RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk is home to a large US Air Force community, many of whom fly from Gatwick on leave and at the start or end of a posting. Airports Taxi UK collects you from your home, hotel or office in RAF Lakenheath 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 RAF Lakenheath 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 £171 one way. Traffic, diversions and flight delays do not change it, so you know the full cost before you set off. Enter your journey in the booking form at the top of the page to see the exact figure for your date and time.
Route and Journey Time
RAF Lakenheath is about 120 miles from Gatwick, normally two and a quarter to two and three-quarter hours. The driver takes the A11 and M11 south to the M25, then goes clockwise through the Dartford Crossing to junction 7 and the M23.
RAF Lakenheath 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 | £171 |
| Estate | up to 4 passengers, 4 large cases | £185 |
| Executive | up to 3 passengers, 2 large cases | £210 |
| People carrier (MPV) | up to 6 passengers, 4 large cases | £220 |
| 8 Seater | up to 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £220 |
| Executive Minivan | up to 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £270 |
A return booking made at the same time gets 5% off the return leg. The booking form lists any optional extras, like meet and greet, with their price before you pay anything. If there are five or more of you, one people carrier or 8-seater usually costs less than two saloons.
Where We Collect in RAF Lakenheath
Drivers cannot enter the base without authorised access, so we meet you at the main gate or visitor centre, or collect from your home in Lakenheath, Brandon, Thetford or Mildenhall. 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.
Most of the families we carry live off base in the villages around Lakenheath, Brandon and Thetford, so a home pickup is often easier than meeting at the gate. For personnel travelling straight from duty, the main gate works well: tell us which gate and the time, and the driver will wait at the agreed spot. Because base access is controlled, please do not ask the driver to come through the gate unless you have arranged a pass in advance.
Areas covered: the RAF Lakenheath main gate, Lakenheath, Brandon, Thetford, Mildenhall, Feltwell, and nearby streets.
How the Journey Goes
From Lakenheath the driver takes the A11 south to the M11, continues to the M25 at Junction 27 and circles round to Junction 7 for the M23, choosing the eastern or western side of the M25 based on traffic. The driver checks live traffic before setting off and will take an alternative if there is a closure or a long queue, without changing your fare. If you have a preferred route, tell the driver when you set off.
Allow 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 50 minutes for the journey. The quickest journeys are usually early in the morning, late in the evening and on Sundays. Weekday rush hours and Friday afternoons are the slowest, and the start of school holidays can be busy around the airports, so we allow extra time then.
When Should I Leave RAF Lakenheath?
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 | 01:45 |
| 10:00 | 04:45 |
| 14:00 | 08:45 |
| 19:00 | 13:45 |
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.
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.
Travelling With a Group?
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.
Included in Every Booking
Every booking includes a licensed driver, a clean and insured vehicle, help with your luggage and the fixed fare shown when you book. The driver arrives at the agreed time and waits a short while if you are running late; if you need longer, call us and we will let the driver know. Child seats are fitted on request, and you can add extra stops on the way if you need to collect someone else.
Is the Train Easier?
By rail you would travel from Brandon or Ely via Cambridge and London to Gatwick, with two or three changes and around three hours of travelling, which is hard going with posting luggage.
Rail suits light travellers on a budget. For families, groups, people with a lot of luggage and anyone catching a very early flight, the car is usually the better option: one fixed price, no changes and help with the bags.
Useful Things to Know
- Long-haul flights to the US usually need check-in three hours before departure; with the drive time, that means leaving Lakenheath about six hours before your flight.
- Permanent change of station moves often involve more cases than a saloon can take; a people carrier or 8-seater avoids a second trip.
- Small pets in a secure carrier can travel with you in the car if you tell us when you book.
- 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
Many of our customers on this route are travelling for work. Companies can arrange regular airport transfers with us, and we can send receipts by email for expense claims. If several colleagues are flying together, one larger vehicle keeps everyone on the same schedule and is usually cheaper than separate cars. An assistant or office manager can book on a traveller’s behalf, and the confirmation can go to both of you.
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.
Most people book a few days before they travel. In school holidays, around Christmas and on bank holiday weekends, book earlier, especially if you need a larger vehicle, as those go first. If you need a car at short notice, try the booking form or call us.
Local Pickup and Drop-off Notes
We regularly collect service personnel and families from the base and nearby towns such as Mildenhall, Brandon and Thetford. Base access rules apply, so tell us whether the driver should meet you at the gate.
Questions About This Journey
How much is a taxi from RAF Lakenheath to Gatwick?
Our booking system is currently quoting about £171 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 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 50 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 carry a lot of luggage for a posting move?
Yes. Choose a people carrier or minibus and tell us how many cases you have, so we send a vehicle with enough space.
Do you run the return journey from Gatwick to Lakenheath?
Yes. We meet you in the arrivals hall at Gatwick and take you back to the base area or your home, tracking your flight so the driver is there when you land.
Can several families share one vehicle?
Yes. An 8-seater minivan takes up to eight passengers with luggage for one fixed price, which works well for neighbours flying out on the same day.
Heathrow Taxi From RAF Lakenheath
If your airline flies from Heathrow rather than Gatwick, we cover that too. Our booking system is quoting about £163 one way in a saloon for a Heathrow taxi from RAF Lakenheath, 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