London Gatwick (LGW) is the UK’s second-busiest airport, about 30 miles (48 km) south of central London. Unlike Heathrow, it isn’t on the Tube network — but it has fast, frequent trains straight into the city, and getting from Gatwick to London is easy once you know which train to take and how to avoid paying too much.
This guide compares every way to get from Gatwick Airport to London in 2026 — Thameslink and Southern trains, the Gatwick Express, National Express and easyBus coaches, taxis and Uber — with fares, journey times, the best route to Victoria, London Bridge and central London, money-saving tricks, and how to get from Gatwick to Heathrow. Fares are from LastTrip’s August 2026 fare guide (valid until July 2027).
Gatwick to London: all options compared
| Option | Adult fare (one way) | Time | London stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thameslink / Southern (contactless, off-peak) | £10.70 | 28–44 min | Victoria, London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras |
| Thameslink / Southern (contactless, peak) | £19.20 | 28–44 min | Same |
| Thameslink paper single (off-peak) | £15.10 | 28–44 min | Same |
| Gatwick Express | £24.00 | about 30 min | Victoria only |
| National Express coach | from about £5.20 booked ahead (about £12 walk-up) | 65–90 min | Victoria Coach Station |
| easyBus | from £1.99 booked ahead | 85–95 min | Victoria area |
| Taxi / Uber / private transfer | roughly £80–150 (our estimate) | 60–120 min (traffic) | Door to door |
Train and coach fares: LastTrip, August 2026. Peak hours are 6:30–9:30 am and 4–7 pm, Monday to Friday; all other times, including weekends, are off-peak. The taxi range is our estimate — get a quote in the app or from the transfer company before you travel.
Gatwick to London by train (the best option)
Gatwick Airport station is right next to the South Terminal, and a free shuttle train connects it to the North Terminal in about 2 minutes. Three train companies run from here to London:
Thameslink
Thameslink trains run north through the heart of London: London Bridge (about 29 minutes), Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras International (for the Eurostar and King’s Cross). They also run roughly hourly through the night from St Pancras (source) — useful for very early flights.
Southern
Southern trains run to London Victoria in about 35 minutes (source), and some go to London Bridge. They use the same tracks as the Gatwick Express and are only a few minutes slower — for much less money.
Gatwick Express
The Gatwick Express is a non-stop service to London Victoria in about 30 minutes for £24. It’s comfortable, but rarely worth the extra cost compared with a Southern train at £10.70 off-peak.
Watch out: if you tap in with contactless at Victoria platforms 13 and 14, you’ll be charged the £24 Gatwick Express fare — even if you then take a normal train. Use the regular gates (source).
How to pay: contactless, Oyster or tickets
You can simply tap a contactless bank card, phone or Oyster card at the yellow readers at Gatwick and again when you leave the station in London. It’s the easiest way, and the off-peak contactless fare (£10.70) is cheaper than a paper ticket (£15.10).
- Railcard holders: linking a Railcard to a physical Oyster card gives about 34% off off-peak pay-as-you-go fares (about £7.05). It doesn’t work with contactless bank cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay (source).
- Families: up to four children aged 5–15 can travel for £2 each off-peak with an adult holding a paper or e-ticket (source).
- Groups: GroupSave (3–9 adults) brings the off-peak paper fare to about £9.97 per person.
Money-saving trick: tapping out at East Croydon and back in again can reduce the fare (about £8.50 off-peak to Gatwick from there), but you may wait 10–15 minutes for the next train (source). Only worth it if you’re not in a hurry.
Gatwick to London Victoria
Victoria is the most popular destination, close to Buckingham Palace, Westminster and Belgravia. Your options:
- Southern train: about 35 minutes, £10.70 off-peak with contactless — the best value.
- Gatwick Express: about 30 minutes, £24.
- National Express or easyBus coach: cheapest, but 65–95 minutes and dependent on traffic.
From Victoria, the Victoria, District and Circle lines connect you across London.
Gatwick to London Bridge
Thameslink trains reach London Bridge in about 29 minutes (source) — ideal for hotels on the South Bank, in Southwark or in the City, and for Borough Market and The Shard. Change to the Jubilee or Northern line for the rest of London.
Gatwick to central London: which station for your hotel?
| Staying in | Get off at | Train |
|---|---|---|
| Westminster, Victoria, Belgravia | London Victoria | Southern or Gatwick Express |
| South Bank, Southwark, the City | London Bridge or Blackfriars | Thameslink |
| Covent Garden, Soho | Blackfriars or Farringdon, then a short Tube ride | Thameslink |
| Clerkenwell, Barbican | Farringdon | Thameslink |
| King’s Cross, Bloomsbury | St Pancras International | Thameslink |
| Kensington, Notting Hill | Victoria, then the District/Circle line | Southern |
Not sure where to stay? Our guide to where to stay in London compares the best areas.
Gatwick to London by coach
National Express runs up to 32 coaches a day, day and night, to Victoria Coach Station. Booked in advance, tickets cost from about £5.20 (around £12 if you buy on the day); book logged into the website or app to avoid the £1.50 booking fee (source). easyBus minibuses start from £1.99 if booked early. Coaches are the cheapest option and luggage goes underneath, but they take 65–95 minutes and can be delayed by traffic.
Gatwick to London by taxi, Uber or private transfer
A taxi or Uber from Gatwick to central London is the most expensive option and often the slowest, because of traffic on the M23 and through south London — plan for 60 minutes at best and up to 2 hours at rush hour. It makes sense for:
- families or groups of 3–4 with lots of luggage;
- late-night arrivals after the regular trains;
- hotels far from a station.
A pre-booked transfer gives you a fixed price and a driver waiting in arrivals. Compare Gatwick airport transfers. If someone is dropping you off, note that Gatwick has charged £10 for drop-offs at the terminal since January 2026 (source).
Gatwick to Heathrow
Connecting between London’s two biggest airports? The simplest option is the National Express coach: the fastest takes about 50 minutes, fares start from about £13.20, and coaches run from about 3:50 am to 11:45 pm, stopping at Heathrow Central Bus Station (Terminals 2 and 3) and Terminal 5, with some also serving Terminal 4 (National Express). Allow plenty of time — at least 3–4 hours between flights if you also need to check in again.
By train, you’d travel into central London and back out (for example Thameslink to Farringdon, then the Elizabeth line to Heathrow), which takes longer. A taxi or transfer is the most comfortable option for families with luggage.
London to Gatwick: getting back to the airport
- Take a Southern train from Victoria, or a Thameslink train from St Pancras, Farringdon, Blackfriars or London Bridge.
- Thameslink’s overnight trains help for very early flights.
- Check your terminal: the station is at the South Terminal, and the free shuttle takes you to the North Terminal.
- Allow at least 2.5–3 hours before an international flight, plus travel time.
Tips for arriving at Gatwick
- Use the same card or phone to tap in and out, and avoid the Gatwick Express gates if you want the cheaper fare.
- Travel off-peak if you can — the peak fare is almost double.
- Get mobile data for journey planning: a UK eSIM.
- Flying from Heathrow instead? Read our Heathrow to central London guide.
More London guides
- London in 3 days
- Free things to do in London
- London Pass: prices and is it worth it?
- Where to stay in London
- London travel guide
Still need flights? Compare flights to London and find a hotel in London.
FAQ: Gatwick to London
What is the best way to get from Gatwick to London?
The train: Thameslink or Southern for £10.70 off-peak with contactless, taking 28–44 minutes to Victoria, London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon or St Pancras.
How much is the train from Gatwick to London?
£10.70 off-peak or £19.20 at peak times with contactless on Thameslink and Southern; £24 on the Gatwick Express.
Is the Gatwick Express worth it?
Usually not. Southern trains to Victoria are only a few minutes slower and cost much less.
What is the cheapest way from Gatwick to London?
A coach booked in advance: easyBus from £1.99 or National Express from about £5.20, but they take 65–95 minutes.
How long does it take from Gatwick to central London?
About 30 minutes by train to Victoria or London Bridge, 65–95 minutes by coach, and 60–120 minutes by taxi depending on traffic.
Can I use contactless from Gatwick to London?
Yes. Contactless bank cards, phones and Oyster cards work on Thameslink, Southern and the Gatwick Express.
How do I get from Gatwick to Heathrow?
The National Express coach is the easiest: from about £13.20, with the fastest journeys taking about 50 minutes.
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