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Transport Between Gatwick Airport And London

Make An Informed Decision On Your Transport Between Gatwick Airport & London

Gatwick Express Train Interiot

Aboard The Gatwick Express Train

Author: Bob Handford

Gatwick Airport is about 28 miles (45 kms) south of the centre of London. There is wide range of rail and bus transport options for passengers using London Gatwick Airport. Rail options predominate though with the train station at Gatwick embedded within the South Terminal.


The roads between Gatwick and Central London are not motorway/freeway standard but wind through suburbia with traffic lights making for a tedious stop, start journey. Road transfers are really for groups and those where lowest cost is the overriding factor using the bus services available. Rail is at least twice as fast as transfers by any road vehicle.


To make an informed decision on which option is best for you, you first need to be sure of where exactly in London your destination or departure point is. London is a very spread out city, and just knowing where your London accommodation is will probably rule out a few of the options on offer. Seems obvious but you would be surprised how many people don't know whereabouts in London their accommodation is when deciding on the best transfer option for them.

There is no universal single best way to travel between Gatwick and London, there is the cheapest, fastest etc, but no best option for everyone.

Gatwick Airport To/From Central London - Your Options

  • Gatwick Express Train. This is the fastest, most comfortable and expensive option (apart from a private car), though there are good deals. The terminus in Central London at Victoria is also very central and a good transit point to your accommodation. If comfort and speed is everything then this is your choice. If you normally would get a taxi to and from the airport, do yourself a favour, take the Gatwick Express to Victoria then get black London cab from there.

  • Southern Trains run the same route as the Gatwick Express. They take about 15 minutes more to Victoria as they are stopping trains. They can get very crowded at peak times , but are much cheaper than the Gatwick Express. Before you get to Victoria the train will stop at Clapham Junction where you can change trains to Waterloo Station by County Hall on the opposite side of the River Thames to Big Ben.

  • First Capital Connect Train runs a different route into Central London. It is almost as fast and is significantly cheaper than the Gatwick Express. It stops at several stations mostly in the City Of London, the business area of London . One stop is St Pancras, a major cheap hotel district in itself and very handy if you are staying in the Bloomsbury hotel district and is also the terminus for the Eurostar trains to Paris. Another station London Bridge you can change trains to Charing Cross, London's most central station in the heart of London by Trafalgar Square.

  • National Express Coaches provide a full size bus connection that runs 24x7 between Gatwick and London Victoria. Whilst fares are significantly cheaper than rail. Journey time is around three times longer than train and frequencies are only hourly. The only reason to use this service is price.

  • easyBus provide a frequent minibus shuttle between Gatwick and London West Brompton Underground. Buses are minibuses and fares are variable and done on the low cost airline model, the earlier you book (on-line) the cheaper the fare. easyBus is if you book in advance cheaper still than National Express, more frequent and faster. The terminus at West Brompton is not convenient though unless you are staying in the Kensington area of London.

  • Private Car / Taxi - Unless you have mobility problems or a lot of luggage a private car doesn't make much sense. The Gatwick Express Train plus a cab at it's terminus in London, Victoria is going to be much faster, more comfortable and much less cost than a private car or taxi.

  • Groups will be attracted by the price and convenience of their own vehicle. Trying to keep a large group together on public transport can be stressful. Once you have about 10 people or more a charter bus with driver becomes very price competitive, a group of 30 or more and it becomes a no-brainer. A lot of groups also take advantage to have an orientation of tour of London as part of the transfer.

Shared Hotel Shuttle Vans Between Gatwick & London

Unlike many countries there is currently no shared 'supershuttle' style minibus operation to hotels we would like to put up here. Every now and again somebody tries but operations have come and gone in the last few years, entrants seem unable to compete with the public transport alternatives.

London - Gatwick Airport Comparison of Fares

Service

Standard Adult Fare*

One-Way

 Return 

easyBus To West Brompton

£2-£10

£4-£20

National Express Bus To Victoria

£6.50†

£13.00†

Southern Train To Victoria

£7.50/£14.40~

£15.00/£28.80~

First Capital Train To St Pancras

£10.00

£19.00

Gatwick Express Train (Advance on-line)

£17.75

£31.05

Gatwick Express Train (Purchased at station)

£19.90

£34.90

Saloon/Sedan Car (2 People)

£84

£168

Small Bus (12 People)

£230

£460

* Standard adult ticket. Other promotional fares may appear from time to time.

† On-line fare. £1 Booking Fee.

~ Cheapest Off Peak or Advance Purchase Fare/Anytime fares
Gatwick To London - Location of London Termini Map
Mao Of Locations In London Where Gatwick Airport Transport Departs From

Victoria As A Place For Your Accommodation In London

Victoria has a central location n London and is a major hotel district with all grades of accommodation. Victoria is major transport hub and a great base for sightseeing. Not the cheapest, but not the most expensive district to stay. Cheaper during working week. If you are flying into Gatwick, the district is a benchmark to beat.

Victoria commands a central location on the fringes of the West End, ( it has two West End theatres). Residents include J.K.Rowling and Google, and of course the Queen has a pad here at Buckingham Palace..

The full breadth of accommodation from cheap and nasty to top of the range. You pay a premium to districts like Kensington and Paddington but much less than West End. Room rates are volatile, but the working week is normally cheaper than at the weekend. Peak weekend months the whole area can be sold out.

Victoria is a major transport hub both for within London and far afield. Many tours start from Victoria, especially day tours out of London. If you are flying into Gatwick this should be one of the districts you check out. Airport buses run to all 4 major London airports and there are direct trains to Gatwick and Dover cruise and ferry port. London's only long distance bus station is at Victoria.

Victoria - What Is The District Like?

Special Offer Day Tours From London