Gatwick Airport to London: train, coach, taxi compared
Gatwick has one rail station at the South Terminal and three train operators using it, so the real decision is which train to board. Gatwick Express is the fastest and the dearest, while Southern and Thameslink cost less and run more often. The coach is cheapest but slow, and taxis are expensive over this distance.
- Cheapest
- £6National Express coach · 1 h 35 min
- Fastest
- 50 minGatwick Express · £24
- Taxi
- £100–£200Taxi · 70 min
Southern: £38.40 for the group, about 55 min. No booking needed.
Train
Southern
55 min
For the group£38.40
Southern
Southern · stops to Victoria, 19.20 peak, 10.70 off-peak
- Per person
- £19.20
- Door to door
- 55 min
- Runs
- 05:38–23:55
- Frequency
- about every 30 min
- Board at
- Gatwick South Terminal station
- Suitcases
- Fine
Train
Thameslink
55 min
For the group£38.40
Thameslink
Thameslink · London Bridge, Farringdon and St Pancras
- Per person
- £19.20
- Door to door
- 55 min
- Runs
- 04:41–23:06
- Frequency
- every 10 to 15 min
- Board at
- Gatwick South Terminal station
- Suitcases
- Fine
Train
Gatwick Express
50 min
For the group£48
Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express · non-stop to Victoria
- Per person
- £24
- Door to door
- 50 min
- Runs
- 05:41–22:40
- Frequency
- about every 30 min
- Board at
- Gatwick South Terminal station, 5 minutes from arrivals
- Suitcases
- Fine
Bus
National Express coach
1 h 35 min
For the group£12
National Express coach
National Express · to Victoria Coach Station
- Per person
- £6
- Door to door
- 1 h 35 min
- Runs
- 01:00–23:30
- Frequency
- about every hour
- Board at
- Coach stop at North and South Terminals
- Suitcases
- Fine
Private car
Pre-booked private car
65 min
For the group£68estimateCheck price
Pre-booked private car
Fixed price, driver meets you in arrivals
- Per person
- £68 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 65 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Pre-booked
- Board at
- Meeting point in the arrivals hall
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Taxi
Taxi
70 min
For the group£100–£200estimate
Taxi
Black cab, metered
- Per person
- £100–£200 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 70 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Rank outside arrivals
- Board at
- Taxi rank outside both terminals
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Every option in detail
TrainGatwick Express
- £24
- 50 min
- 05:41–22:40
- → London Victoria
Non-stop to Victoria in about 30 minutes. The fare is 24 pounds with contactless or Oyster, and booking online with Gatwick Express gives 10 percent off selected tickets. It runs about twice an hour, so a missed train means a wait. First train is around 05:41 and the last around 22:40 on weekdays, with Sunday running slightly later. Southern trains cost less and take only a little longer, so Gatwick Express mostly suits people who time it well.
TrainSouthern
- £19.20
- 55 min
- 05:38–23:55
- → London Victoria
Southern takes 30 to 35 minutes to Victoria with a few stops. Pay as you go with contactless or Oyster costs 19.20 pounds at peak times and 10.70 pounds off-peak, per TfL. Peak times are weekday mornings and late afternoons, so off-peak applies to most arrivals. Online anytime and off-peak tickets and GroupSave for three or more are also sold by the operator. Trains are busier at rush hour but there are luggage racks. Southern runs some overnight services at weekends.
TrainThameslink
- £19.20
- 55 min
- 04:41–23:06
- → London Bridge
Thameslink goes through the centre to London Bridge in about 30 minutes, then Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras. The fare to London Bridge is 19.20 pounds at peak and 10.70 pounds off-peak with contactless or Oyster. It suits you if the hotel is in the City, Southwark or near King's Cross. It is not the best for Victoria or the West End. First train is around 04:41 and the last about 23:06 on weekdays.
BusNational Express coach
- £6
- 1 h 35 min
- 01:00–23:30
- → London Victoria Coach Station
Fares start from 6 pounds one way if you book ahead, with higher prices closer to the day. The fastest journey is 1 hour 5 minutes, and road traffic often makes it longer. Services run from about 01:00 to 23:30. Luggage allowance is one large suitcase and one hand bag. It is the cheapest way in if you are not in a hurry.
TaxiTaxi
- £100–£200 per vehicle (estimate)
- 70 min
- 24 hours
- → Door to door in central London
Cabs are metered, and fares to central London vary widely with traffic and time of day. Expect around 100 to 200 pounds, so agree a price or ask for an estimate before you set off. Extra charges apply for night journeys and the airport. Allow 45 to 70 minutes. Gatwick's official private hire operator is Airport Cars Gatwick, which offers fixed rates if booked in advance.
Private carPre-booked private car
- £68 per vehicle (estimate)
- 65 min
- 24 hours
- → Door to door in central London
A standard saloon for up to three passengers starts from 68 pounds to central London on the platform we checked. The price is fixed in advance, and the driver tracks your flight. Book at least a day ahead. Larger groups need a bigger car at a higher price.
The same trip in a different situation
Arriving late at night
The last Gatwick Express leaves around 22:40 on weekdays and the last Thameslink to London Bridge about 23:06. Southern keeps going later, with a train to Victoria at 23:55 on weekdays, and a few overnight trains on some nights. Anything after midnight on a Sunday to Thursday is thin, so check the live board at the South Terminal station. National Express runs services from 01:00. Taxis and pre-booked cars run all night and are the safe fallback for a late arrival.
See the comparison →4 people, 4 suitcasesTravelling as a group of four
Four people on Southern or Thameslink at peak pay 76.80 pounds, or 42.80 off-peak. Gatwick Express for four is 96. GroupSave gives about a third off off-peak fares for three to nine adults travelling together. A pre-booked car for three starts from 68 pounds, which beats three peak tickets only slightly. For four people with luggage, a larger car costs more than 68 pounds, so off-peak trains are still the cheapest sensible option.
See the comparison →Practical tips
- All trains leave from the South Terminal station. From the North Terminal take the free shuttle, which takes about two minutes.
- Southern and Thameslink share the same pay as you go fare, so board whichever train leaves first.
- Contactless and Oyster pay as you go work to central London stations, but tap in and out at both ends.
- Outside the weekday rush hours the pay as you go fare drops from 19.20 to 10.70 pounds, a saving of 8.50 pounds a head.
- Thameslink reaches Farringdon and St Pancras, so it can save a change if your hotel is north of the river.
- Do not take an unlicensed driver who approaches you in arrivals. Use the rank or book ahead.
Questions travellers ask
What is the cheapest way from Gatwick to central London?
A National Express coach from about 6 pounds, booked ahead. By train, Southern or Thameslink at off-peak cost 10.70 pounds with contactless or Oyster.
How long is the Gatwick Express to Victoria?
About 30 minutes non-stop. With the walk from arrivals and a wait for the next train, allow about 50 minutes. The fare is 24 pounds.
Is Gatwick Express worth it over Southern?
Usually not on price. Southern costs 19.20 pounds at peak or 10.70 off-peak against 24 pounds, and takes a few minutes longer. Gatwick Express wins only if its train leaves first.
Which station is best from Gatwick for central London?
Victoria for the West End and Westminster, London Bridge or Farringdon for the City, and St Pancras for King's Cross. Thameslink serves the last three, Southern and Gatwick Express serve Victoria.
How much is a taxi from Gatwick to central London?
Around 100 to 200 pounds metered, depending on traffic and destination. A pre-booked private car starts from about 68 pounds for up to three passengers.
Connections from here
Other arrival points in London
AirportLondonHeathrow (LHR)from £5.90 · 35 min
AirportLondonStansted (STN)from £6.99 · 60 min
Cruise portLondonSouthampton portfrom £6.40 · 2 h
Cruise portLondonDover portfrom £8 · 1 h 40 min
Train stationLondonSt Pancras stationFree · 22 min
ConnectionLondonHeathrow to Southamptonfrom £17.40 · 1 h 45 min
ConnectionLondonSt Pancras to Heathrowfrom £5.90 · 60 min