Heathrow Gatwick Bus Shuttle Transfer
National Express Airport Coach Service - High Frequency Both Directions
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| Heathrow - Gatwick Airport National Express Coach |
The only direct public transport between London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports are the National Express coaches which shuttle between the two airports.
Note - there is no Heathrow - Gatwick train service.
If your airline ticket arrives at one airport and departs from another your transfer is not included in the flight ticket cost. Even though you may be ticketed through both airports, you will still have to personally transport your luggage between Heathrow and Gatwick.
How Long Between Flights ?
The absolute minimum time between flights without contingency that you should contemplate making a transfer between Heathrow and Gatwick is 3 hours - and that is with a through ticket using Terminal 5 at Heathrow.
If you are changing airlines with separate tickets then you probably need a minimum of 4 hours between flights.
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| Overview LHR-LGW |
| Heathrow - Gatwick Bus |
| Central London Stopover |
| Group & Private Transfers |
Finding The Bus At Gatwick & Heathrow
At Gatwick the National Express bus visits both North and South Terminals. The coach bays are well signed and are directly in front of the passenger terminals.
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| London Transfers |
| Heathrow |
| Gatwick |
| Stansted |
| Luton |
| Inter Airport Transfers |
| Heathrow - Gatwick |
| Heathrow - Stansted |
| Heathrow - Luton |
| Gatwick - Stansted |
| Gatwick - Luton |
| Stansted - Luton |
| Airport Hotels |
| Heathrow |
| Gatwick |
| Stansted |
| Luton |
| Airport Car Parking |
| Heathrow |
| Gatwick |
| Stansted |
| Luton |
| Airport Hotel + Parking |
| Heathrow |
| Gatwick |
| Stansted |
| Luton |
| Airlines |
| British Airways |
| BMI |
| Virgin Atlantic |
| FlyBE |
| easyJet |
| Ryanair |
| Other Budget Airlines |
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At Heathrow its a lot more complicated, the key points are :.
- No buses visit Terminals 1 and 3 - you walk to the Central Bus Station
- All buses start/terminate at the Central Bus station. (Terminals 1 and 3)
- Most buses will visit either Terminal 4 or Terminal 5, a few visit both.
- You can travel free from Terminal 4 and 5 to the Central Bus station by train.
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The walk from Terminals 1 and 3 to the bus station takes about 10 minutes. Its luggage trolley friendly and is mostly along moving walkways and lifts. Its also underground so you are not exposed to the elements.
The Heathrow Express trains run every 15 minutes from Terminal 5 and Terminal 4 over to the central area where the bus station is.
This journey is free. Stations are deep underground.
Road Congestion Warning!
The route of about 45 miles between Heathrow and Gatwick is along heavily congested motorway/freeway.
Mondays to Fridays between 06:30 and 10:00 traffic congestion is routine, expect delays of 15 minutes or more in the Gatwick - Heathrow direction.
Between 15:30 and 19:00 the delays are in the Heathrow-Gatwick direction there is again routine severe congestion.
Timetables, Fares & Ticketing Heathrow - Gatwick Bus
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Adult Fare: £24.50 Single, £40.00 Return |
| Children's Fares Available. E tickets immediately dispatched to your inbox, use link left. For full timetables click through on link button left. |
Typical Journey Times Heathrow - Gatwick Bus
Below are typical times taken by buses. Bear in mind if you are using Terminals 4 or 5 at Heathrow not all buses visit these terminals. Some visit both, some just visit one on their way to/from Heathrow bus station by Terminals 1 and 3.
Journey times are similar times between stops in the reverse to the table below.
| Typical Journey Times of National Express Heathrow - Gatwick Bus | ||||
| Heathrow Bus Station (Terminals 1,3) | 00:00 | 0:00 | 00:00 | |
| Heathrow Terminal 4 | - | 00:20 | 00:20 | |
| Heathrow Terminal 5 | 00:15 | 00:35 | - | |
| Gatwick North Terminal | 01:05 | 01:25 | 01:10 | |
| Gatwick South Terminal | 01:15 | 01:35 | 01:20 | |
| Note: These are the only stops, there are no stops at hotels etc There are around 100 buses a day in each direction, use timetable link above for precise times. |
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National Express Luggage Allowance
Luggage allowance is often a lot less than flight baggage allowances if you are traveling to/from North America. Luggage entitlement is limited to two cases per person in the hold, neither of which should weigh more than 20kg (44lbs). In the cabin you can take a small item of luggage like a handbag or laptop.
Drivers do not weigh the luggage and typically are quite flexible, but don't count on it and don't abuse the allowance.
National Express have introduced an excess luggage policy with charges and if you have outsize items or unusual items you really need to check out the detail of the luggage policy.
If you are concerned about the security of your luggage in the hold it is rather good. The blog video right depicts the controlled manner in which luggage is loaded and unloaded.
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Time To Kill At The Airport? - Why Not Visit Windsor Beside Heathrow Airport
If you have a late flight out of Heathrow and have to check out of your hotel by late morning then you have time to kill. Similarly, if you are in transit between flights with a long gap in between, killing time at the airport is something most people dread the thought off.
A much more attractive proposition is to spend your time in the attractive town of Windsor, just a few miles from Heathrow Airport. Windsor Castle pictured right is what it is famous for but there is much much more to Windsor and Eton than the castle.
We have flexible packages for all group sizes.
A luggage storage service is available whilst you are in Windsor and there is a flat fee rate, no matter how much or little time you spend in Windsor - no waiting time charges apply.
The stopover solution is a private solution customised to every customer. This is not a public tour with set operating times.
Windsor Stopover / Late Flight Solution - More Details
Gatwick - Heathrow Airport Private Transfer Prices
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| Gatwick Hotels Indicative Pricing * prices sampled for mid April 2012 Double/twin room 2 people inc taxes |
Typical Double Rate * | Hotel Transfer | Car Parking Deals | Comments | |
| Midweek | Weekend | ||||
| On Airport Hotels - Hotels you can walk to hotel from Gatwick passenger terminals | |||||
| Yotel Gatwick | £62 | £62 | Inside South Terminal | No | Free shuttle train from North Terminal |
£76 |
£63 |
Walk or |
Yes | Only budget hotel |
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£81 |
£67 |
Walk or |
Yes | In the South Terminal |
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£80 |
£68 |
Linked South Terminal |
Yes | Walkway South Terminal |
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£119 |
£78 |
Linked North Terminal |
Yes | Linked to South Terminal by Mono rail link |
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| Off Airport Hotels - Hotels with own transport facility to/ from Gatwick passenger terminals | |||||
£38 |
£38 |
Courtesy Bus |
Yes | Very quiet location |
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£55 |
£40 |
Courtesy Bus |
Yes | 2 Star chain hotel |
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£42 |
£42 |
Courtesy Bus |
Yes | Mystery 4 star hotel |
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£42 |
£42 |
Courtesy Bus |
Yes | Family Rooms For 4 |
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£43 |
£43 |
Courtesy Bus |
Yes | Southern perimeter of airport, local bus link |
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Gatwick Europa ~+# |
£43 |
£43 |
Courtesy Bus |
Yes | Cheaper Europa Lodge |
| Travelodge Gatwick Central +# | £38 | £46 | Courtesy Bus £3.00 Person |
No | Edge of Horley 1 Mile south of airport |
£47 |
£47 |
Courtesy Bus |
Yes | Rural location |
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| Premier Inn Manor Royal ~+# | £61 |
£47 |
Courtesy Bus £3.00 Person |
Yes | On business park in North Crawley |
£62 |
£47 |
Courtesy Bus |
Yes | Free WiFi |
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£49 |
£49 |
Courtesy Bus |
Yes | 2 Star |
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| Gatwick Worth + | £50 | £50 | Courtesy Bus £3.00 Person |
Yes | Modern budget hotel on outskirts of Crawley |
£74 |
£50 |
Courtesy Bus |
No | Free overnight parking |
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£79 |
£50 |
Courtesy Bus |
Yes | Cheapest rates |
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£60 |
£52 |
Taxi £6.00 |
Yes | Edge of Horley |
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£96 |
£54 |
Courtesy Bus |
Yes | In Crawley Town Centre close to railway station |
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£80 |
£58 |
Courtesy Bus |
Yes | Outskirts Crawley, |
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£85 |
£65 |
Courtesy Bus |
Yes | Cheapest rates |
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| Off Airport Bed & Breakfast style accommodation with own transfer facility to/ from Gatwick | |||||
£35 |
£35 |
Taxi transfer £6 per room |
Yes | Taxi Transfer |
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£44 |
£44 |
Free shuttle |
No | Free airport shuttle |
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| Acorn Lodge ~+ | £59 | £59 | Shuttle £2 person return | Yes | 24-hour transfers Breakfast included |
| Corner House ~+# | £60 | £60 | Shuttle or local bus |
No | 24-hour transfers £5 per room |
| Gatwick Belmont ~+# | £63 | £63 | Shuttle or local bus |
No | Shuttle £5 per room 09:00 - 21:00 |
| Castle Lodge Guest House ~+# | £64 | £64 | Free shuttle or local bus |
No | Free 24-hour transfers Breakfast included |
| Glenalmond Guest House ~ | £65 | £65 | Free shuttle or local bus |
No | Free airport shuttle Breakfast included |
| Gatwick House ~# | £75 | £75 | Free shuttle or local bus |
No | Free airport shuttle Breakfast included |
| Rosemead Guest House ~# | £75 | £75 | Free shuttle or local bus |
No | Free airport shuttle to airport only |
| Off Airport Hotels with local public bus and train direct to Gatwick passenger terminals | |||||
| Ramada Crawley ~+# | £56 | £46 | Bus, train or taxi (£8.50) |
Yes | In the heart of Crawley town centre |
| Holiday Inn Express Crawley +# | £60 | £59 | Bus, train or taxi |
Yes | Free overnight parking Breakfast included |
| ~ Single Rooms + Triple Rooms # Quad Rooms | |||||
| Heathrow Hotels Indicative Pricing * prices sampled for mid April 2012 Double/twin room 2 people inc taxes |
Typical Double Rate * | Hotel Transfer | Car Parking Deals | Comments | |
| Midweek | Weekend | ||||
Hotels Walkable To Passenger Terminals (Note: No Hotels Within Walking Distance Of Terminals 1 & 3) |
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| Yotel Heathrow Terminal 4 | £69 | £69 | At Terminal 4 | No | Capsule Hotel. Check-in after 18:00, check-out by 08:00 |
£125 |
£96 |
At
Terminal 4 |
Yes | Hotel with walkway to T 4 |
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£191 |
£102 |
At
Terminal 5 |
Yes | Hotel linked to Terminal 5 |
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Heathrow Airport Accommodation With Transport To Passenger Terminals |
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£52 |
£35 |
No | Breakfast Included |
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£39 |
£36 |
Yes | Low cost hotel with |
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£41 |
£41 |
No | 3 Star at NE corner of airport McDonalds next door. |
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Heathrow Lodge ~+# |
£45 |
£45 |
Free Bus |
No | En-suite +£10/£13 |
£45 |
£45 |
No | Ultra no frills hotel |
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£55 |
£46 |
No | Travelodge for Terminals 1,3,4 |
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£69 |
£46 |
Yes | Hotel close to T5 |
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£72 |
£47 |
No | Attractive pricing for 4 star |
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£77 |
£47 |
Free Local Bus |
No | One of three Premier Inns at Heathrow |
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£77 |
£47 |
Yes | One of three Premier Inns at Heathrow |
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£126 |
£48 |
No | Cheapest rates |
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£56 |
£50 |
No | By J14 of M25 motorway |
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£59 |
£50 |
Yes | Mystery Hotel Allocated |
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£69 |
£50 |
Taxi £12-£20 |
No | Opposite Feltham Station |
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£101 |
£52 |
Yes | Cheapest rates |
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£115 |
£52 |
Yes | Cheapest rates |
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£77 |
£53 |
No | By Junction 3 of M4 Motorway |
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£107 |
£53 |
Yes | One of the closest hotels |
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| Arora International +# | £95 | £57 | Free Local Bus |
Yes | 4 Star hotel on airport perimeter |
£99 |
£59 |
No | 3 Star by Junction 4 |
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£124 |
£71 |
Yes | Cheapest rates |
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£174 |
£71 |
Yes | 4 Star on main hotel strip |
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£132 |
£72 |
Yes | 4 Star by J5 of M4 |
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£114 |
£72 |
Yes | Pub, Italin restaurant, |
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£140 |
£77 |
Yes | Overlooks runway |
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£103 |
£79 |
No | By Hatton Cross Underground |
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£149 |
£82 |
Yes | 5 Star, |
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£85 |
£85 |
Local Bus |
No | Traditional B&B |
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£173 |
£96 |
No | Newest hotel at Heathrow opened September 2011 |
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£126 |
£126 |
No | 4 Star Grade Apartments |
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£215 |
£131 |
Yes | Very large 4 Star hotel on |
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| ~ Single Rooms + Triple Rooms # Quad Rooms | |||||
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