Data Accuracy and Methodology

Decision guide

How to choose

Our methodology relies on separating static policies (which rarely change) from dynamic pricing (which fluctuates constantly). We directly monitor official sources—such as TfL tariff updates, National Rail fare tables, and the official drop-off policy pages for all six London airports. When an airport hikes its drop-off fee or changes its Blue Badge rules, our editorial team manually verifies the new terms against the primary source before the data is updated on our site. When estimating private hire or taxi costs, we do not provide live API quotes. Instead, we generate 'seed estimates' based on historical data for standard, non-surge daytime travel. These seed estimates are designed strictly for budgeting and comparison purposes. We explicitly warn users that road traffic, time of day, and the specific location of their London hotel can cause significant variations in the final meter price. Our calculator algorithm ranks transport options by calculating the 'Total Journey Cost'. We don't just look at the headline ticket price; we factor in the necessary cross-London Tube connections, the terminal drop-off fee for road options, and the physical friction of luggage transfers. By mathematically weighting these factors, we provide recommendations that prioritise human comfort and reliability over a misleadingly cheap initial fare.