How to Get from London Gatwick (LGW) to City Centre

Gatwick Express — fastest premium

• Duration: 30 minutes non-stop airport to Victoria.
• Frequency: every 15 minutes.
• Hours: 4:30am-1am daily.
• Price: £21.50 single, £41 return. Advance £15.50.
• Children under 16: 50% off with paying adult.
• Where to board: Gatwick Airport rail station (below South Terminal — North Terminal connects via shuttle 5 min).
• Victoria: connect to Circle + District + Victoria + Tube lines.
• Tickets: gatwickexpress.com (cheaper online), Trainline, station machines.
• Free WiFi onboard.
• Note: just 5-10 min faster than Thameslink for £10 more. Worth it only if Victoria-bound + tight schedule.

Thameslink — best value 24/7

• Duration: 35-50 minutes to multiple Central London stations.
• Frequency: every 8-15 minutes during day. Reduced overnight.
• Hours: 24/7 — RARE European 24/7 airport train.
• Price: £11.50 off-peak / £19 peak (Oyster/contactless valid).
• Stations served (north to south): Bedford, Luton, St Albans, St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, London Bridge, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Brighton.
• Where to board: Gatwick Airport rail station — same as Express.
• Pros: half price of Express. Multiple Central + 24/7. Through to Brighton if continuing.
• Cons: 5-20 min slower than Express.
• Tickets: Oyster + contactless tap-in-tap-out, or paper ticket.
• Best for: most travelers — value + flexibility.

Southern Rail

• Duration: 30-40 minutes to Victoria.
• Frequency: every 30 minutes (some routes).
• Hours: 5am-1am.
• Price: £11-15.50 single (Oyster/contactless).
• Pros: Same speed as Gatwick Express on some routes for half price.
• Cons: doesn’t run 24/7 like Thameslink.
• Where to board: Gatwick Airport rail station.
• Tickets: Oyster + contactless valid.

National Express + EasyBus

• National Express coach: Gatwick → Victoria Coach Station, 1h30-2h, £10-15. Every 30 min, 24/7. Cheaper. Advance £6.
• EasyBus: Gatwick → Earl’s Court / West Brompton, 1h45-2h, £8-12 (£2-4 advance). Every 30 min.
• FlixBus: some routes Gatwick-London. £5-10 advance.
• Where to board: coach station each terminal.
• Tickets: respective apps + websites.
• Best for: budget travelers, late-night options, Earl’s Court hotels (EasyBus).
• Cons: longest journey time. Traffic-dependent.

Taxi + Uber/Bolt

• Duration: 1h-1h30 (traffic-dependent).
• Black cab metered: £100-130 to Central London.
• Pre-booked black cab: ComCab + Hailo apps. £85-115.
• Uber: £70-100. UberX + Comfort + Black + XL.
• Bolt: £60-95.
• FreeNow: taxi-booking app.
• Pre-booked transfer (Hoppa, Suntransfers): £55-95 fixed.
• Family of 4: taxi £100-130 cheaper than 4× Gatwick Express (£86).
• Avoid: minicabs inside terminal — illegal.

Gatwick airport layout

• Two terminals: South Terminal + North Terminal.
• South Terminal: rail station underneath. Most flag carriers + flag carrier alliances.
• North Terminal: easyJet hub. Connect to South via free shuttle 3-5 min.
• Free WiFi: 90 minutes.
• Hotels: Hilton Gatwick (in South), Sofitel London Gatwick (North), BLOC Hotel.
• Lounges: No1 Lounges, Plaza Premium, My Lounge.
• Walking time: rail station to gates 15-20 minutes.

From London centre back to Gatwick

• Allow extra time: 2 hours airport before EU departure. 3 hours intercontinental.
• Gatwick Express from Victoria: 30 min, £21.50.
• Thameslink from St Pancras/Farringdon/London Bridge: 35-50 min, £11.50-19.
• Southern from Victoria: 30-40 min, £11-15.50.
• National Express from Victoria: 1h30-2h, £10-15.
• Taxi from centre: 1h-1h30, £100-130.
• Pre-book Uber: save £10-15.
• Strike days: Train strikes affect Gatwick Express + Thameslink. National Express continues.

Tips

• Avoid Gatwick Express if Victoria isn’t your destination: Thameslink + Southern hit more central stations for half price.
• 24/7 Thameslink: only Gatwick option for late-night arrivals after 1am (Gatwick Express closed).
• Oyster card £7 deposit: return at machine for £7 cash.
• Contactless bank card: easier for tourists. Same fares as Oyster.
• Heathrow vs Gatwick: Heathrow closer to centre (24 km vs 45 km). But Gatwick has cheaper flights.
• Heathrow Express vs Gatwick Express: Heathrow Express 15 min/£25. Gatwick Express 30 min/£21.50. Different journeys.
• Pre-book transfers: Hoppa shared shuttle £30-50. Cheaper than taxi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cheapest Gatwick to London?

EasyBus £8-12 to Earl’s Court (advance £2-4). Or National Express £6-15 to Victoria. Or Thameslink £11.50 (off-peak) — cheaper than Southern (£11-15.50). Don’t take Gatwick Express unless rushed.

How long Gatwick to London?

Gatwick Express 30 min to Victoria (fastest). Thameslink 35-50 min multiple Central stations. Southern 30-40 min Victoria. National Express 1h30-2h. Taxi 1h-1h30 (traffic).

Gatwick Express vs Thameslink?

Gatwick Express £21.50, 30 min, ONLY Victoria. Thameslink £11.50, 35-50 min, multiple Central stations + 24/7. Thameslink beat value + flexibility. Express only for 5-20 min savings.

Gatwick taxi price?

Black cab £100-130 metered. Uber £70-100. Bolt £60-95. Pre-booked transfer (Hoppa) £55-95 fixed. National Express coach £6-15 cheaper for budget travelers.

Gatwick 24 hours?

Thameslink runs 24/7 — RARE 24/7 airport train. Gatwick Express closed 1am-4:30am. Southern closed 1am-5am. National Express 24/7 (£6-15). Late arrivals: Thameslink + Uber/taxi.

Heathrow or Gatwick airport?

Heathrow closer to London (24 km vs 45 km). Heathrow Express 15 min vs Gatwick Express 30 min. But Gatwick has cheaper flights + better budget routes. Choose by flight price, not airport.

See also

• London cosmopolitan city