How to avoid the London City drop-off charge
To avoid the £8 London City drop-off charge, use the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) — reaching the terminal by public transport — which saves you £8 per drop-off.
- Free alternative: Docklands Light Railway (DLR) (public transport to the terminal)
- Forecourt charge avoided: £8 per drop-off
- If you do use the forecourt, pay by: Midnight the following day (online, barrierless ANPR)
How do I avoid the drop-off charge at London City?
London City charges £8 to use the terminal drop-off forecourt, but you can avoid it: arrive by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) instead of driving up to the forecourt. The DLR serves London City Airport directly: a lift connects the London City Airport DLR station platforms to the main terminal, so arriving by train reaches the terminal without ever using the paid drop-off forecourt. That saves the full £8 per drop-off.All figures are official, date-stamped snapshots read from the airport's own published page and verified 2026-06-22.
The free alternative: Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
Step by step
Use the Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
The DLR serves London City Airport directly: a lift connects the London City Airport DLR station platforms to the main terminal, so arriving by train reaches the terminal without ever using the paid drop-off forecourt. That avoids the £8 forecourt charge entirely.
Check Blue Badge exemption
Blue Badge holders are exempt from the drop-off charge (register/sign in to the drop-off system to apply the exemption)
If you do pay, don't miss the deadline
If you can't avoid the forecourt, London City lets you pay by Midnight the following day (online, barrierless ANPR). After the first 5 minutes the charge is £1 per minute up to the 10-minute maximum stay; a Parking Charge may apply for non-payment but no amount is confirmed on the official page
If you can't avoid the forecourt
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Frequently asked questions
How do I avoid the London City drop-off charge?
Use the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) — reaching the terminal by public transport, which avoids the £8 forecourt charge. The DLR serves London City Airport directly: a lift connects the London City Airport DLR station platforms to the main terminal, so arriving by train reaches the terminal without ever using the paid drop-off forecourt. (Verified 2026-06-22, per the official London City page.)
Is there a free way to drop someone off at London City?
Yes — arrive by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) instead of driving to the forecourt. The DLR serves London City Airport directly: a lift connects the London City Airport DLR station platforms to the main terminal, so arriving by train reaches the terminal without ever using the paid drop-off forecourt.
Are Blue Badge holders exempt from the London City drop-off fee?
Blue Badge holders are exempt from the drop-off charge (register/sign in to the drop-off system to apply the exemption)
If I use the London City forecourt, when do I have to pay?
Pay by Midnight the following day (online, barrierless ANPR). After the first 5 minutes the charge is £1 per minute up to the 10-minute maximum stay; a Parking Charge may apply for non-payment but no amount is confirmed on the official page
Full London City drop-off charge breakdown →
Blue Badge drop-off at London City: is it free? →
How to avoid the charge at every UK airport →
Sources & method
- Official London City drop-off page — verified 2026-06-22
Every figure — the forecourt charge, the free-alternative allowance and the penalty — is read from the airport's official page and re-verified on the date shown. We never republish unverified prices.
Independent: we are not owned by any airport, network or booking site. Any affiliate links are labelled Ad and earn us a commission — this never affects the figures we publish or which option we show as cheapest.