo ID. Late arrival may mean no flight and no refund.
- Times: usually between about 10:00 and 16:00, year-round except 25–26 December.
- Who can fly: minimum age 6, and under-16s fly with an adult. The limit is 136 kg (21 st) per seat, with a combined limit for the group; if anyone weighs over 95 kg (15 st), contact the operator through the booking page before you book. Limited mobility, epilepsy, heart conditions and pregnancy may prevent flying, and intoxicated passengers are refused without a refund.
- Cancellation: tickets are non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. If the weather is unsuitable, you are offered another date. There are no landings on these flights; you take off and return to Redhill.
Not sure which flight suits your group? Email us at hello@flyovertheworld.com and we’ll help you choose.