Heathrow to Gatwick: coach, train and taxi compared
The two airports are about 62 km apart on opposite sides of London, and there is no direct train. The National Express coach is the simplest way, and the only one with no change. Rail through central London takes longer and costs more, and a taxi or pre-booked car is for groups with bags.
- Cheapest
- £14.90National Express coach · 1 h 30 min
- Fastest
- 65 minTaxi · £140–£190
- Taxi
- £140–£190Taxi · 65 min
National Express coach is the best value: £29.80 for the group, about 1 h 30 min.
Bus
National Express coach
1 h 30 min
For the group£29.80
National Express coach
National Express · direct, no change
- Per person
- £14.90
- Door to door
- 1 h 30 min
- Runs
- 00:40–22:40
- Frequency
- about every 30 min
- Board at
- Heathrow Central Bus Station for Terminals 2 and 3, or stops at Terminal 4 and Terminal 5
- Suitcases
- Fine
Train
Elizabeth line to Farringdon, then Thameslink
1 h 45 min
For the group£46.20
Elizabeth line to Farringdon, then Thameslink
TfL and Thameslink · one change at Farringdon
- Per person
- £23.10
- Door to door
- 1 h 45 min
- Runs
- 05:21–23:36
- Frequency
- about every 15 min
- Board at
- Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 station, then Farringdon
- Suitcases
- Awkward
Private car
Pre-booked private car
65 min
For the group£142estimateCheck price
Pre-booked private car
Fixed price, driver meets you in arrivals
- Per person
- £142 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
65 min
For the group£140–£190estimate
Taxi
Metered black cab or local taxi
- Per person
- £140–£190 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 65 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Rank outside arrivals
- Board at
- Taxi rank outside your Heathrow terminal
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Every option in detail
BusNational Express coach
- £14.90
- 1 h 30 min
- 00:40–22:40
- → Gatwick North Terminal and South Terminal
National Express says fares start from 14.90 pounds one way including a 1.50 pound booking fee, which is waived if you book with an account. The fastest journey is 50 minutes from Terminal 5 to Gatwick North, and 50 to 75 minutes is normal. The company lists up to 56 departures a day, with a first departure from Heathrow Central Bus Station at 00:40 and a last at 22:40. The luggage allowance is one large suitcase or two medium cases and one soft hand bag. Book a specific time online, because the cheapest fares go quickly. FlixBus and The Airline also run the route, according to Heathrow.
TrainElizabeth line to Farringdon, then Thameslink
- £23.10
- 1 h 45 min
- 05:21–23:36
- → Gatwick Airport station, South Terminal
Take the Elizabeth line from Heathrow to Farringdon, then change to Thameslink for Gatwick Airport. The fares published by TfL give 23.10 pounds with contactless or Oyster, and 31.70 pounds at peak times, which are Monday to Friday 06:30 to 09:30 and 16:00 to 19:00. The two trains take 79 to 100 minutes in TfL's planner, so allow about 105 minutes door to door. The first journey from Heathrow is about 05:21 and the last about 23:36 on the weekday we checked. You change platforms at Farringdon with luggage, which is the weak point. The Heathrow Express and Gatwick Express combination via Paddington and Victoria costs around 53 pounds and takes about as long.
TaxiTaxi
- £140–£190 per vehicle (estimate)
- 65 min
- 24 hours
- → Gatwick North or South Terminal
A metered fare for about 62 km on the M25 is likely to land between 140 and 190 pounds, which is our estimate. Some drivers prefer not to take a job this long, so ask for a price before you get in. A fixed-price listing for this route shows 142 pounds for a saloon, and it is safer than a meter in a traffic jam. Allow about an hour, with the M25 the weak point, particularly near the M23 and in the afternoon peak.
Private carPre-booked private car
- £142 per vehicle (estimate)
- 65 min
- 24 hours
- → Gatwick North or South Terminal
A standard saloon for up to four passengers with two suitcases starts at about 142 pounds on the listing we checked, and larger cars cost more. The price is fixed when you book, so traffic does not change it. The driver tracks your flight and waits if it lands late. Allow about an hour, and book at least a day ahead.
The same trip in a different situation
Arriving late at night
The coach timetable has a gap. National Express shows a first Heathrow departure at 00:40 and a last at 22:40, and we did not find a service between them. The last rail connection from Heathrow is around 23:36 on the weekday we checked and reaches Gatwick after 01:00. Taxis and pre-booked cars run all night. If you land after 23:00, the car is the dependable choice.
See the comparison →4 people, 4 suitcasesTravelling as a group of four
Four people on the coach pay 59.60 pounds, and on the train 92.40 pounds off-peak or 126.80 at peak. A pre-booked saloon for four at about 142 pounds is 35.50 each. A taxi at 140 to 190 pounds is 35 to 47.50 each. For one or two people the coach is the cheapest sensible option. For four people with bags and a tight time, the car costs about two and a half times the coach fare and removes the change at Farringdon.
See the comparison →Practical tips
- Minimum sensible connection is about 4 hours between landing at Heathrow and your next departure at Gatwick with hand luggage only, and 5 hours if you must collect and recheck bags. That is our guidance, not an official figure, and it allows for passport control, 50 to 75 minutes on the coach, and check-in and security at Gatwick.
- Heathrow says there are no direct trains, and warns you to allow extra time for passport control, bags, check-in and security when changing airports.
- Book the National Express coach for a specific time. The 1.50 pound booking fee is waived with an account.
- Coaches leave from three Heathrow stops, Central Bus Station for Terminals 2 and 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5, and arrive at both Gatwick terminals. Check the stop on your ticket.
- Separate tickets are not protected if you miss your onward flight. Look at your airline's rules before you book two separate tickets.
- Thameslink arrives at Gatwick South Terminal. For the North Terminal, take the free shuttle, about two minutes.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get from Heathrow to Gatwick?
The National Express coach runs direct, from 14.90 pounds, in 50 to 75 minutes. Rail needs a change at Farringdon, costs 23.10 pounds and takes about 105 minutes door to door.
Is there a direct train from Heathrow to Gatwick?
No. Heathrow says there are no direct trains, and you change in central London, most simply at Farringdon, using the Elizabeth line and Thameslink.
How long should I allow between flights at Heathrow and Gatwick?
At least 4 hours with hand luggage only and 5 hours if you must recheck bags. That is our guidance, since the coach takes up to 75 minutes and you must pass through immigration and security.
How much is a taxi from Heathrow to Gatwick?
A metered fare is likely to be 140 to 190 pounds, and a fixed-price saloon is about 142 pounds for up to four passengers. The journey takes about an hour.
What is the first and last coach from Heathrow to Gatwick?
National Express shows a first departure at 00:40 and a last at 22:40 from Heathrow Central Bus Station. Up to 56 coaches a day run in between.
Both ends of this trip
Other arrival points in London
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