An independent guide to helicopter London
Helicopters over London, explained.
Where they land, who flies them, what the rules say, how loud they are allowed to be, and how long the flights take. Sourced, checked and free to use.
What this guide covers
One guide to everything about helicopters in and around London: who flies, where they land, the rules, the noise, the history and the helicopters themselves.
Where they land. London Heliport at Battersea is a CAA-licensed aerodrome on the Thames. Around the capital sit airfields such as Biggin Hill, Elstree, Redhill and Stapleford. Each page says what the operator publishes, and what we could not confirm.
Who flies. The police, the air ambulance and the utilities are in the sky every day. So are tour, charter, news and private flights. We explain each, and how to tell them apart.
The rules. Every helicopter flight in the London and London City control zones needs an air traffic control clearance. Single-engine helicopters over the centre are restricted to the Thames. The rules are explained with their sources.
Live tools. A live London forecast in knots, sunrise and sunset for every day of the year, and typical flying times to 31 places from Battersea.
Start here
The London Heliport
Battersea's heliport on the Thames: its history, hours, fees, rules and how to get there.
Read the place guide
Rules and routes
Air traffic control, the helicopter routes, how low helicopters may fly and what is changing in 2026.
Read the rules
Who flies helicopters in London
Police, air ambulance, utilities, railway, news, tours, charter and private owners.
See who flies
The helicopters you see
A directory of the types over London, how to recognise them and who makes them.
Open the directory
History of helicopters in London
From the first services to Battersea's opening in 1959 and today's routes.
Read the history
Noise and the law
How noise is measured, who regulates it, how to complain and what the law says.
Understand the law
Where helicopters land
The airfields, airports, hospitals and venues around London, with what each one says.
Explore the map
Tools: weather, daylight, times
A live London forecast in knots, daylight for every day of the year, and flight times.
Open the toolsLondon helicopters in numbers
All the figures15,208helicopter movements in the London CTRs in 2025 (CAA, CAP 1456)
34,872in 2007, the earliest year in the CAA series
2,058patients treated by London's Air Ambulance in 2024
1959the year the heliport at Battersea opened (operator's history)
Today at the heliport
Conditions over the Thames matter more than conditions at your destination.
Wind9 mph
DirectionSW
Cloud60%
Temperature12°C
Live values from Open-Meteo when online. Full forecast in knots and a daylight chart.
The heliport and its range
London Heliport Airfield or landing site 10 / 20 / 30 miles