London is home to some of the world’s most iconic landmarks – Big Ben, the London Eye and the Tower of London to name a few. Not to mention the gorgeous Thames River.
Exploring the city on foot is one way to get acquainted with England’s capital, but why not experience it from a bird’s eye view?
London possesses one of the most unique skylines in the world, with iconic buildings towering above the city. A helicopter tour is a great way to take in the city in its entirety and provides a unique experience perfect for those new to the city.
This article lists the best helicopter tours of London, each offering something slightly different than the one before. You can also find some amazing helicopter tours in New York, another city with a spectacular skyline.
Best London Helicopter Tour Prices
Helicopter Rides
Historical tours of London are common, but helicopter tours of this city offer an entirely new perspective. From above, London offers some spectacular sights that you’ll never forget. So climb aboard, enjoy the ride and don’t forget to take some pictures.
Central London shared helicopter tour
This shared helicopter tour of Central London includes views of The Shard, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Wembley Stadium. Don’t fret about missing anything, as your pilot will guide you through the tour and point out all the best landmarks throughout.
Excluding the pilot, the helicopter seats six people, so this is a great option if you’re traveling with friends. Be aware that the pilot often splits pairs up, however, so you may not get to sit next to your partner if it’s just the two of you.
Children are allowed on the flight if accompanied by an adult, which makes this tour a lovely adventure for families as well. Make sure you know how to get to the helipad, as the helicopter leaves promptly at the set departure time. The tour does not include hotel pick-up.
Extended helicopter tour of London
This helicopter tour of London is the longest in duration, so you’ll be in the air for 50 minutes. There is also the option to upgrade to an exclusive flight if you don’t wish to share the experience with other passengers.
This tour also allows children between the ages of four and sixteen, as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
The tour takes you from the edge of London to the city center and back, going through surrounding areas like Isleworth and Sunbury.
Private group helicopter tour of London
This group helicopter tour of London is private, so you and three friends can enjoy an exclusive experience. The flight, like others in our list, will take you past landmarks along the Thames River, but also flies over the iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral.
The tour departs from Biggin Hill, which is just outside of London and easy to get to by bus.
London helicopter ride for two
If you’re looking for a romantic experience for two, this luxury helicopter tour is the perfect fit. This tour comes with a bottle of champagne (non-alcoholic option included) for its passengers to enjoy.
In just over 30 minutes, you’ll see Trafalgar Square, the London Bridge, the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament.
This particular tour only seats two passengers, excluding the pilot. Since most other helicopter tours are shared or for groups, the privacy of this experience makes it quite unique.
One drawback of this tour is the departure time. The helicopter takes off at 10 am, which is not exactly the most romantic time of day. For those looking for an intimate date, you may want to consider how bright and early this experience will be.
Choose-your-route helicopter tour of London
This helicopter ride over London allows you to choose your own route. The budget-friendly option is 10 minutes and follows the common route along the Thames. On this ride, you’ll see all the major landmarks from the previous tours on this list.
The 20-minute ride covers the iconic buildings, with the added bonus of a sea-side view. This tour will take you past Canary Wharf, and you’ll also get to see the wetlands stretching along the Isle of Dogs.
The London Max route, which takes 30 minutes, takes you to more peaceful London suburbs. These include Richmond Park, traveling east towards Greenwich. The option to choose a tour that suits your budget is much appreciated by tourists and locals alike.
Open-door helicopter experience
For the utterly fearless, try this open door helicopter experience. This is a 20-minute helicopter ride catered to professional photographers who want to capture the city from above. Of course, anyone can enjoy this experience, and it’s a great option for adrenaline junkies as well.
This tour also happens to be the only one with wheelchair accessibility. At £500.00 (€553) this is no small investment, but the gains are simply unbeatable. You’ll walk away with some unforgettable pictures and a lifetime worth of memories.
For photographers, in particular, this is a worthwhile investment. Getting high-quality images from this height is virtually impossible without a drone license, so this tour is a great option for professional purposes.
Enjoy The Best Of London Helicopter Flights
Helicopter tours are pricey but certainly well worth the cost, especially for the exclusive options with available upgrades. One thing to remember when making your helicopter booking is the age and weight limits, so be sure to read the terms on conditions of individual tours.
Don’t worry about weather conditions, as the majority of the tours refund you in full or offer a date-change if necessary. There is also the option to upgrade to co-pilot with most helicopter charters, so be sure to request that in your booking.
Whether it’s a romantic date for two or a group tour of London, the helicopter experience is an unforgettable one.
olegvakul –
It was a super smooth and easy flight. Pilot Bob did an excellent job, very competent and skilled. Was a pure pleasure to fly above London and see all the major attractions. We had a weight issues with maximum weight capacity at first (small helicopter was prepared for us) but team was very welcoming and agreed to change aircraft for extra fee within half an hour to fit us in. All in all flight was about 25 minutes, out of it 10 mins above London, where we're flying along river Themes and 10-15 mins ride back and forth to the airfield. It was a really memorable day!