The short answer
Helicopter charter Essex uses North Weald near Epping, Stapleford Aerodrome and London Southend Airport. North Weald to London is about 15 to 20 minutes by helicopter against at least 1 hour 8 minutes by road, and Cambridge about 20 to 25 against 53 minutes. Send your date and weights for a quote.
Flying from Essex? Tell us where and when; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Main site
- North Weald Airfield (EGSX), Epping, 1,881 m asphalt runway, unlicensed, summer 08:30 to 19:00
- Second site
- Stapleford Aerodrome (EGSG), near Romford, grass runways, 08:30 to sunset
- Larger aircraft
- London Southend Airport (EGMC), 1,856 m runway, customs on site, Jet Centre 06:00 to 02:30
- North Weald to London (Battersea)
- Helicopter about 15 to 20 minutes; car at least 1h08 (30 miles)
- North Weald to Cambridge
- Helicopter about 20 to 25 minutes; car at least 53 minutes (39 miles)
- Stapleford to Newmarket
- Helicopter about 20 to 25 minutes; car at least 1h03 (49 miles)
- Southend to London (Battersea)
- Helicopter about 20 to 25 minutes; car at least 1h27 (48 miles)
Where Essex flights start and end
The map shows North Weald Airfield and the other sites that serve Essex, 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. North Weald Airfield is at North Weald Airfield, Merlin Way, North Weald, Epping, Essex. Open it in Google Maps.
North Weald Airfield
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Hover, or tap, a pin for the details
Sites that serve Essex
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.
North Weald Airfield EGSX
- Address
- North Weald Airfield, Merlin Way, North Weald, Epping, Essex
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
- Summer 08:30–19:00 local; winter 08:30 to sunset + 30 min
- Permission
- Prior permission required (PPR): we arrange it with your flight
- Runway
- 02/20 – 1,881 m × 45 m asphalt (TODA 1,548 m, displaced threshold); parallel grass strip
Stapleford Aerodrome EGSG
- Address
- Stapleford Aerodrome, Stapleford Tawney, Romford, Essex
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
- 08:30 local to sunset; outside published hours a minimum of 2 hours' notice is required
- Permission
- Prior permission required (PPR): we arrange it with your flight
- Customs
- By arrangement / prior notice (2 hours' notice)
- Runway
- 03R/21L – 1,077 m × 46 m grass with paved insert; 03L/21R – 900 m grass
Official websiteOpen in Google Maps
London Southend Airport EGMC / SEN
- Address
- London Southend Airport, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
airport 24 hours but use 22:00–06:30 subject to prior permission from ATC; night restrictions 23:00–06:30 (quieter…
airport 24 hours but use 22:00–06:30 subject to prior permission from ATC; night restrictions 23:00–06:30 (quieter aircraft only; private helicopters not at night)- Permission
- Prior permission required (PPR): we arrange it with your flight
- Customs
- Yes – on site
- Runway
- 05/23 – 1,856 m × 36 m asphalt (grooved)
Helicopter charter SouthendOfficial websiteOpen in Google Maps
Three sites for three kinds of trip
Helicopter charter Essex is organised around three very different sites. North Weald is a former RAF fighter station owned by the local council, with an 1,881 metre asphalt runway, a parallel grass strip and prior permission by phone, about two miles from junction 7 of the M11. Stapleford is a grass aerodrome inside the M25 with a busy training circuit, which in wet weather limits movements to its paved insert. Southend is a full airport with customs on site and a Jet Centre open from 06:00 to 02:30.
Charter-A Helicopter is the helicopter charter service of Charter-A Ltd, which has arranged private flights across the UK and Europe since 2011. We pick the one that fits your aircraft, your hours and your destination. Southend is the choice for a jet connection; North Weald or Stapleford suit a helicopter to London, Cambridge or Newmarket.
Journey times from North Weald Airfield
The nearest places first, with the helicopter time against the car, taken from our route data.
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 20 nm (23 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 1 h 08 min (30 mi) | 50 min |
| London Heathrow | 28 nm (32 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 06 min (54 mi) | 43 min |
| Cambridge | 29 nm (33 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 53 min (39 mi) | 30 min |
| Epsom Downs | 29 nm (33 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 17 min (61 mi) | 54 min |
| Newmarket Racecourse | 33 nm (37 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 51 min (42 mi) | 28 min |
| Ascot Racecourse | 36 nm (42 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 19 min (63 mi) | 56 min |
| London Gatwick | 37 nm (42 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 16 min (63 mi) | 53 min |
| Silverstone | 48 nm (56 mi) | 25 to 35 min | 1 h 41 min (79 mi) | 1 h 11 min |
| Oxford | 55 nm (64 mi) | 30 to 35 min | 1 h 48 min (88 mi) | 1 h 15 min |
| Goodwood | 62 nm (71 mi) | 30 to 40 min | 2 h 08 min (105 mi) | 1 h 33 min |
| Norwich | 71 nm (81 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h (96 mi) | 1 h 20 min |
| Southampton | 73 nm (84 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h 08 min (113 mi) | 1 h 28 min |
| Birmingham | 83 nm (95 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 22 min (121 mi) | 1 h 37 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 83 nm (96 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 32 min (123 mi) | 1 h 47 min |
| Bristol | 109 nm (126 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 3 h 11 min (161 mi) | 2 h 13 min |
| Cardiff | 132 nm (152 mi) | 60 to 75 min | 3 h 49 min (199 mi) | 2 h 41 min |
| Manchester | 132 nm (152 mi) | 60 to 75 min | 4 h (197 mi) | 2 h 52 min |
| York Racecourse | 141 nm (162 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 3 h 35 min (193 mi) | 2 h 22 min |
| Leeds | 145 nm (166 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 3 h 48 min (196 mi) | 2 h 35 min |
| Liverpool | 146 nm (168 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 4 h 06 min (215 mi) | 2 h 53 min |
| Aintree Racecourse | 155 nm (178 mi) | 70 to 85 min | 4 h 08 min (223 mi) | 2 h 50 min |
| Newcastle | 210 nm (241 mi) | 90 to 115 min | 5 h 24 min (277 mi) | 3 h 41 min |
Times from Stapleford Aerodrome
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 17 nm (19 mi) | 15 to 15 min | 1 h 07 min (25 mi) | 52 min |
| London Heathrow | 26 nm (29 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 1 h 07 min (51 mi) | 49 min |
| Epsom Downs | 26 nm (30 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 1 h 15 min (55 mi) | 57 min |
| London Gatwick | 33 nm (38 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 14 min (58 mi) | 51 min |
| Cambridge | 33 nm (38 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 04 min (45 mi) | 41 min |
| Ascot Racecourse | 34 nm (39 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 20 min (59 mi) | 57 min |
| Newmarket Racecourse | 37 nm (42 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 03 min (49 mi) | 40 min |
| Silverstone | 50 nm (58 mi) | 25 to 35 min | 1 h 42 min (75 mi) | 1 h 12 min |
| Oxford | 56 nm (64 mi) | 30 to 35 min | 1 h 49 min (85 mi) | 1 h 16 min |
| Goodwood | 59 nm (67 mi) | 30 to 40 min | 2 h 06 min (100 mi) | 1 h 31 min |
| Southampton | 71 nm (81 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h 09 min (109 mi) | 1 h 29 min |
| Norwich | 74 nm (85 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h 12 min (103 mi) | 1 h 32 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 84 nm (97 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 34 min (119 mi) | 1 h 49 min |
| Birmingham | 85 nm (98 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 23 min (117 mi) | 1 h 38 min |
Times from London Southend Airport
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 33 nm (38 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 27 min (48 mi) | 1 h 04 min |
| Epsom Downs | 39 nm (45 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 20 min (60 mi) | 52 min |
| Newmarket Racecourse | 42 nm (48 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 29 min (69 mi) | 1 h 01 min |
| London Gatwick | 42 nm (48 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 19 min (62 mi) | 51 min |
| Cambridge | 43 nm (49 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 30 min (65 mi) | 1 h 02 min |
| London Heathrow | 44 nm (50 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 35 min (77 mi) | 1 h 07 min |
| Ascot Racecourse | 52 nm (60 mi) | 30 to 35 min | 1 h 46 min (86 mi) | 1 h 13 min |
| Goodwood | 69 nm (80 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h 12 min (104 mi) | 1 h 32 min |
| Norwich | 70 nm (80 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h 21 min (102 mi) | 1 h 41 min |
| Silverstone | 70 nm (81 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h 10 min (101 mi) | 1 h 30 min |
| Oxford | 77 nm (88 mi) | 40 to 45 min | 2 h 17 min (111 mi) | 1 h 34 min |
| Southampton | 86 nm (99 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 30 min (129 mi) | 1 h 45 min |
| Birmingham | 105 nm (120 mi) | 50 to 60 min | 2 h 51 min (144 mi) | 1 h 56 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 105 nm (120 mi) | 50 to 60 min | 3 h 02 min (146 mi) | 2 h 07 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 numbers from North Weald and Stapleford
North Weald to London is about 15 to 20 minutes by helicopter against at least 1 hour 8 minutes by road, a typical saving of about 50 minutes. Heathrow is 20 to 25 against 1 hour 6, Cambridge 20 to 25 against 53 minutes, Newmarket 20 to 25 against 51 minutes, Epsom 20 to 25 against 1 hour 17 and Ascot 20 to 25 against 1 hour 19. From Stapleford the figures are very similar: London about 15 minutes against 1 hour 7, Cambridge 20 to 25 against 1 hour 4.
From Southend, London is about 20 to 25 minutes against 1 hour 27 and Newmarket about 25 to 30 against 1 hour 29. See helicopter charter Southend, Stansted and Cambridge for the neighbouring sites.
Racing, business and the estuary
Essex people fly for Newmarket racing, for Cambridge science and technology, and for business in the Thames Gateway, where the container ports, logistics and engineering firms lie along the estuary. Our Newmarket page explains the racing days, and business helicopter charter sets out how business days work. The county's country estates, golf clubs and hotels also host corporate days; landing at any of them is subject to landing permission and site suitability.
London Southend Airport restricts night movements: from 23:00 to 06:30 only quieter aircraft are accepted, and private helicopters are not permitted at night. Handling is mandatory there for non-based aircraft over 2.5 tonnes. We arrange it. A car at the airfield matters, and Executive Global Travel can meet you.
Planning from Essex
Give us the date, the destination and each passenger's weight. We confirm the permission, tell you the plan and quote the whole aircraft. Arrive 10 minutes before departure and use soft bags. Both North Weald and Stapleford are unlicensed or grass fields, so wet ground and low cloud decide some mornings. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
For more on the region see the East of England page and the eastern airfield directory. Central London arrivals are covered by London helicopter transfers.
Nearby airfields and heliports
Other sites close to North Weald Airfield, with the distance in nautical miles. Chips with a link open that site's own page.
Frequently asked questions
Where do helicopters land in Essex?
North Weald, Stapleford and Southend are the main sites. We choose by destination, aircraft and hours.
How long is a helicopter from North Weald to London?
About 15 to 20 minutes, against at least 1 hour 8 minutes by road.
Can private helicopters fly from Southend at night?
No. Night restrictions between 23:00 and 06:30 allow only quieter aircraft, and private helicopters are not permitted at night.
Is North Weald licensed?
It is an unlicensed general aviation airfield owned by the local council, with prior permission by telephone. We confirm suitability for each flight.
Can you land at a country house in Essex?
Often, subject to landing permission and site suitability. We ask first.
What if the weather stops the flight?
If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
