An exclusive VIP helicopter tour of London

Thirty minutes over London in your own helicopter

This is a private flight for your group only. You meet your helicopter at the London Heliport at Battersea, the only heliport in central London, and fly a loop of the capital that follows the River Thames past the places people come to London to see. About 30 minutes later you land back at Battersea.

The aircraft is a twin-engine Eurocopter AS355 NP, usually called the AS355 Twin Squirrel. It seats up to four passengers on this flight, so every seat has a window. You choose the date and the time between 08:00 and 17:00, seven days a week, subject to availability, weather and the weights of your group. The price is £4,350 + VAT for the whole aircraft, with all landing fees at Battersea included: you are not paying per seat, so the more of the four seats you fill, the better the value per person.

Every flight is on a UK CAA Air Operator's Certificate and fully insured. You can read more about the aircraft on our AS355 Twin Squirrel page.

What you will see on the flight

A typical route follows the Thames from Battersea towards the City and Canary Wharf, in roughly this order. The exact route is set with air traffic control and the weather on the day, so it is not guaranteed, and your pilot may change the order or leave a sight out. Plan on about 30 minutes in the air.

1. Battersea Power Station. The four chimneys beside the heliport, now a landmark of shops, homes and offices.
2. Chelsea Bridge. One of the Thames suspension bridges, easy to pick out from the air.
3. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. The Palace of Westminster and its clock tower on the north bank.
4. Westminster Abbey. The coronation church, just beside Parliament.
5. The London Eye. The giant observation wheel on the South Bank, seen from above rather than from a capsule.
6. Buckingham Palace and the royal parks. The palace, its forecourt and the green space of St James's Park and Green Park around it.
7. St Paul's Cathedral. Wren's dome over the City, with the Millennium Bridge running down to the river.
8. Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. The bascule bridge and the old fortress on the north bank beside it.
9. The Shard. The tallest building in the UK, on the south bank at London Bridge.
10. Canary Wharf. The towers of the Docklands financial district, at the far end of the loop before the flight returns upriver.

On request: Wembley Stadium and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. They lie off the river route, so ask when you book and we will tell you whether the time and the weather allow it.

Who a London helicopter tour suits

People book the flight for a reason that matters to them. The most common are:

• Birthdays and anniversaries, for a group of up to four who would rather share an experience than open a present.
• Proposals and special moments, where a private cabin gives you a view and complete privacy. Tell us when you book and we will plan the flight around it.
• Visitors to London, including families and friends from overseas who have a free afternoon and want to see how the city fits together.
• Corporate hospitality, for hosting a client or rewarding a small team with something they will talk about afterwards.

It is a flight for a small group. If you are planning something larger, or want a helicopter for business travel instead, look at our London helicopter transfers or our business helicopter charter.

How the booking works

1. Tell us the date, the time you would like and who is flying. Use the form on this page or call our 24-hour line. We ask for the weight of each passenger, because it decides whether the aircraft can carry your group.
2. We confirm your booking. The price is £4,350 + VAT for the whole aircraft, with all landing fees at Battersea included. We confirm the date, the time and how you pay.
3. Arrive at Battersea 10 minutes before departure. You are briefed, you board, and you fly. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.

If you would like a chauffeur-driven car to or from the heliport, our sister company Executive Global Travel arranges it. For the heliport itself, including how to get there, see Battersea Helicopter's guide to the London Heliport and our own Battersea helicopter charter page.

What is included in the price

The price covers the flight itself and everything needed to deliver it:

• The whole twin-engine AS355 Twin Squirrel for your group alone, for up to four passengers.
• About 30 minutes in the air, from and back to the London Heliport at Battersea.
• A qualified, type-rated pilot and a safety briefing before you fly.
• All landing fees at Battersea, fuel and insurance.

The price is £4,350 + VAT and it is set. VAT is added at the current rate. If anything on your request would change the price, such as a longer flight or an extra landing, we tell you before you commit.

Flying from Redhill instead

The same tour also flies from Redhill Aerodrome, over London and back to Redhill, in 35 minutes, in the same twin-engine AS355 Twin Squirrel. The price is £3,350 + VAT for the whole aircraft, with all landing fees included, between 08:00 and 17:00, seven days a week, subject to passenger weights.

Book the Redhill tour About Redhill Aerodrome

What affects your flight: weights, daylight, weather and airspace

Weights. A helicopter has a maximum weight it can carry safely, and the AS355 is no exception. The flight is subject to weights, so we ask for each passenger's weight when you book. We use it only to plan the flight, and we tell you straight away if your group needs to be smaller.

Hours. The tour flies between 08:00 and 17:00, seven days a week, so the sights are visible and the light is good. In winter the available times follow sunrise and sunset.

Weather. Cloud base, visibility and wind decide whether a helicopter can fly over central London. We check the forecast with you before the day. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. We would rather rebook you than fly in conditions that spoil the view.

Airspace. Central London is controlled airspace, and the route is agreed with air traffic control. Some areas are closed or restricted from time to time, for example around state events. That is why we describe the route as typical and not as a promise.

Why choose Charter-A Helicopter for a London tour

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 clients rate us 5.0 from more than 200 reviews, and the tour is arranged by the same team that arranges our business and event charters. Every aircraft we use is twin-engine and flies on a UK CAA Air Operator's Certificate. If your plans grow beyond London, see our helicopter charter in London page, our events and days out, or the Charter-A Helicopter home page.