The best ways from Gatwick Airport to Central London: a Guide.

Gatwick is not on the tube network so it helps to think ahead how you're going to get from the airport. It's pretty confusing to choose the best option, as everyone has different criteria. I'll lay out the options to help you decide.

Gatwick is Heathrow’s less-achieving brother, always in the shadow of its older sibling who’s seemingly always getting into trouble with queues and delays and lost bags and the like. Fewer long-haul flights come into here than Heathrow though that may soon be about to change as recent rule changes mean that more foreign airliners may be able to touch down in this airport among the relatively uncrowded Surrey fields.

Lacking in Heathrow’s inadequacy, Gatwick is still hardly an ideal airport destination; it gets particularly crowded and unpleasant when planeloads of British charter tourists use it, flying to and from their cheap holidays on the Spanish costas.

And yet I’d rather fly from Gatwick than Heathrow anyday. It’s still too far from landing to luggage to exit, but the whole process seems more painless.

Like any major airport it’s got what you need when you find yourself in arrivals – coffee places, car hire, newsagents, ATMS.

Gatwick itself is 30 miles south of Central London and you should know straight away that Gatwick’s not on the tube.

So what’s the cheapest way to get from Gatwick to London? And what is the best value?

Well, here's my subjective conclusion. All the details of each form of transport are below.

	Cheapest	Easiest	Best option by night	Best value - time vs cost
1	Bus	Gatwick Express	Gatwick Express	First Capital Connect/Southern
2	Southern	Taxi	First Capital Connect	First Capital Connect/Southern

 

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THE GATWICK EXPRESS

Relatively fast and certainly expensive: don't let the adverts suck you in: in my opinion this is bad value for money.

Pros:

• Fast, frequent

Cons:

• There’s a cheaper train that’s only marginally less fast

What is it?

A dedicated London to Gatwick train service, which runs without stopping. This means there’s plenty of space for luggage and in fact they apparently offer a free porter service too.

Frequency?

Every 15 minutes.

When does it run?

First train is at 0435, last one is at a pleasingly late 0135.

How long will it take?

30 minutes, 35 minutes on a Saturday.

How much does it cost?

A hefty £16.90 single fare. It’s cheaper for children. If you really want to spend your money fast you could opt to upgrade to first class – tickets for that are £24.50, with no discernible difference in quality, but hey you do get a free newspaper (value: 80p).

Can I get it cheaper?

Possibly.

• They sometimes release discount voucher codes – it’s worth a google if you’re planning to book in advance.
• You may be eligible for a railcard. If you're under 26, disabled or over 60 then buying a railcard at the station for £24 will save you a third off all your RAIL (not tube) tickets in the UK – this would save you £5.63 on this single journey. Obviously it's only really worth it if you plan to do at least a couple more journeys by rail while you're over here.
• There’s also a promotional deal whereby 4 adults traveling together travel for the cost of two. Ask for Groupsave at the ticket counter.

How do I use it then?

Just follow the signs at the airport to the Gatwick train station – it’s about a five minute walk from arrivals. You’ve got to buy a ticket before you get on the train – there are machines and a counter by the platforms.

Final comment

It’s not that the Gatwick express is a bad service – it isn’t – it’s just the other train options seem to offer better value. But if you absolutely need the very quickest route into London – this is it.

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SOUTHERN OR FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT TRAINS TO LONDON

The more sensible train options to central London.

Pros:

• Fast and frequent
• Quick services to Victoria on Southern services
• Quick services to London Bridge, Farringdon and St Pancras/King’s Cross on the First Capital Connect service.
• Cheaper than the Gatwick Express

Cons:

• Less luggage room available than on the Gatwick Express
• They’re stopping services – and there’s less dedicated luggage room.
• Can get very crowded in the morning weekday rush hour (7AM-10AM)

What is it?

These are dedicated trains for ‘ordinary’ people – not especially for tourists. Southern services go to London Victoria, stopping at Clapham Junction on the way. The First Capital Connect service goes to London Bridge and then Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and London St Pancras International. Each of these tube stations connects with together almost all the major tube lines:

Mainline Station served from Gatwick	Once there, it connects with these tube lines	Name of train company to take
Victoria	Hammersmith and City Victoria Circle	Southern
London Bridge	Jubilee Northern	First Capital Connect
Blackfriars	Circle (closed till 2010) District (closed till 2010)	First Capital Connect
Farringdon	Circle Hammersmith & City Metropolitan	First Capital Connect
St Pancras (King's Cross)	Northern Victoria Piccadilly Circle Hammersmith & City Metropolitan	First Capital Connect

Frequency?

It varies but Southern services can go every 5 minutes or so, sometimes once every half hour. First Capital Connect is less frequent but altogether there are still more services per day than the Gatwick Express.

When does it run?

The frequent services finish about one and start again about 5AM – but there are also hourly services all through the night, especially on the first capital connect route which makes it a very useful option. You can find out when the timetabled services are using the useful NationalRail website. You don't have to register and it's free.

How long will it take?

The average timetabled length is 35 minutes – most trains take between 30 and 38 minutes to Victoria. To London Bridge – a different line – takes roughly half an hour and it’s about an hour and 5 minutes to St Pancras/King’s Cross.

How much does it cost?

£10.90 for a single to Victoria - cheaper for children. About £9.50 to St Pancras. You can find out the exact fare for your party on the national rail website.

Can I get it cheaper?

If you’re (a) 16-25 (b) over 60 or (c) a group of adults and children then you may be able to save money – but it’s only really worth it if you also plan to take another trip out of London during your stay in the UK.

You could buy a railcard at the station for £24 in order to save a third off all your RAIL (not tube) tickets in the UK – this would save you about £3 on this single journey - the savings are greatest still if you’re in option (c), see my <TRAVEL> page for more information.

If you're a group of 3 or 4 then you could buy a day save ticket, but this has to be done online at least a week in advance. All for of you could then travel on the Southern service only for £20. More details on Southern's website.

How do I use it then?

Go to Gatwick airport train station – it’s about a five minute walk from arrivals. You may have to take a short free monorail if you land in the North Terminal. There’ll probably be a long queue for tickets, but make sure you’re not in the ‘Gatwick Express only’ queue. You could buy tickets in the machine but if you talk to the ticket seller then they’ll make sure you are sold the best value ticket for your journey.

Final comment

It’s a good choice – the best ‘quick’ option in my opinion. These are ‘normal’ trains and it’s worth putting up with more crowded carriages for the extra destinations and better value they offer, especially given how extensively they interchange with the tube network.

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THE NATIONAL EXPRESS BUS

A long and winding road – to Victoria.

Pros:

• It’s very cheap
• It’s direct

Cons:

• It takes ages
• It's not that frequent
• It gets you into Victoria only

What is it?

A direct coach service between the airport and central London. It deposits you at Victoria coach station, very close to Victoria tube station.

Frequency?

Varies. Roughly every hour, minimum every 45 mins, max every 90 mins.

When does it run?

The first service is at 0515 and the last is at a relatively early 22:15

How long will it take?

Between 1 hour 5 mins and 1 hour 45 mins.

How much does it cost?

£6.80 for a single - £3.40 for children. Under 3s go free.

Can I get it cheaper?

Yes, if you’re 15-25 or over 60 you could buy a discount card – which will entitle you to a small discount. Only worth it if you’re planning to take several inter-city bus journeys while in the UK.

How do I use it then?

Make your way to the south terminal – there’s a free monorail thing if you’ve landed at the north terminal. The coach stops just outside, just follow the signs.

Final comment

It’s cheap but it takes a while and isn't that frequent.

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GET A TAXI

Most expensive and most hassle-free way to Central London

Pros:

• The convenience of a taxi – door to door

Cons:

• It will take quite a while
• and costs quite a lot

What is it?

It’s a taxi. You know, a vehicle you hire to take you to a given place. In fact this particular section deals only with non-pre-booked taxis. They’re not traditional ‘black cabs’ because Gatwick’s too far from the centre of London.

Frequency?

Whenever you want!

When does it run?

All day and night.

How long will it take?

Ah – now here’s the thing. Count on pretty much a minimum of an hour and it could be significantly longer, particularly if you’re trying to jostle your way through rush hour in the morning or the evening.

How much does it cost?

It’s a fixed price – there are various quotes but you’re probably looking at £60-80. You can also order bigger cars or minivans if you’re a large party.

Can I get it cheaper?

No, though obviously it’s better value if you travel with the taxi as full as possible.

How do I use it then?

You book and agree a price in advance with a taxi firm, and there are often different options depending on how big a car you need. If you’re coming from North America remember that everything is smaller over here – including the trunk! So factor that in to what you order if you’re likely to have many suitcases. You give the taxi company your flight details. The driver will meet you in arrivals with a small sign with your name written on it.

How do I find a taxi firm?

You can prebook on the phone or the web. Look for two key things: (a) is it a fully inclusive price? And (b) are they licensed?

You need to pre-book on the internet or by phone – there are lots of companies out there with differing options about car size and price – one of the longest standing which often rates very well is OTS Airport Taxis. You can book on the internet but it's worth emailing as well if you don't get any confirmation just to make sure it's all in order. These guys are airport specialists so they’ll meet you inside the airport in arrivals, holding a sign with your name on it (there’s nothing worse than not knowing what to do next when you’ve just exited baggage reclaim in a strange city). They're also fully licensed. You can order minibuses from other companies that can seat up to about 16 if you’re a very big party and that’s by far the cheapest option for you per head. Otherwise, the average cost is probably around the £60-80 mark. Most only take cash, so have enough.

Can I get it cheaper?

Only by shopping around and getting a few quotes.

Final comment

Not quick and not cheap – and a bit more hassle than just walking up to a cab, as you tend to do at Heathrow. But it’s still a relatively hassle-free way into London.

So a lot of information to take in, but here's my summary of it all:

	Cheapest	Easiest	Best option by night	Best value - time vs cost
1	Bus	Gatwick Express	Gatwick Express	First Capital Connect/Southern
2	Southern	Taxi	First Capital Connect	First Capital Connect/Southern

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What do you want to do now?

 

Learn how to use the tube.

Work out your cheapest travel options within London

Find out if the London Pass is worth the money

Learn how to save loads phoning home on your trip

Read my recommended DVD and book choices to get you in the mood for your visit!

 

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This guide is updated quarterly. Information is accurate when written. Last updated Autumn/Fall 2010.