Piccadilly sits at the heart of the West End, surrounded by hotels, theatres and offices, so it is one of the busiest pickup points we serve. Airports Taxi UK collects you from your home, hotel or office in Piccadilly and takes you straight to Gatwick Airport, with no changes, no carrying cases through stations and no waiting at a taxi rank. The car is booked for you alone, and the driver helps with your bags at both ends. Our drivers cover this run regularly, so they know the quickest way out of Piccadilly and where to stop at the terminal.
The fare is fixed when you book and covers the whole vehicle, not each passenger, and a saloon on this route currently costs about £102 one way. There is no meter running and no surge pricing at busy times. The booking form at the top of this page shows the exact fare for your date, time and vehicle before you book.
Route and Journey Time
Piccadilly is about 30 miles from Gatwick, normally an hour to an hour and 15 minutes. The driver heads south over Westminster or Vauxhall Bridge, then down the A23 through Brixton and Croydon to the M23.
Piccadilly to Gatwick Taxi Prices
These are the one-way fares our booking system is quoting for this journey today, based on the current distance and journey time. Your own price depends on the exact pickup and drop-off addresses and on the date and time you travel, so treat the table as a guide and check the booking form for your final fare.
| Vehicle | Fits | One-way fare |
|---|---|---|
| Saloon | up to 4 passengers, 2 large cases | £102 |
| Estate | up to 4 passengers, 4 large cases | £110 |
| Executive | up to 3 passengers, 2 large cases | £128 |
| People carrier (MPV) | up to 6 passengers, 4 large cases | £130 |
| 8 Seater | up to 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £130 |
| Executive Minivan | up to 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £165 |
If you book a return journey at the same time, the booking form takes 5% off the return leg. Optional extras, such as meet and greet, are shown in the form before you confirm, so there are no surprises. For groups, one larger vehicle at around £130 is usually cheaper than booking two cars.
The Drive to Gatwick
From Piccadilly the driver heads down to Vauxhall Bridge, crosses the river and follows the A23 through Brixton, Streatham and Coulsdon before joining the M23 south to the airport. If there is an accident or roadworks on the usual route, the driver takes the alternative. Your price stays the same whichever way you go, and you can ask the driver about the route at any time.
Allow 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes for the journey. Early starts and late evenings tend to be quickest. Weekday rush hours, Friday afternoons and the first weekend of the school holidays are the times to allow more, and we plan pickups with that in mind.
Where We Collect in Piccadilly
We collect from hotels along Piccadilly and Park Lane, from St James’s and Mayfair, and from apartments around Soho and Green Park. Tell us the exact address when you book, and add a note if there is anything the driver should know, such as a gate code, a porter or a better place to stop.
The West End has a lot of one-way streets, bus lanes and loading restrictions, so our drivers know where they can actually stop outside the main hotels and where it is better to use a side street. When you book, tell us the hotel name or the exact building, and we will confirm where the driver will meet you. For offices around St James’s and Mayfair, reception can usually let you know when the car has arrived.
Areas covered: Piccadilly Circus, Mayfair, St James’s, Soho, Green Park, Leicester Square, and nearby streets.
When Should I Leave Piccadilly?
As a rough guide, this is when we would suggest being collected for a few common departure times. It assumes the longer end of the journey time and the airport’s advice to arrive two hours before a short-haul flight. For long-haul flights, add another hour.
| Flight departs | Suggested pickup |
|---|---|
| 07:00 | 03:15 |
| 10:00 | 06:15 |
| 14:00 | 10:15 |
| 19:00 | 15:15 |
When you book, give us your flight time and we will confirm the pickup time. If you prefer to arrive earlier, for example to use a lounge or because you have a lot of luggage to check in, tell us and we will adjust it.
Taxi or Train?
The nearest airport rail link is the Gatwick Express from Victoria, a short Tube ride away on the Victoria line from Green Park. It is quick once you are on board, but getting to Victoria with cases is the hard part, which is why many West End hotel guests book a car instead.
The train can be cheaper for one person travelling light, but it gets expensive quickly for a family or a group, because everyone needs a ticket. A car also saves the walk to the station, the stairs and platforms with heavy cases, and the worry about missing a connection before an early flight.
Drop-Off at Gatwick Airport
We drop you at the departures forecourt of your terminal, as close to the doors as the airport allows. The North and South Terminals are separate buildings linked by a free shuttle train, so check which one your airline uses the day before you fly and tell us when you book.
Gatwick recommends arriving two hours before a short-haul flight and three hours before a long-haul one. We work backwards from your departure time, add the typical journey time for the day and a margin for traffic, and suggest a pickup time. If you would like to leave earlier than that, just say so. Travelling with children or a lot of luggage is a good reason to allow extra time at the terminal.
What Is Included
You get a licensed, experienced driver, an insured and well-kept vehicle and help loading and unloading your bags, all for the fixed fare agreed at booking. If you are a few minutes behind schedule, the driver waits; if you expect a longer delay, call us. Extra stops and child seats can be added when you book.
More Passengers or Luggage
A saloon takes up to four passengers with two large cases, and an estate takes four with four large cases. For five or six people, the people carrier has room for everyone and four large cases, and the 8-seater takes up to eight passengers and eight cases. Golf bags, ski bags, pushchairs and folding wheelchairs all take space, so list them when you book. If you are not sure which vehicle you need, tell us how many people and cases there are and we will suggest the right one.
For bigger groups, such as sports teams, wedding parties or school trips, we also run 12-seater and 16-seater minibuses. Child seats and boosters are available on request; add them to your booking with the children’s ages so the right seats are fitted before the driver arrives.
Before You Travel
- Theatre-goers heading for a late flight can be collected straight after the show; tell us the theatre and the finishing time.
- Allow extra time on Saturdays and during big West End events, when Piccadilly and Regent Street can be very slow.
- Keep your passport in your hand luggage, not in the boot, so you are ready at the check-in desk.
- Keep your passport and boarding pass in your hand luggage rather than the boot, so you are ready as soon as you reach the terminal.
Business Travel
We carry a lot of business travellers on this route, from people heading to meetings to teams flying out for conferences. Receipts can be sent by email for expenses, and companies can book regular transfers. For teams, one people carrier or 8-seater usually costs less than several taxis. Bookings can be made by a colleague or assistant, with the driver details sent to the traveller.
How to Book
- Enter your pickup and destination in the booking form at the top of this page.
- Choose the date, time and vehicle, and add your flight details, passengers and luggage.
- Check the price and any extras, then confirm the booking.
- You receive a confirmation, and the driver’s details before the journey.
Booking early gives you the widest choice of vehicles, which matters most in the summer holidays and around Christmas. If your plans are last-minute, the form will show whether a car is available for your time, and you can call us if you need help.
Local Pickup and Drop-off Notes
We pick up from the hotels around Piccadilly, Mayfair and St James’s. Some streets have restrictions, so the driver may wait round the corner.
Questions About This Journey
How much is a taxi from Piccadilly to Gatwick?
Our booking system is currently quoting about £102 one way in a saloon, with larger vehicles priced in the table above. Your exact fare depends on the full address and the date and time, and the booking form shows it before you confirm.
How long does the journey take?
Usually 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. Early mornings and late evenings are often quicker, while weekday rush hours and Friday afternoons are usually the slowest times.
What happens if my flight time changes?
Let us know as soon as you can and we will move the pickup to suit the new time. If the change is at short notice, call us and we will do our best to adjust it.
Can I book a child seat?
Yes. Child seats and boosters are available on request. Add them in the booking form with the age of each child, and the driver will arrive with the right seats already fitted, so you do not have to bring your own or fit them at the kerb.
Can you collect from a hotel on Piccadilly?
Yes. Give us the hotel name and the driver will meet you at the entrance or in the lobby.
Where will the driver stop on Piccadilly?
It depends on the building. Some hotels have a forecourt; for others the driver stops on a nearby side street and calls you. We confirm the exact spot before the pickup.
Is the fare the same at night?
The price shown in the booking form is the fixed price for the date and time you enter, so you see the fare for your actual journey before you book.
Heathrow Taxi From Piccadilly
If your airline flies from Heathrow rather than Gatwick, we cover that too. Our booking system is quoting about £69 one way in a saloon for a Heathrow taxi from Piccadilly, with the same fixed fare, flight tracking and meet and greet in arrivals. Tell us your airline and the driver will head for the right terminal. More details are on our Heathrow airport taxi page.
Related Pages
- Gatwick Airport taxi
- All areas and routes we cover
- Official Gatwick Airport website for terminal information