Taking the Gatwick Express from Gatwick Airport to Central London is easy and fast. This guide shows you exactly how to do it.
Determine Your Route
The Gatwick Express route is very simple – it runs between Gatwick Airport and Victoria station in London.
The Gatwick Express isn’t the only train that runs between Gatwick and London, so if you need to get to somewhere other than Victoria, you may wish to take a different train.
Walk to the Train Station
At Gatwick, all trains leave from the same station. Once you’ve arrived and collected your bags, look out for signs to the Train Station. The station is located in the South Terminal – if you arrive into the North Terminal, follow signs to the South Terminal & Train Station, which will direct you onto a quick shuttle train between the terminals.
Buy Tickets, or Use Contactless
Once you get to the rail station, you’ll see machines selling tickets, and a row of ticket gates.
You have three options to chose from to pay for your travel:
- Buy Tickets Online – If you know you want to take the Gatwick Express, the cheapest and simplest option is often to purchase e-tickets on the Gatwick Express website. Online bookings save 10%, and the website is simpler to use than the ticket machines at the station. Once you’ve bought your tickets, you will receive an email with the e-tickets to scan from your phone. No need to download an app or print anything out. Single tickets are generally £21.50.
- Use contactless (or Oyster) – You can also use a contactless credit/debit card or device, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay on a phone. This way, you don’t need to buy a ticket at all – simply walk up to the ticket gate and touch your card or phone on the reader. The gate will open, and you can walk through with your luggage. Each person needs their own card or device. The fare to stations in central London is slightly more than buying online in advance, at £24.
- Buy a paper ticket from the machine – you can also use the machines to buy tickets at the airport. Given the large number of routes and stations served from the airport, it can be slightly confusing to know which option to select. Ask staff if you’re not sure.
Children: Children under 5 travel free and do not need a ticket. Children 5-15 can purchase discounted child tickets – either in advance via the website, or using the ticket machines at the station.
Locate the Correct Platform
Gatwick Airport station has seven platforms. Whilst in the main ticket hall, look at the screens above the ticket gates to see which trains are leaving from which platforms. If you’re not sure which platform you need, ask staff. If you’re using Google/Apple Maps or the Citymapper app to navigate, these apps will tell you which platform your train is departing from.
Follow the signage and take the lifts of escalators down to the platform you need. Once on the platform, screens and announcements will let you know when your train is coming.
Ride the Train
When the train arrives, board and take a seat. You can either keep your luggage with you where you sit, or place it in the racks by the doors.
Keep hold of your ticket as you’ll need it to exit the platform once you reach Victoria.
Onward Travel by Taxi
If you have lots of luggage, you may find it easier to get a London taxi (black cab) to your final destination. Keep walking straight when you exit the platform, out of the main entrance to the station (follow signs to Taxis if you’re not sure where to go). The taxis can take 5 or 6 people plus luggage, and take cash or card.
Onward Travel by Underground (Tube)
Victoria station is served by the Victoria, District and Circle lines. After exiting the Gatwick Express platform, you will see large signs for the Underground station, which is straight ahead, near the main exit from the station.
It’s easiest and cheapest to use contactless cards or devices to pay for the Underground, however there are also ticket machines to purchase paper tickets or Oyster Cards.
Victoria Underground station is step free, so if you have luggage you can use lifts (elevators) instead of taking the stairs or escalators. You have to specifically follow signs to the lifts however, as it may not be obvious where they are.
If you want to plan a route on the Underground, use transit directions within Google/Apple Maps, or download the Citymapper app.