Gatwick is the second largest airport in the UK and although it tends to be seen as the ‘overflow’ runway choice for many long-haul carriers flying into London it is also a gateway to many European destinations. Budget airlines like EasyJet and Ryanair fly into Gatwick (unlike Heathrow), so it’s a good option if you’re coming for a mini-break.
It’s not the closest airport to central London (in fact, it’s about halfway between the city and the south coast) but transport to and from Gatwick has improved in recent years and is frequent, so you can be out of arrivals and into the centre of the city within an hour.
There are two terminals, so make sure you note whether you’re landing at the North or South Terminal when planning your transfer. The train station is at the South Terminal, just five minutes away from both departures and arrivals; don’t stress too much though, as there is a regular free shuttle service between the terminals which takes just two minutes.
Depending on your budget, and how fast you want to get into town, there are several transport options from Gatwick Airport to central London:
Trains:
Gatwick Express
Got extra money and want to get to central London in a hurry? Then get on board the Gatwick Express. This non-stop direct service between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria takes just 30 minutes; there are at least two trains an hour, more during busy periods.
Price: from £22.90
Pros: Convenient, fast and regular service into London Victoria, and you can pay with your Oyster card or other contactless payment. If you book online in advance directly through the Gatwick Express Website you can save 10%.
Cons: Expensive per person, although if you are in a group with 3 or more adults and travelling together off-peak you can save a third of the ticket price with GroupSave.
Southern trains regular service
Cheaper than the Gatwick Express but not as fast. It’s the same train line but it stops at more stations on the way, adding around 15 minutes to your journey.
Price: from £14.00
Pros: Trains go to either Victoria or London Bridge, both of which are in Zone 1. Again, you can pay with contactless/Oyster.
Cons: You’ll be competing for space with commuters, who won’t love you if you’ve got lots of luggage.
Thameslink
Thameslink has direct links to several London stations: London Bridge, London Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras International.
Price: from £13.80
Pros: The fastest service takes just 35 minutes, and there are over 100 trains a day. The carriages and doors are conveniently wider than those on Underground trains plus there are luggage racks and storage areas. For our money, it’s a great balance between cost and convenience.
Cons: As above; if you are travelling in the rush hour it will be extremely busy.
Bus/Coach
National Express
National Express offers trips from London Gatwick to London Victoria (the most popular), Earl’s Court and Hammersmith. Basic luggage allowance is one large suitcase plus one piece of soft hand luggage, any additional baggage must be added as paid extras from £10.00 each. They partner with EasyBus (see below) on some routes.
Price: technically from £7.00, more usually £10.50
Pros: Cheap-ish, comfy seats with decent leg room plus free wi-fi and toilets on board.
Cons: Slow. Expect your journey to take somewhere north of 1 hour 30 minutes, but allow for traffic delays; you will be at the mercy of the M25 (the infamous circular motorway around London). Possibly not a great option if you’re arriving around rush hour (Mon-Fri 7:30 to 9:30 and 17:30 to 19:30).
EasyBus
It’s a minibus, so conditions are generally more basic. There is no toilet on board so they make stops for ‘comfort breaks’. Luggage allowance is one item of ‘checked-in luggage’ plus one piece of soft hand luggage; you will need to buy an extra seat for any additional baggage.
Price: from £5.00
Pros: Cheap – with several additional drop-off points in central London including Baker Street and West Brompton (although for routes where they use National Express it will be Victoria). If your flight arrives early or late you can use the same ticket at no extra cost to travel on the next available bus, up to an hour either side of your booked time.
Cons: As above, it’s slow – they quote around two-and-a-half to three hours – and hard to predict your arrival time due to variations in traffic conditions.
Taxi
If you’re travelling in a small group or as a couple and don’t have a huge amount of luggage, you could get a black cab. There are taxi ranks operating 24/7 outside arrivals at both terminals, or you can pre-book one.
Price: from around £70.00 but could end up much higher.
Pros: If you want to tick a ride in an iconic London black cab off your to-do list then you could start here, but we recommend saving that experience for a shorter (and cheaper) trip after a night out.
Cons: Very expensive. If you’re not on a business trip and somebody else’s dime, maybe take the train. Subject to unpredictable traffic delays, during which the meter will keep ticking.
Cheapo Top Tip: check out our list of the essential apps you will need for your London trip, including a section on transport and getting around, plus a guide to how much data you may need for your adventures.
Uber/Bolt
Cab and ride-sharing services will be invaluable once you’re in town, but you will need to weigh up whether it’s the best way to travel from the airport – which will partly depend on where in London you are headed and at what time of day. A good compromise might be to get the train and then grab an Uber from Victoria.
Pros: Affordable per person if costs can be split, and more comfortable and convenient than public transport where you’ll almost certainly need to navigate London Underground to get to your accommodation. You can select the size of car you require to ensure you have room for luggage, and are given a price for your journey, so you can budget.
Cons: Surcharges and problems with availability can come into effect during peak hours. As with all road-based transport, you are subject to unpredictable traffic delays.
Ditching your luggage
Arriving into London early and don’t fancy hauling your luggage around for the day? Providers like Klook & Luggagent will same-day deliver your suitcase from the airport to your hotel or residence for around £40.00. Just register beforehand and drop your cases off at the desk. They can also pick your luggage up and bring it to the airport for you — potentially giving you an extra baggage-free day of exploring! Check out more luggage storage options here.
This article was first published in September 2017. It was last updated in December 2024.
