Top Uber destinations in London: Where PCO drivers can earn the most

Knowing the best areas to work can make all the difference for PCO drivers looking to maximise their earnings.

Whether you're starting your day or covering quieter hours, here’s a list of London’s busiest Uber destinations for 2026 to help you stay ahead.

Heathrow Airport

Location: London Borough of Hillingdon, Longford TW6

As London's largest airport, Heathrow remains a 24/7 hotspot for Uber rides, handling 80 million passengers yearly across five terminals.

With many locals avoiding expensive parking and tourists preferring the convenience of a direct ride, demand here is consistent throughout the day and night.

Terminal breakdown:

• Terminal 5 is the busiest for pickups, serving primarily British Airways long-haul flights

• Terminals 2 & 3 handle international arrivals with diverse destinations

• Terminal 4 has lower demand but less competition from other drivers

Peak earning times:

• Early morning: 5-8am (business travellers and early departures)

• Evening rush: 4-7pm (international arrivals and business returns)

• Late night: 9pm-midnight (long-haul arrivals from Asia and the Americas)

Average fares to central London: £40-£80 depending on destination and traffic

Pro tip: During peak hours (5-8am, 4-7pm), expect 10-15 minute waits in the designated pickup zones. If you're dropping off at Heathrow during busy arrival times, consider staying in the pickup queue—you might get a return passenger within minutes, doubling your earnings for the trip.

Before heading to Heathrow, make sure you're familiar with the rules and fees for pick-ups and drop-offs to avoid penalties. Read our complete guide: Heathrow drop-off charges.

Best for: All ride types (UberX, Comfort, Exec, Green)

London City Airport

Location: Royal Docks, Hartmann Rd, London E16 2PX

Strategically located between the City of London and Canary Wharf, London City Airport serves business travelers and financial professionals, making it ideal for higher-paying Uber Exec or Uber Lux rides.

Why it's profitable:

• Predominantly business passengers with corporate expense accounts

• Quick airport turnaround times (smaller airport, faster pickups)

• Short distances to key business districts (10-20 minutes)

• Higher percentage of Comfort and Exec requests than other airports

Peak earning times:

• Morning: 6-9am (European business flight arrivals)

• Evening: 5-8pm (business travellers returning from day trips)

• Monday mornings and Friday evenings see highest demand

Average fares: £30-£60 to City of London, Canary Wharf, and Central London destinations

Pro tip: London City is primarily a weekday airport serving business travel. Weekend demand drops significantly, so focus your efforts Monday-Friday for best results. Wait times are typically shorter here than at Heathrow—usually 5-10 minutes during peak hours.

Best for: Comfort, Exec, Lux (highest percentage of premium requests)

Gatwick Airport

Distance from Central London: 30 miles (45-90 minutes depending on traffic)
Average fare: £55-£85
Best pickup times: 5-8am (early departures), 6-9pm (evening arrivals)

Gatwick serves 230+ destinations and handles 46 million passengers yearly. The key advantage? Less competition than Heathrow and a steady stream of passengers needing rides into London.

Strategy tip: If you drop off at Gatwick, check the Uber app before heading back—you might pick up a return passenger immediately, effectively doubling your earnings for the trip. Most profitable on Friday evenings (business travellers returning) and Sunday evenings (holiday-makers arriving).

Important: Familiarise yourself with Gatwick drop-off charges before your first trip.

Luton Airport

Distance from Central London: 35 miles (50-100 minutes)
Average fare: £60-£95
Best pickup times: 4-7am (budget airline departures), 9pm-midnight (evening arrivals)

Luton primarily serves budget airlines like easyJet and Ryanair, with passengers often more price-conscious. However, the longer distance means substantial fares.

Strategy tip: Luton pickups are most profitable for North London residents. If you're dropping off in North London (Camden, Islington, Finchley), check for Luton airport rides—the return journey keeps you productive. Weekend mornings (4-7am) have strong demand but less competition from other drivers.

Important: Review Luton drop-off charges which can significantly impact your earnings if not understood.

Stansted Airport

Distance from Central London: 40 miles (60-110 minutes)
Average fare: £65-£100
Best pickup times: 5-8am (early departures), 7-10pm (evening arrivals)

As London's third-busiest airport, Stansted offers the longest rides and highest fares. The trade-off is journey time and the need to factor in return journey considerations.

Strategy tip: Stansted is most profitable when combined with strategic planning. Accept rides to Stansted if you live in East or North East London—you can pick up a return passenger or position yourself near Shoreditch/Liverpool Street on your way back. Avoid mid-afternoon trips when traffic on the M11 can double your journey time.

Important: Check Stansted drop-off charges before accepting your first Stansted ride.

Airport Earnings Calculator

Here's what you can expect to earn per airport run (one-way):

*Earnings per hour include journey time only, not wait time for return pickups

Key insight: While longer airport runs have higher fares, Heathrow and London City often generate better hourly earnings due to shorter journey times and immediate return pickups. Consider your home location when choosing which airports to target

King Cross and St Pancras 

These railway stations, situated side by side, are London’s most famous stations thanks to associating King Cross with Harry Potter.

You’ll most likely take two kinds of people to this Uber destination — the ones interrailing through Europe wanting to catch the Eurostar from St Pancras to get to Paris, and the Harry Potter fans who want to visit the popular 9 ¾ quarters platform.

Handy Tip: As many people think King Cross and St Pancras are different names for the same stations, give a helping hand to your passengers and ask them to double-check the station their train is leaving from. 

Location: Euston Road, Camden, N1C 4BU

Victoria Station 

Victoria Station is a hub for locals and tourists alike, offering connections to Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and theatre shows like Wicked.

This is, as expected, one of London’s busiest areas, so make sure to know your shortcuts well enough or to use Waze to avoid congestions.

Location: Belgravia, City of Westminster, SW1E 5ND

Waterloo Station 

This is a Uber destination where you’ll take many hurried passengers with big luggage, as it’s UK’s busiest railway station by passenger usage, handling around 41 million passengers annually. It’s also the UK’s largest station in terms of floor space and number of platforms and mainly serves trains heading to the South and West of the UK.

As it’s constantly crowded, you're very likely to take another client right after you’ve dropped off one. Located right behind the London Eye, expect some tourist passengers as well. 

Location: Lambeth, Waterloo Rd, SE1 8SW

Liverpool Street 

Location: Bishopsgate, Liverpool St, EC2M 7PY

Liverpool Street combines three high-earning factors: financial district proximity, major transport hub status, and Shoreditch nightlife connections, making it profitable throughout the day.

Why it's a premium earning location:

• High concentration of Uber Comfort and Exec requests

• Business professionals with corporate expense accounts

• Quick turnaround rides to City of London, Canary Wharf, and Mayfair

• Evening demand from Shoreditch hospitality workers and nightlife

Peak earning opportunities:

Morning rush (7-9am):

• Commuters arriving from Cambridge, Essex, East Anglia

• Short rides to City offices (5-15 minutes)

• Uber Comfort preferred by business travellers

Lunch window (12-2pm):

• Business lunch trips to Mayfair, Soho, City restaurants

• Medium-length rides (15-25 minutes)

• Higher tips from expense-account lunches

Evening rush (5-7pm):

• Highest Uber Exec demand of the day

• Destinations: Mayfair restaurants, Canary Wharf, home to suburbs

• Longer rides with premium pricing

Late evening (9pm-1am):

• Shoreditch nightlife overspill

• Tech workers heading home after late office hours

• Short-to-medium rides (typically UberX)

Pro tip: Position yourself on the Bishopsgate side during morning and evening peaks for quick business pickups. After 8pm, move towards the Shoreditch exit for nightlife-related rides.

Best for: Comfort, Exec (peak hours) / UberX (evenings)

Paddington 

Another famous railway terminus and London Underground station, Paddington, is also associated with the Paddington bear, a renowned character in children’s literature named after this station.

The surrounding area is mainly residential, so expect more locals than tourists as passengers. It’s also an important station for commuters and regional passengers. 

Location: Praed St, W2

Harrods 

Harrods Limited is an iconic London shopping destination, loved by both tourists and locals. As the UK’s largest and most exclusive department store, it boasts 330 departments offering everything from luxury fashion and jewellery to gourmet gifts and electronics.

Drawing up to 300,000 visitors on peak days, Harrods becomes especially magical during the Winter Holidays with its famous Seasonal Christmas department, making every visit a memorable experience.

Location: 87-135 Brompton Rd, SW1X 7XL

Selfridges on Oxford Street 

The other popular option for shopping in London is Selfridges' flagship store on Oxford Street. Selfridge is a chain of high-end department stores, and the flagship store is the second largest store in the UK after Harrods. This was Uber’s most popular destination in 2021, conveniently located on Oxford Street, London’s top spot for high-end shopping.

If you’re picking someone up from Harrods or Selfridges. Be prepared to give them a hand with their shopping bags and ensure you have enough storage space.

Location: 400 Oxford St, W1A 1AB

Soho 

Going to Soho is a wise choice if you’re a night owl and prefer working before dawn. This is one of London’s entertainment districts, with many nightclubs, theatres, restaurants and people on the street 24/7. Soho is also the place of Chinatown, a popular spot in London for its Asian food and quirky decor. 

Location: City of Westminster, West End of London

Bonus High-Earning Locations: Event-Driven Hotspots

Some of London's most lucrative earning opportunities aren't constant—they happen during events. Smart PCO drivers monitor event calendars and position themselves strategically to capitalise on surge pricing and high demand.

Wembley Stadium

Location: Wembley, HA9 0WS

When Wembley hosts football matches, concerts, or major events, the earning potential is exceptional. With a 90,000 capacity, post-event demand creates significant surge pricing opportunities.

Why it's profitable:

• Major surge pricing during event exits (usually 30-90 minutes after events end)

• Long-distance rides common (fans travelling across London)

• Premium ride requests from corporate box holders

Strategy: Arrive 15-20 minutes before the event ends and position yourself near the stadium exits. The post-match or post-concert rush typically generates £50-£100+ in 2-3 hours. Check the Wembley Stadium events calendar weekly to plan ahead.

Best for: UberX, Comfort (occasionally Exec for corporate events)

The O2 Arena (Greenwich)

Location: Peninsula Square, Greenwich, SE10 0DX

With a 20,000+ capacity and 200+ events annually, The O2 is one of London's most consistent event-driven earning locations.

Why it's profitable:

• Predictable surge pricing post-concert

• Audience typically books premium rides after spending on entertainment

• Multiple events weekly create regular opportunities

Strategy: The golden window is 15-45 minutes after events finish. Most concerts end between 10pm-11pm, creating a concentrated demand spike. Position yourself in the designated pickup zone before the rush.

Peak earning times: Thursday-Saturday nights, 10pm-midnight

Best for: UberX, Comfort

Excel London (Royal Docks)

Location: One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL

Excel hosts over 400 events yearly, from trade shows to conventions, attracting business professionals with corporate expense accounts.

Why it's profitable:

• Business travellers prefer Comfort and Exec rides

• Higher-than-average tips from corporate passengers

• Consistent demand during trade show hours (9am-6pm)

Strategy: Check the Excel London events calendar and focus on large B2B trade shows. Convention days (typically Tuesday-Thursday) generate steady demand for airport runs and hotel transfers.

Best for: Comfort, Exec

Canary Wharf

Location: Canary Wharf, E14

London's second-largest financial district consistently generates high-value ride requests, particularly for Uber Comfort and Exec.

Why it's profitable:

• Corporate expense accounts mean passengers choose premium rides

• Short-to-medium distance trips to City of London, Westminster, Mayfair

• Less congested than central London, faster turnaround times

Peak earning times:

• Morning: 7-9am (arrivals from home)

• Evening: 5-7pm (departures to dinner/home)

• Lunch: 12-2pm (business lunch trips)

Strategy: Position yourself near major office buildings like One Canada Square during peak hours. Evening rides often request Comfort or Exec, with destinations like Mayfair restaurants or Liverpool Street for train connections.

Best for: Comfort, Exec (UberX during lunch hours)

About Splend

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