The short answer
You can charter a helicopter to or from RAF Northolt, but it is an active military station, so each movement needs a prior permission number issued through the Commercial Booking Cell, normally the day before. Northolt to central London takes about 10 to 15 minutes by helicopter and 40 minutes by road. We handle the paperwork.
Flying from Northolt? Tell us where and when; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Site
- RAF Northolt (London VIP Airport), West End Road, Ruislip (EGWU / NHT)
- Civil hours (as published, checked 29 Sep 2026)
- Monday to Friday 08:00 to 20:00; Saturday and Sunday 10:00 to 17:00 local
- Booking cell hours
- Mon to Fri 08:00 to 18:00; weekends and public holidays 10:00 to 17:00
- Prior permission
- Required; a PPR number is issued the day before the flight
- Customs and immigration
- By arrangement with prior notice (Border Force GAR); not a port of entry for pets
- Runway and jets
- 07/25, about 1,683 m; business jets up to a Global 7500; maximum 29 civilian passengers per aircraft
Where Northolt flights start and end
The map shows RAF Northolt, 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. RAF Northolt is at RAF Northolt, West End Road, Ruislip, Middlesex. Open it in Google Maps.
RAF Northolt (London VIP Airport)
Choose a place
Hover, or tap, a pin for the details
Sites that serve Northolt
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.
RAF Northolt (London VIP Airport) EGWU / NHT
- Address
- RAF Northolt, West End Road, Ruislip, Middlesex
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
- Civil flights Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00; Sat–Sun 10:00–17:00 (local). Commercial Booking Cell Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00, weekends and public holidays 10:00–17:00
- Permission
- Prior permission required (PPR): we arrange it with your flight
- Customs
- By arrangement / prior notice
- Runway
- 07/25 – approx. 1,683 m (5,522 ft)
How a helicopter charter works at an RAF station
Helicopter charter Northolt starts with the fact that RAF Northolt sits in Ruislip, about 5 nautical miles from Heathrow, and handles civil business aviation alongside its military role. Because it is an active station, bookings go through its Commercial Booking Cell and a permission number is issued the day before the flight. There are no weekend evening operations, so a Sunday-night arrival needs a different plan.
We make the booking, pass the passenger details and confirm the number to you. If your dates move, tell us as early as possible; a change of day means a fresh permission request.
Journey times from RAF Northolt
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 | 5.2 nm (6 mi) | 10 to 10 min | 22 min (9 mi) | 12 min |
| London | 10 nm (12 mi) | 10 to 15 min | 40 min (14 mi) | 27 min |
| Ascot Racecourse | 13 nm (15 mi) | 10 to 15 min | 38 min (21 mi) | 25 min |
| Epsom Downs | 16 nm (18 mi) | 15 to 15 min | 50 min (37 mi) | 35 min |
| London Gatwick | 26 nm (30 mi) | 20 to 20 min | 1 h 06 min (54 mi) | 46 min |
| Oxford | 38 nm (43 mi) | 20 to 30 min | 1 h 07 min (50 mi) | 42 min |
| Silverstone | 39 nm (44 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 25 min (68 mi) | 57 min |
| Goodwood | 44 nm (50 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 31 min (69 mi) | 1 h 03 min |
| Cambridge | 45 nm (52 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 34 min (70 mi) | 1 h 06 min |
| Southampton | 51 nm (58 mi) | 25 to 35 min | 1 h 27 min (74 mi) | 57 min |
| Newmarket Racecourse | 51 nm (59 mi) | 30 to 35 min | 1 h 37 min (80 mi) | 1 h 04 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 65 nm (75 mi) | 35 to 40 min | 1 h 51 min (84 mi) | 1 h 13 min |
| Birmingham | 73 nm (84 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h 02 min (103 mi) | 1 h 22 min |
| Bristol | 87 nm (100 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 30 min (122 mi) | 1 h 45 min |
| Norwich | 92 nm (106 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 45 min (134 mi) | 1 h 55 min |
| Cardiff | 110 nm (126 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 3 h 09 min (160 mi) | 2 h 11 min |
| Manchester | 128 nm (147 mi) | 60 to 75 min | 3 h 47 min (184 mi) | 2 h 39 min |
| Liverpool | 139 nm (160 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 3 h 53 min (202 mi) | 2 h 40 min |
| York Racecourse | 146 nm (168 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 3 h 52 min (208 mi) | 2 h 39 min |
| Leeds | 146 nm (168 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 3 h 59 min (206 mi) | 2 h 46 min |
| Aintree Racecourse | 148 nm (170 mi) | 65 to 85 min | 3 h 54 min (210 mi) | 2 h 39 min |
| Newcastle | 214 nm (246 mi) | 95 to 115 min | 5 h 41 min (292 mi) | 3 h 56 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.
Jet and helicopter side by side
The practical attraction of Northolt is that, according to the airport, helicopter transfers can be parked adjacent to the jet. A passenger can step off a Global 7500 or a smaller business jet and walk to a waiting helicopter rather than driving across London. Customs and immigration are by arrangement, cleared remotely or at the handling facility, with a General Aviation Report sent in advance.
For the jet itself, see Charter Private Jet; for the car at the other end, Executive Global Travel in London.
Journey times from Northolt
Northolt is at its best for short hops that beat the A40 and the M25.
- Northolt to central London: about 10 to 15 minutes by helicopter, 40 minutes by road.
- Northolt to Ascot: about 10 to 15 minutes, against 38 minutes.
- Northolt to Epsom: about 15 minutes, against 50 minutes.
- Northolt to Oxford: about 20 to 30 minutes, against 1 hour 7 minutes.
- Northolt to Silverstone: about 25 to 30 minutes, against 1 hour 25 minutes.
- Northolt to Cheltenham: about 35 to 40 minutes, against 1 hour 51 minutes.
Those are typical block times and free-flowing road times. See helicopter charter times from UK airports for how the figures are built.
Why people use Northolt for events and meetings
From Northolt the racing at Ascot and Epsom Downs is a quarter of an hour away, and the big stadiums are close: see our pages for Wembley and Twickenham. Corporate hosts also use it as a clean arrival point for overseas guests before a day in the Thames Valley or the Chilterns. If your party is travelling for a motor race, Silverstone is 25 to 30 minutes away.
Booking checklist for Northolt
Send us the date, passenger numbers and weights, whether you are on a jet and its type, and where you are heading. We confirm the permission process, the civil hours that apply on your day, and the helicopter. Arrive 10 minutes before departure and use soft bags where the hold is small. Landing at a private site beyond Northolt is subject to landing permission and site suitability. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
For rough costs see the price guides and then request a firm quote. For central London flights from the Battersea heliport itself, use the London Heliport service; and read our London page to compare sites. The nearby international hub is covered on our Heathrow page.
Nearby airfields and heliports
Other sites close to RAF Northolt, with the distance in nautical miles. Chips with a link open that site's own page.
Frequently asked questions
Can civilians charter a helicopter into RAF Northolt?
Yes, for civil business aviation within published hours and with a permission number issued through the Commercial Booking Cell. We apply for it on your behalf.
What are the Northolt civil opening hours?
As published on 29 September 2026: Monday to Friday 08:00 to 20:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 to 17:00 local. Confirm for your date, because military requirements can change.
How many passengers can use Northolt?
The airport states a maximum of 29 civilian passengers per aircraft, with business jets up to a Global 7500.
Can a helicopter wait next to my jet?
The airport says helicopter transfers can be parked adjacent to the jet, which saves a road transfer. We confirm this at booking.
Are there weekend evening flights?
No. Northolt does not run weekend evening operations, so late arrivals on Saturday or Sunday should use another airport.
How long is the helicopter flight to Ascot?
About 10 to 15 minutes, against around 38 minutes by road, subject to landing arrangements at the racecourse.
