London is undoubtedly one of the engines of Europe's entire financial sector: not coincidentally, the English capital is home to numerous banks and companies arranged especially in the City of London.
Businessmen from around the world are choosing to arrive in London by chartering a private jet, a solution that allows them to fly at any time slot with no restrictions whatsoever while enjoying exclusive services such as VIP Lounges, Fast Tracks and meeting rooms found at one of the many London airports that operate charter flights.
The potpourri that London offers is truly unique: within it, traces of antiquity and modernity are discernible thanks to the perfect synergy between medieval buildings that can still be visited today and the sparkle of glass skyscrapers or buildings constructed by contemporary architects.
Not only that, London is also known for its green lungs, gigantic parks scattered throughout the metropolis that offer a refuge to relax from hectic daily life.
Also not to be forgotten are London's countless museums where works of world-class appeal and some of the most important art collections in the world are on display.
But what about some historical background regarding the British capital, the rental costs of the various private jets available, and some of their features to evaluate before throwing yourself headlong into this incredibly beneficial travel solution?
Historical and geographical background on London
London has, for quite some time, been a true metropolis: its metropolitan area stretches for dozens of kilometers along the valley of the Thames, the river that flows through it, until the waterway empties into the sea in a large estuary.
The precise location of the English capital is southeastern Britain, on the banks of the Thames and a few hours' drive from the English Channel.
Some of the most important cities in London's neighboring area include Newcastle, Brighton, Windsor, and Southampton, all of which are population centers of some significance to the British tourist industry.
The earliest historical traces of London date back to the Roman Empire, which conquered its settlement because of the strategic position in which it was located; however, with the fall of the empire, the English city found itself caught up in the numerous Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian invasions, peoples who besieged it several times and imposed tribute on it.
In any case, the beginning of the Middle Ages signaled for London the start of a rather prosperous period characterized by the flourishing of European trade, an event that made the city convert into a crucial logistical hub.
The founding of the Bank of England first and the entry into the Victorian age later gave London the opportunity to develop to an even greater extent, soon becoming the capital of international finance and trade.
In modern times, the most significant event has been Brexit, that is, England's exit from the European Union; despite this, London has remained one of the most popular destinations selected by millions of tourists worldwide because of its incredible historical, artistic and cultural appeal.
What to do and see in London
Westminster Abbey and Parliament
As the capital of England as well as the city that holds the administrative and economic reins of the nation, London is home to the seat of the British Parliament located in the Palace of Westminster.
It houses the Houses of Parliament where members still gather for classic political meetings, as well as the tower on which stands unchallenged the world's most famous clock, Big Ben.
Next to the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Abbey, a veritable pantheon for English monarchs and the place where coronations have taken place for some 1,000 years.
VIP tourists visit the Westminster district and its most iconic landmarks after taking part in the London E-Prix, a special motoring event held in the British capital in July each year intended for electric cars and part of the Formula E championship.
It is a world-appreciated occasion that attracts a wide range of elite personalities thanks in part to the many VIP lounges available.
London Eye
The London Eye is not only one of London's landmarks, it is also a marvel that provides a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire city.
To date, it is to all intents and purposes the world's largest Ferris wheel at 135 meters high; once the all-glass cabin reaches the apex of rotation, you will be able to admire the London skyline in the background, an atmosphere that becomes even more beautiful if you take the ride at sunset.
Not far from the London Eye, in the heart of the Greenwich district, is the Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, another event that takes place in late August and is attended by VIPs and celebrities.
It consists of performances inherent in the performing arts and theatrical works featuring artists from all corners of the globe.
Tower of London
The Tower of London has played a multitude of roles throughout English history: the medieval fortress of Norman origin, in fact, was a fortified and wall-protected castle before becoming a military prison.
Today, this imposing structure houses the Crown Jewels, jealously guarded within its inner halls guarded around the clock by royal guards and the celebrated ravens.
The Tower of London is not far from the Cuckoo Club, a ristopub and exclusive club that consists of a 5,000-square-meter indoor environment dominated by sophisticated and modern design and spread over no less than 2 floors; inside are several lounge bars where VIP tourists can enjoy some relaxation away from the hectic hustle and bustle of central London.
London's starred restaurants
There is much more to traditional English cuisine than classic fish and chips; therefore, even the most affluent tourists can experience flavors suited to their palates in the city's many starred restaurants.
One of these is Core by Clare Smith, a restaurant awarded no less than 3 Michelin stars thanks to the presence of a menu that offers diners sophisticated, refined dishes grounded in refined ingredients and inimitable mixes.
La Dame de Pic is also a multi-starred restaurant that serves French cuisine in the heart of London: its stalwarts include monkfish garnished with wild juniper, as well as Cornish crab served very fresh in various seafood dishes.
London's luxury hotels
One of the hotels most selected by VIP tourists is The Dorchester, a 5-star property that offers those who charter a private jet to London the opportunity to have access to exclusive amenities such as a spa and Jacuzzi in the suite, all in an extremely elegantly furnished environment.
Mention should also be made of the famous Savoy, suitable for those seeking a stay under the banner of modernity discernible especially in the Gucci suite; the Berkeley, featuring a restaurant renowned throughout the world for the chic cuisine it offers; and, finally, the Connaught, a resort that offers first-class service to the wealthiest travelers in line with what precedes it internationally.
Climate and best time to visit London
London's prevailing climate is temperate, with temperatures that can be very cold during autumn and winter and mild in spring and summer.
Average temperatures range from a low of 0°C, with a few snowy days during January and February, to a high of 25°C during July and August, a period when the frequency of sunny and dry days increases significantly.
The best time to charter a private jet to London is definitely spring or fall, times of the year that are not too busy with tourists and, therefore, more suitable for extensive sightseeing of the city's attractions.
In the summer, however, the city is also populated with travelers thanks to the many events and temporary exhibitions that major museums hold.
How and why to fly to London by private jet
Since it is one of the world's largest metropolises, the airports serving London are numerous, each with its own passenger traffic well determined by the routes it operates.
However, the airport hub that hosts and organizes private flights is Biggin Hall Airport (ICAO code EGKB), which has been used since World War II first as a military base for the Royal Air Force and, only later, used primarily by charter jet companies as the primary terminal for private flights.
Because London Biggin Hall Airport is reserved almost exclusively for charter flights, the terminals present are never overcrowded; therefore, discretion is assured as the services to which passengers traveling privately can have access are many and all perfectly aligned to the needs of the individual traveler.
There is a bar inside the terminal where tourists can stop to rest and refresh themselves before reaching the city center, as well as a very spacious VIP Lounge in which to enjoy some relaxation.
Not only that, check-in and security checking operations are significantly shorter than those operated for regular scheduled flights: this allows VIP tourists to optimize their time while enjoying exclusive services such as a free WLAN connection and dedicated refreshment outlets.
Biggin Hall Airport is about 20 km from London, a distance that passengers on private flights can choose to cover by using a variety of means: at their disposal, in fact, are NCC transfer and car rental services with or without a driver, as well as limousines willing to pick them up directly from the runway and the helicopter with which they can reach the center in just 5 minutes.
The costs of flying privately to London
London is well connected to several major European cities, such as Paris, from which it is separated by a distance of about 315 km that can be covered in 1 hour and 15 minutes.
The rental of a Light Jet to carry out such a route costs about €7,000, while that of a Medium Jet rises to about €14,000 and that of a Large Jet is about €18,000.
Reaching London by private jet is also possible starting from Barcelona: the Spanish city, in fact, is about 1120 km away and a 2-hour flight operable with either a Light Jet at a total cost of about €11,000, a Medium Jet at about €20,000 or a Large Jet at about €29,000.
One route commonly flown is between the English capital and Milan Linate: the route covers a distance of about 1,000 km that can be covered in approximately 2 hours of flight time.
In this regard, the rental of a Light Jet is about €10,000, while those of a Medium Jet and Large Jet are around €18,000 and €27,000, respectively.
Best planes to fly privately to London
Among the best light jets that can be rented is definitely the Beechcraft Premier 1A, an aircraft that consists of 6 seats and can reach 451 kts (about 780 km/h).
The maximum distance it can travel is around 1130 nm (about 2000 km), making it perfect for getting to London from places that are not too far away.
One of the best Medium Jets is the Hawker 750, an aircraft that increases seating to 8 and is capable of traveling at a cruising speed of 400 kts (about 700 km/h).
The nautical miles it can travel come close to 2000 (about 3700 km), thus making itself available for most operable routes.
Its spacious cabin also gives passengers high levels of comfort and allows them to relax and enjoy the flight.
Finally, among the top Large Jets is the Embraer Legacy 650, an aircraft that is also used to fly very long haul routes given its maximum range of more than 7,000 km.
There are as many as 13 interior seats, and each one enjoys considerable space to allow the passenger to spend the travel time in total relaxation and tranquility, also making use of comfortable sofas and small tables where they can cheer themselves up by consuming tasty aperitifs and sipping specially prepared cocktails.
The most frequent flights to and from London
Below of the most frequent links to London:
