The UK's best connected airport
We are served by four train operators that provide direct services to over 120 stations, including 7 key stations across London and easy interchange to the Elizabeth Line, making your onward journey quick and easy.
Gatwick Express provides a non-stop service direct to London Victoria. Departing twice an hour, it takes just 30 minutes. You can save 10% if you book online in advance directly through the Gatwick Express Website.
- Save 10% on the Gatwick Express
Southern provides services across London and the South-East, including London Victoria, Clapham Junction, Brighton, Horsham, Southampton, Eastbourne and Portsmouth, and many more local stations.
Thameslink connects London Gatwick to the south coast at Brighton, as well as to several central London stations: London Bridge, London Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras International. Trains then continue to Bedford, Peterborough and Cambridge. Thameslink services also provide direct services to Luton Airport Parkway, with an easy interchange to the DART that takes you directly to the airport in four minutes.
Great Western Railway trains run between London Gatwick and Reading every half an hour via Redhill, Reigate and Guildford.

There are so many ways to pay for your train tickets that travelling by train to and from London Gatwick couldn’t be easier:
Pay using your contactless payment card or Oyster card to travel to and from London by tapping in and out at the ticket barrier – you don’t even need to stop walking!*
Buy your tickets online in advance and scan the barcode at the ticket barriers.
If you prefer to buy your ticket on the day, there are plenty of ticket machines in the station in the South Terminal if you prefer to buy on the day.
If you need to buy an Oyster Card, you can purchase one at the Your Service Centre desk - operated by SkyBreak - located in South Terminal check-in zone.
To help save some money on your journey:
Buy your ticket in advance - many operators offer cheaper fares if you book ahead.
Buy your Gatwick Express ticket online for a 10% discount.
Southern offers £2 tickets for children when travelling with an adult.
If you’re travelling as a group of three or more, you can save 33% through Groupsave tickets.
*Contactless payment is not valid for travel to stations south of Gatwick Airport or outside of London. If travelling south to destinations such as Crawley, Horsham and Brighton or outside London to destinations such as Reading and Cambridge you will need to purchase a ticket.
The below are the average times for direct train services to or from London Gatwick along the most popular routes. Please be aware however that times can fluctuate and so we would always recommend allowing additional time for your journey.
Bedford, 2 hours with Thameslink
Brighton, 30 minutes with Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express
Cambridge, 2 hours with Thameslink
Eastbourne, 1 hour with Southern
Guildford, 1 hour with GWR
London (various stations), 30 minutes with Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express
Luton, 1 hour 30 minutes with Thameslink
Portsmouth, 1 hour 45 minutes with Southern
Reading, 1 hour 30 minutes with GWR
Reigate / Redhill, 15 minutes with GWR
April 2025
There are no planned engineering works or disruptions anticipated.
Alternative transport methods
On days with disrupted rail services, you may find that alternative methods of transport to London Gatwick will be busier than usual and so it is always best to plan well ahead:
By bus and coach
Metrobus offer local bus services around the London Gatwick area, with single fares capped at £2. This includes services to Redhill, where you can catch TfL bus 405 to Croydon and connecting buses or trams to Wimbledon and the District Line. You can buy tickets on board and contactless payment is also widely available.
National Express and The Airline by the Oxford Bus Company offer coach services from both terminals to Oxford, London Victoria Coach Station, Brighton and other destinations across England and Wales. You can use either company’s services to reach London Heathrow T5, where you can catch the Piccadilly or Elizabeth Line into central London.
We highly recommend booking coach tickets in advance of days with disruption as services are likely to sell out quickly.
Find out more about local and national buses
By car
Pre-book your airport parking in advance as our car parks will be very busy, although we usually have additional capacity to cope with disruption to the surrounding rail network.
Pre-book Official London Gatwick Airport Parking
By taxi
Gatwick Cars Ltd is our official taxi provider and can be found outside both the North and South Terminals. Expect queues on days with sever rail disruption and pre-book your taxi in advance
to avoid long delays and disappointment
Pre-book a taxi online or Call +44 (0)1293 550000
Car hire
A range of car rental companies operate from both North and South Terminals.