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London Gatwick Airport to / from Harwich

Logistics Transferring Between Gatwick & Harwich By Private and Public Transport

Gatwick Airport Express Train

Harwich is around 90 miles from London and by road about 105 miles from Gatwick Airport, at least a 2 hour journey with a clear road.

Of the main cruise terminals serving London, Southampton, Dover and Harwich, Harwich is the least accessible from Gatwick. Harwich is the other side of London from both main London airports, Heathrow and Gatwick so its not the most convenient transfer.

To travel to Harwich from Gatwick the key points are:

• There is no direct scheduled daily public transport between Heathrow and Harwich

• By public transport, the options available require three or more modes of transport booked independently of one another and will take around 3 hours or more.

• When a large cruise ship is in port, a cruise bus runs direct to the cruise terminal at Harwich from Central London

• The cruise bus departs Victoria Station the terminus of the Gatwick Express train at around 8 a.m. so is of limited value if you are flying in the same day of your cruise.

• Private cars should do the journey in 2 hours or more, but much of the route is around London's orbital motorway, the busiest in Europe where traffic comes to a standstill routinely during commute hours and no easy alternative if a major accident blocks the road.

Private Transfers By Car/Sedan, Van or Bus

If you're flying in on the day of your cruise you may have little option but to hire a private car. So lets get this option out of the way first.

On a good day with a clear road a vehicle may make the journey in 2 hours, fine if you're arriving on a 6 a.m. flight on a Sunday, but on a workday like Monday the same journey may be nearer 3 hours.

More Details of Private Transfers Between Harwich & London

Gatwick to Harwich By Public Transport

Harwich is quite an isolated town, the only viable public transport to it from the London area is by train. Harwich is on a branch line, a spur off a main line from London's Liverpool Street Station. The good news is that Harwich Ferry & Cruise Terminal is integrated into Harwich International train station and there are broadly hourly trains. The even better news is that when there is a large cruise ship in port a special non-stop train is put on in each direction timed to coincide with disembarkation/embarkation. The bad news is that Liverpool Street has no direct public transport from Gatwick.

Gatwick to Liverpool Street

Gatwick to Liverpool Street will consist of a train into London then a dash by taxi or London Underground across town to Liverpool Street.

From Gatwick you can either get the Gatwick Express train to London Victoria or the First Capital train to London Bridge or Blackfriars. The Gatwick Express train is the pricey dedicated airport train, the First Capital train is more a commuter train that may be packed at peak commute times.

Victoria is by far the furthest train station from Liverpool Street than either Blackfriars or London Bridge but has a direct London Underground link. If you don't fancy dragging your cruise luggage around the London Underground get the First Capital train to London Bridge then a black London taxi from the station rank. If you take First Capital and want to use the London Underground get off at Blackfriars where there is a direct Underground link to Liverpool Street.

If you are travelling on a Sunday its well worth checking the rail companies web sites as Sunday is the main day for heavy maintenance where stretches of the line are occasionally shut down.

Harwich - Liverpool Street Train At Harwich

London Liverpool Street To/From Harwich By Train

There is a broadly hourly train between Harwich International Station and London's Liverpool Street Station. The Harwich line is a branch line and for nearly all train journeys between Harwich and London you will have to change trains at Manningtree Station.

Journey time is around 75 minutes.

Note: Liverpool Street Station is in the City Of London in the financial area of London, the other side of town from where most people will have their London hotel. The London Underground or a 15-20 minute taxi ride is a tedious add-on to most people's journey.

When one of the large cruise ships are in port a special cruise train is normally arranged. This runs once each way non-stop between Harwich International and Liverpool Street street. Otherwise it is the same train as the scheduled services.

London and Harwich Trains - Full Details

Harwich Cruise Bus - London Hotels & Heathrow To/From Harwich

This year a cruise bus shuttle has been introduced on dates when a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruise ship is visiting Harwich.

In the London to Harwich direction the bus picks up from hotels in all of the major hotel districts of Central London and also from Heathrow Airport where it will pick-up from a selection of Heathrow Airport hotels (but not passenger terminals) before going onto Harwich arriving around midday with a brief comfort stop at a large supermarket.

In the opposite Harwich to London direction there is a Meet n Greet service as you disembark. A short photo stop is made at the Tower of London before hotel drops in Central London and Heathrow. On this leg the bus will drop at any Heathrow passenger terminal or any mainstream Heathrow hotel. The service is scheduled to arrive at Heathrow about 1 p.m.

London to Harwich Cruise Bus - More Details

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