Gatwick Airport is London’s second-biggest airport, and is located 30 miles south of central London.
There are a number of different rail and road options to get between Gatwick and London. In most cases, regular train services (branded as Southern or Thameslink) provide the best option.
Regular Trains (Southern or Thameslink)
Price: From £10.70
Duration: 35-40 minutes
Frequency: Every 10-15 minutes
Regular commuter trains run between the airport and many different stations in London.
Trains branded as ‘Southern’ run to Clapham Junction and Victoria Station in London. Trains branded as ‘Thameslink’ run to London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras. The best option for you will depend upon where exactly in London you need to go.
You can pay for these trains by simply tapping a contactless payment card or device (like Apple Pay or Google Pay) on the barriers when you enter and exit the stations. Alternatively you can purchase e-tickets online, or purchase paper tickets from the machines at the station.
Read the detailed guide on how to take Southern and Thameslink trains from Gatwick here.
Gatwick Express
Price: £21.50
Duration: 30 minutes
Frequency: Every 30 minutes
The Gatwick Express is a non-stop airport train that runs between Gatwick and Victoria station in central London.
It is more expensive than taking the regular Southern or Thameslink train, only goes to one destination (Victoria), is relatively infrequent (every 30 minutes) and is only a few minutes’ faster. Therefore it is often not worth the extra money it costs.
The only real advantage of choosing the Gatwick Express is that the trains can be less busy, and nobody will be getting on or off at intermediate stations.
Read the detailed guide on how to take the Gatwick Express here.
Taxi
If you don’t want to use public transport, or are travelling with lots of luggage, the other option is to get a taxi. However, the trip into London by road takes a lot longer than by train, often at least 1 and a half hours.
Gatwick is not in London, so there is no rank of black cabs waiting at the airport. Instead, it’s advisable to pre-book a car service such as Welcome Pickups. Expect to pay £80-150 depending on where you want to go in London.