4 people, 4 suitcases

Gatwick (LGW): the best way to central London for four people

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.

← Back to the full comparison for London Gatwick Airport (LGW)

Book aheadPrivate carPre-booked private car£68 per vehicle · estimateCheck price

Gatwick (LGW) to central London

People4

Bags4

Verdict for your case

Southern: £76.80 for the group, about 55 min. No booking needed.

Train

Southern

Our pick

55 min

For the group£76.80

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£76.80

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

Fastest

50 min

For the group£96

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

Cheapest

1 h 35 min

For the group£24

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£1362 vehicles · estimate

Check price

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

70 min

For the group£100–£200estimate

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

Sources: official operators, airport and port authorities, city taxi regulations.Checked on October 4, 2026How we compare: method and sources

Every option in detail

Train

Gatwick 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.

Source: Transport for London ↗

Train

Southern

£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.

Source: Transport for London ↗

Train

Thameslink

£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.

Source: Transport for London ↗

Bus

National 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.

Source: National Express ↗

Taxi

£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.

Source: Welcome Pickups ↗

Private car

Pre-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.

Check price

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

Gatwick (LGW) with four people: what is the cheapest way?

National Express coach: £24 for the group of four, about 1 h 35 min door to door.

Gatwick (LGW): what is the best option for four people with four suitcases?

Southern: £76.80 for the group, about 55 min. No booking needed.

Gatwick (LGW): is a taxi cheaper than four tickets?

No. National Express coach costs £24 for four tickets, against Taxi at £100–£200 for the group.

Gatwick (LGW): is one taxi enough for four people?

The fare here is counted for up to 4 passengers per taxi, so four people go in one taxi for £100–£200.

Gatwick (LGW): which options are easiest with four suitcases?

Luggage is carried for you with: Pre-booked private car, Taxi.

Gatwick (LGW): where do these prices and times come from?

Prices and times were checked on October 4, 2026 against Transport for London, National Express, Welcome Pickups, linked in the list of options on this page.

Arrival around 00:30