Gatwick Transport - Rail, Coach and Bus
Gatwick airport is easily accessible from nearby London and the south east, by both private and public transport. Explore the options below to find out which method of getting to Gatwick is best for you.
You can often make big savings when you research which method of travel you would like to use and book your tickets online. Transport providers will cut prices to those who book early, so it is definetly worth sorting out all transport to and from Gatwick Airport in advance and saves a lot of hassle too!
Latest Offers to and from Gatwick Airport
- easyBus from £2 online! Gatwick to London for early bookings!
- National ExpressDiscounted fares on coach travel to & from Gatwick, UK & Europe!
- 20% off return bookings With Dot2Dot hotel transfers!
- Save up to 43% on train tickets With thetrainline.com
Important - Transit Between Terminals
Please note that the Gatwick Transit Monorail between the North and South Terminals at Gatwick Airport will be closing for refurbishment in September 2009 and will be closed until the middle of next year (anticipated May 2010). Replacement buses will be provided from the upper terminal forecourt of each terminal and will depart every three minutes during the day (04.00-18.00) and every six minutes during the evening and night. BAA is advising passengers to leave at least 20 minutes for transfer between terminals during this time. The new shuttle service is anticipated to be fully operational at the start of August 2010.
Gatwick by Car
Travelling to Gatwick by car is a great option for most people. If you have your own car there are plenty of cheap airport parking options to choose from. If you have an early morning flight or would rather be closer to the airport the day before your flight the most hassle free option is to book an airport hotel.
This is a reasonably priced option and saves you the hassle of having to get up at the crack of dawn to travel for an early flight! Airport Hotel Shop offers great overnight hotel and long or short stay parking packages to save you money!
Gatwick Airport is easily accessible by car from the M23 which is connected to the M25 motorway and so to the whole country.
You can find out much more about directions, and view interactive transportation and terminal maps by visiting our Gatwick Maps & Directions page.
Gatwick Airport by Coach
Gatwick's coach station is on the lower forecourt of the South Terminal and the upper forecourt of the North Terminal. Drop off is at the terminal door of either the North or South terminal
Passengers arriving at South Terminal but requiring North Terminal can take a free transit train between the 2 terminals. National Express also operates the only direct connection between Heathrow and Gatwick Airports with over 100 services a day.
Ticket Desks are available in both the North and South terminals but you can save money as there is no booking fee when purchasing your tickets online.
You can also save money by travelling in a group with fares of £99 return for 4 passengers and just £24.75 for each additional adult on routes between Gatwick and Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Newport, Swansea, Warwick or Wolverhampton
Website: Book Online
Gatwick Airport by Taxi
Taxis are a great, hassle-free and convenient way to get to the airport. There are over 600 taxi companies serving Gatwick airport and the surrounding areas, many of which specialise in airport taxis and can offer great rates.
Find cheap airport taxis near you by checking out our Gatwick airport Taxi Listings.
The listings include contact details and a description of each company's services to help you book a taxi to suit your needs.
Gatwick Airport Hotel Transfers
Dot2Dot is London’s airport transfer specialist. Offering a door to door luxury airport shuttle service, Dot2Dot operates journeys between Gatwick airport and central London hotels.
With exceptionally competitive prices, and significant discounts for groups and returns, Dot2Dot is usually less than half the price of a standard taxi. Dot2Dot’s shuttles use express bus lanes to avoid London traffic and provide a comfortable journey to the airport with leather seats with plenty of leg space, and plenty of room for luggage.
Dot2Dot is also a more responsible travel choice as all shuttles comply with EU Emission and by sharing a single journey with up to nine other travellers this drastically reduces an individual’s carbon footprint.
When arriving at Gatwick airport, a uniformed Dot2Dot representative will come and meet you at the arrivals hall of your terminal.
The tickets for one person cost £25 or less for a one way trip, and you get a 20% discount on your total fare for return journeys. Discounts for larger groups are available.
Gatwick Airport to Central London
easyBus.co.uk the low cost London airport transfers service runs direct services to and from Gatwick Airport and London (Fulham Broadway tube station). With prices starting from just £2 for those who book early you can't go wrong if you want to get between London and Gatwick!
easyBus have a limited amount of seats available online at £2 and once they are sold they will move to a higher price (£4, £6, £8...) until they reach their capped rate of £12.99 for a return journey. You will need to book online and as early as possible to get hold of a cheaper ticket. Prices correct as at 22.06.09.
Their buses are comfortable and air conditioned. easyBus run a non-stop service every 20 minutes taking just 1hour and 10 minutes to get you between Gatwick and Central London. From Fulham Broadway tube station you can connect to many overground and underground trains plus public buses, so your onward journey can be planned well from here. You could also look at getting a Gatwick taxi from Fulham Broadway to your final destination.
Drop off and pick up Gatwick is just outside the North terminal departures door. If you are travelling to the South terminal you can take the free monorail at Gatwick airport between terminals which is well signposted and takes around 2 minutes to transport you between the North and South terminals.
You will need to take your luggage into consideration if you are planning to travel with easyBus as they have a policy in place which states that there are prohibited items that they will not carry. These are mostly large items, such as skis, non folding pushchairs, wheelchairs etc... but also include animals, weapons and drugs. It is best to check that your luggage will be permitted before booking by visiting their essential information page.
Gatwick Airport by Train
Gatwick railway station is directly linked to the South Terminal and is only a few minutes away from the North Terminal via a free transit train which runs every 3 minutes at peak times.
Rail information and ticket desks can be found in the arrivals areas of both the North and South Terminal.
You can now save up to 43% on your train tickets to and from Gatwick Airport with thetrainline. Booking online rather than waiting until you get to the station saves you time and hassle as well as a lot of money!
Thetrainline.com covers all the train companies in one place and has a unique fare finder to make sure you find the cheapest ticket available to you. They also have information on train times and routes to help you plan your journey.
Gatwick Flyaway is a one month return ticket that allows up to 4 adults to travel for the price of 2 to Gatwick Airport. Up to 4 children can then travel for £1 each when accompanying a group holding Flyaway tickets. This ticket is available from First Great Western Trains and is suitable for those travelling from destinations such as Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Oxfordshire, Thames Valley, amongst others. For more information call First Great Western Trains on 08457 000 125.
Trains to the rest of the UK are served by Southern, Southeastern, First Capital Connect, and CrossCountry.
Gatwick Airport by Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express is a non-stop service between London Victoria Station (Central London) and London Gatwick Airport which runs every 15 minutes. The journey takes 30 minutes (35 minutes on Sunday).
The train is modern and comfortable, with air conditioning, spacious carriages, and drinks and refreshments being served in both Express Class and First Class. First Class passengers will also have the advantage of large, reclining seats with tables plus complimentary refreshments and newspapers.
Prices start from just £16.90 for a single ticket and £28.80 for an open return ticket. Tickets can be easily booked online at Gatwick Express.
Victoria Station to Gatwick Airport
First trains run at 03:30, 04:30 and then every 15 minutes (00, 15, 30, 45 minutes past each hour) from 05:00 until 23:45. Last trains are at 00:01 and 00:30.
Passengers travelling from London Victoria station can track the status of their flight before boarding the train on the screens displaying Gatwick flight information, including the airline, flight number, departure time, terminal and the destination.
Gatwick Airport to Victoria Station
First trains run at 04:35, 05:20 and then every 15 minutes (05, 20, 35, 50 minutes past each hour) from 05:50 until 00:35. The last trains are at 00:50 and 01:35.
You will find the platform at Gatwick airport positioned directly beneath the South Terminal. It is quickly and easily accessible with lifts or escalators.
Prices for the Gatwick Express train can be found on their website Gatwick Express.
Tel: +44 (0)845 850 1530