The short answer
Denham Aerodrome, near Uxbridge, is a convenient start for a helicopter charter to Heathrow, central London, Silverstone or the Chilterns. Heathrow is about 10 to 15 minutes away by air and 19 minutes by road, so the real gain is on longer legs: Silverstone takes about 20 to 25 minutes against 1 hour 19 by road. Prior permission is required.
Flying from Denham Aerodrome? Tell us where and when; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Site
- Denham Aerodrome, Tilehouse Lane, Denham, Uxbridge, Buckinghamshire (EGLD)
- Hours as published
- 08:00 to 20:00 local in summer, 08:00 to 18:00 local in winter, and by arrangement (library check 29 September 2026)
- Prior permission
- Yes, mandatory
- Customs and immigration
- By arrangement and prior notice. Denham is not a designated customs airport
- Runways
- 06/24 asphalt 775 m by 18 m; 12/30 grass 546 m
- Jets
- No. The runway is too short; helicopters and light aircraft
- To Silverstone
- About 20 to 25 minutes by helicopter, 1 hour 19 minutes by road
Where Denham Aerodrome flights start and end
The map shows Denham Aerodrome, with range rings and the nearest cities. Pins with a page of their own are links.
The map draws a satellite picture, so it needs JavaScript and an internet connection. Denham Aerodrome is at Denham Aerodrome, Tilehouse Lane, Denham, Uxbridge, Buckinghamshire. Open it in Google Maps.
Denham Aerodrome
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Sites that serve Denham Aerodrome
Hours, permission and customs are the airport's or site's published information, checked 29 Sept 2026. We arrange permission and confirm times with your booking.
Denham Aerodrome EGLD
- Address
- Denham Aerodrome, Tilehouse Lane, Denham, Uxbridge, Buckinghamshire
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
- 08:00–20:00 local summer; 08:00–18:00 local winter; and by arrangement. Mon–Fri 09:00–14:30 winter / 08:00–13:30 summer and by arrangement
- Permission
- Prior permission required (PPR): we arrange it with your flight
- Customs
- By arrangement / prior notice
- Runway
- 06/24 – 775 m × 18 m asphalt; 12/30 – 546 m grass
Why Denham, and not Heathrow, for a helicopter
For helicopter charter Denham is the practical answer near Heathrow. Heathrow is about 7 nautical miles from Denham and is slot-constrained: business aviation there needs prior written permission and a slot for every movement. We normally route London jets elsewhere, and where a client simply wants to be near Heathrow, Denham is a simpler place to put a helicopter. It is a quick road journey away (about 19 minutes in free-flowing traffic) and uncomplicated to use.
Charter-A Helicopter is the helicopter charter service of Charter-A Ltd, which has arranged private flights across the UK and Europe since 2011. Our old page said the airfield was far cheaper than landing at Heathrow, and that is still the right idea, but we no longer publish the old landing fee figures here; ask for a quote and we state what applies on the day.
Journey times from Denham Aerodrome
The nearest places first, with the helicopter time against the car, taken from our route data.
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow | 7.3 nm (8 mi) | 10 to 15 min | 19 min (12 mi) | About the same |
| Ascot Racecourse | 12 nm (14 mi) | 10 to 15 min | 32 min (18 mi) | 19 min |
| London | 14 nm (17 mi) | 15 to 15 min | 43 min (24 mi) | 28 min |
| Epsom Downs | 19 nm (22 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 44 min (33 mi) | 26 min |
| London Gatwick | 29 nm (33 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h (51 mi) | 37 min |
| Oxford | 34 nm (39 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 01 min (46 mi) | 38 min |
| Silverstone | 35 nm (40 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 19 min (65 mi) | 56 min |
| Goodwood | 45 nm (51 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 25 min (65 mi) | 57 min |
| Cambridge | 45 nm (52 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 24 min (62 mi) | 56 min |
| Southampton | 50 nm (57 mi) | 25 to 35 min | 1 h 21 min (70 mi) | 51 min |
| Newmarket Racecourse | 52 nm (60 mi) | 30 to 35 min | 1 h 27 min (72 mi) | 54 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 61 nm (70 mi) | 30 to 40 min | 1 h 45 min (81 mi) | 1 h 10 min |
| Birmingham | 69 nm (80 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 1 h 56 min (99 mi) | 1 h 16 min |
| Bristol | 83 nm (96 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 24 min (119 mi) | 1 h 39 min |
| Norwich | 93 nm (107 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 36 min (125 mi) | 1 h 46 min |
| Cardiff | 106 nm (122 mi) | 50 to 60 min | 3 h 03 min (157 mi) | 2 h 08 min |
| Manchester | 124 nm (143 mi) | 55 to 70 min | 3 h 40 min (181 mi) | 2 h 37 min |
| Liverpool | 135 nm (156 mi) | 60 to 75 min | 3 h 46 min (199 mi) | 2 h 38 min |
| Leeds | 143 nm (165 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 3 h 49 min (198 mi) | 2 h 36 min |
| York Racecourse | 143 nm (165 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 3 h 42 min (200 mi) | 2 h 29 min |
| Aintree Racecourse | 144 nm (166 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 3 h 48 min (207 mi) | 2 h 35 min |
| Newcastle | 211 nm (243 mi) | 90 to 115 min | 5 h 31 min (284 mi) | 3 h 48 min |
Helicopter figures are typical block times: distance at 135 knots plus 8 minutes, shown as a range. Road figures are free-flowing road times, a floor that real journeys rarely beat. Distances are in a straight line. Figures from our UK route data, checked 29 Sep 2026.
The site: hours, permission and limits
Denham's runway is 775 m of asphalt with a shorter grass strip beside it, so it takes helicopters and light aircraft, not jets. It publishes hours of 08:00 to 20:00 in summer and 08:00 to 18:00 in winter, with movements outside those hours by arrangement. Our previous page said 08:30 to 19:30; use the published figures. Prior permission is mandatory.
Denham is a regulated airport for arrival into and departure from the UK but not a designated customs airport. Customs and immigration are by arrangement, so a flight from abroad needs notice. The Chiltern Railways line serves Denham station, about a mile away, which helps passengers who prefer to arrive by train.
Times from Denham against the road
Ascot is about 10 to 15 minutes by helicopter and 32 minutes by road. London is about 15 minutes by air (the London Heliport at Battersea) and 43 minutes on the road. Epsom is about 15 to 20 minutes against 44, and Oxford about 20 to 25 minutes against 1 hour 1.
On the longer legs, Silverstone is about 20 to 25 minutes against 1 hour 19, Cambridge about 25 to 30 against 1 hour 24, Birmingham about 35 to 45 against 1 hour 56, and Manchester about 55 to 70 against 3 hours 40. See the London to Birmingham route for a similar run from the capital. Road times are free-flowing, so rush hour is worse.
What people fly for from Denham
The old Denham page already named the biggest reason: British Grand Prix shuttles to Silverstone, either as a shared shuttle or an exclusive helicopter. See helicopter charter to Silverstone and the race circuit page. Cliveden House is nearer still: our Cliveden page covers the estate, and landing there is subject to landing permission and site suitability.
Clients have also flown from Denham to Watford, Slough, Beaconsfield and Heathrow. Business users include film and production companies at the studios around Iver and Denham, and the firms along the M40 and M25 corridors who want to reach a meeting in Oxford, Cambridge or Birmingham in under an hour. Use same-day business trips if you are stringing several stops together.
Booking from Denham
Send us the date, passengers and weights, and where you are going. We confirm the aircraft, the permission from the aerodrome and the departure time. Be at the helicopter 10 minutes before departure. Luggage in soft bags fits best, because the hold on some types is small. Costs depend on the aircraft and the day: see the Helicopter Hire Prices guides or ask for a quote.
If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. For Heathrow arrivals by jet see Northolt, 4 nautical miles away.
Nearby airfields and heliports
Other sites close to Denham Aerodrome, with the distance in nautical miles. Chips with a link open that site's own page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Denham Aerodrome open to helicopters at the weekend?
It publishes seven-day hours of 08:00 to 20:00 in summer and 08:00 to 18:00 in winter. Movements outside those are by arrangement. Always check the day before.
Can a private jet land at Denham?
No. The main runway is 775 m, so Denham is for helicopters and light aircraft. For jets see Northolt or Farnborough.
Does Denham have customs and immigration?
By arrangement and prior notice only. It is not a designated customs airport, so we plan any international flight carefully in advance.
How long is the helicopter from Denham to Heathrow?
About 10 to 15 minutes, against about 19 minutes by road in free-flowing traffic.
How do I get to Denham Aerodrome by public transport?
The Chiltern Railways line serves Denham station, about one mile from the aerodrome.
Can I fly from Denham to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix?
Yes, Denham to Silverstone is a typical day-of-race flight at about 20 to 25 minutes. Event slots are limited, so check dates with the organiser and book early.
