Gatwick Airport is London’s second airport and one of the busiest in the United Kingdom. Its code is LGW. Despite the “London” in the name, it is not in London at all: it sits in West Sussex, between the towns of Horley and Crawley, roughly 30 miles south of central London. That surprises a lot of first-time visitors, particularly from overseas, and it matters when you are planning how to get from the airport to your hotel.
This guide covers what you need to know about Gatwick: where it is, how the two terminals work, how to get into London by train or car, and what a taxi costs. We are Airports Taxi UK, a pre-booked transfer company based near Gatwick, so our drivers are at the airport every day and know it well. A saloon from Gatwick to central London currently costs £110 at a fixed price.
Where Gatwick Is
Gatwick lies just off the M23, at junction 9, with a short spur road to the terminals. The M23 runs north to the M25 and on towards south London, and south to Crawley and Brighton. The nearest towns are Horley, right on the airport’s northern edge, and Crawley to the south. Reigate and Redhill are about 15 minutes away, East Grinstead and Horsham about 20 to 25 minutes. Brighton is roughly 30 miles south, and central London about 30 miles north.
Because Gatwick is south of London, it is often the more convenient airport for people living in Surrey, Sussex and Kent, and for visitors staying in south London. For hotels in west London, Heathrow is usually closer. It is worth checking which airport your flight uses before you book anything else.
North Terminal and South Terminal
Gatwick has two terminals, North and South. They are separate buildings, about a mile apart, joined by a free shuttle train that runs every few minutes and takes about two minutes. The railway station is at the South Terminal. Airlines are split between the two, and some have moved in recent years, so check your booking or the airline’s app for the terminal a day or two before you fly.
If you go to the wrong terminal, the shuttle will get you across quickly, so it is not a disaster. Just allow a few extra minutes. When you book a transfer with us, we use your flight number to find the terminal, so the driver goes to the right one.
Who Flies From Gatwick
easyJet is the biggest airline at Gatwick by some distance, with flights across Europe. British Airways, TUI, Wizz Air, Vueling and many others also fly from the airport, along with long-haul carriers to the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas. From the United States, there are flights from Orlando and Tampa with British Airways, low-cost flights from New York and Orlando with Norse Atlantic, and a seasonal JetBlue flight from Boston in the summer. See our guides to Orlando to London and New York to London for more on those routes.
Gatwick to London by Train
Gatwick has one of the best rail connections of any UK airport. The station is inside the South Terminal, and trains run through the day and much of the night. There are three main services:
- Gatwick Express to London Victoria, non-stop, in about 30 minutes.
- Southern trains to Victoria, stopping on the way, a little slower and usually cheaper.
- Thameslink through London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras, and on to Bedford, Cambridge and Peterborough.
Trains also run south to Brighton in about 30 minutes. If you are travelling light and staying near one of these stations, the train is quick and good value. It is harder with a lot of luggage, young children or a hotel that needs a Tube or taxi connection from the station, which in London is most of them.
Gatwick to London by Taxi
By car, central London is about 75 minutes to an hour and 45 minutes from Gatwick, depending on the time of day. The usual route is the M23 and then the A23 through Croydon, Streatham and Brixton, or the M25 and A3 for west London. Weekday rush hours are the slowest, and Friday afternoons out of London can be very busy. With a pre-booked car, the fare is fixed when you book, so the traffic does not change what you pay.
These are the fixed one-way fares our booking system is quoting from Gatwick to central London (Trafalgar Square). Your exact price depends on the address and the date and time. The booking form at the top of this page shows it before you confirm.
| Vehicle | Takes up to | One-way fare |
|---|---|---|
| Saloon | 4 passengers, 2 large cases | £110 |
| Estate | 4 passengers, 4 large cases | £119 |
| Executive | 3 passengers, 2 large cases | £137 |
| People carrier (MPV) | 6 passengers, 4 large cases | £141 |
| 8 Seater | 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £141 |
| Executive Minivan | 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £178 |
Booking a return journey at the same time takes 5% off the return leg. For the West End and Mayfair, a saloon to Park Lane is currently about £109. For other London areas, enter the address in the booking form.
Other Journeys From Gatwick
Not everyone landing at Gatwick is going to London. Some of our most common routes go the other way:
- Brighton: 45 minutes to an hour by car, about £73 in a saloon. See Gatwick to Brighton taxi.
- Heathrow: about an hour to 90 minutes around the M25, about £88 in a saloon. See Gatwick to Heathrow taxi.
- Surrey and Sussex towns such as Reigate, Guildford, Horsham and Haywards Heath, often under 40 minutes.
- Cruise ports at Southampton, Portsmouth and Dover.
Meeting Your Driver at Gatwick
Once you have cleared passport control and collected your bags, you come out through customs into the arrivals hall of your terminal. Your driver will be waiting there with a name board. Because we track the flight, the driver knows if you have landed early or late and adjusts the meeting time. From there it is a short walk with your trolley to the car in the short-stay car park.
If you are held up, for example in a long passport queue on a busy summer morning or waiting for a delayed bag, call the number on your confirmation. The driver will wait. At peak times, the non-EU queues at Gatwick can take a while, although many nationalities, including US, Canadian and Australian passport holders, can use the eGates.
Dropping Off for a Flight
For departures, the driver drops you at the forecourt of your terminal, outside departures. Allow two hours before a short-haul flight and three before a long-haul one, plus the drive. From central London that usually means leaving about three and a half to four hours before a long-haul departure. Tell us your flight time when you book and we will suggest a pickup time. From Horley or Crawley, the drive to the terminal is only a few minutes.
When Gatwick Is Busiest
Gatwick is at its busiest in the school summer holidays, from late July to early September, and at Easter, half-term weeks and Christmas. Early mornings are the peak for departures, with many holiday flights leaving between 6am and 9am, so security queues build from about 4am. Arrivals are heaviest in the late morning and afternoon. If you are flying at one of these times, leave a little extra time for the drive and the terminal. We plan pickup times around this, so if you tell us your flight time, we will suggest a pickup that allows for it.
Staying Near Gatwick
For an early flight, many people stay the night before at one of the hotels around the airport. Some are connected directly to the terminals, and others are in Horley and on the roads around the airport perimeter. We collect from all of them, and a short hotel-to-terminal run is inexpensive. If you are arriving late and flying out again from Heathrow the next day, one of the hotels near Gatwick and a morning transfer across the M25 can be simpler than going through London.
Groups and Larger Vehicles
Gatwick is a busy airport for holidays, school trips and sports tours, and we run a lot of group transfers there. A people carrier takes six passengers with four cases. Our 8-seater and executive minivan take eight passengers and eight cases, and larger groups can book a 12-seater or 16-seater minibus. Child seats are available on request.
Gatwick Airport: Quick Facts
| Airport code | LGW |
| Location | West Sussex, between Horley and Crawley |
| Distance to central London | About 30 miles |
| Motorway | M23, junction 9 |
| Terminals | North and South, linked by a free shuttle train |
| Railway station | South Terminal |
| Fastest train to London | Gatwick Express to Victoria, about 30 minutes |
| Taxi to central London | About 75 to 105 minutes, from £110 fixed |
Common Questions About Gatwick
Is Gatwick in London?
No. It is in West Sussex, about 30 miles south of central London, but it is one of London’s main airports and is well connected by train and road.
How do I get between the North and South Terminals?
Take the free shuttle train. It runs every few minutes and takes about two minutes.
How much is a taxi from Gatwick to London?
Our booking system currently quotes £110 for a saloon to central London, fixed when you book.
Is Gatwick or Heathrow closer to central London?
Heathrow is closer to central and west London by road. Gatwick is better placed for south London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent.