London's Airports and their Transport Links
Before the Second World War London was served by a number of small aerodromes. Afterwards the heavier aircraft needed much larger facilities which were catered for at Heathrow and Gatwick.
Neither airport was particularly close to central London. Gatwick was within reach by rail, where a station was provided linked straight into the airport. At Heathrow the main terminals were in central London and passengers were conveyed to and from the airport by special coach. Although terminal facilities were transferred to the airport itself in the 1960s and 70s these coaches lasted until the Piccadilly Line was extended in 1977.