You are here: Home > Traveller information > Gatwick Airport

London Gatwick Airport

Learn about how to travel between Gatwick Airport and central London by train, coach or taxi, plus a guide to airport accommodation and car parking.
Content contains affiliate links, marked with asterisks (*). If you click through and make a purchase, Visit London receives a commission – every purchase supports London’s jobs and economy.
Passengers with luggage walk through the terminal at Gatwick Airport in London.
Gatwick Airport is located south of London. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

Key Gatwick Airport information

  • Gatwick Airport (LGW) is located south of London.

  • The Gatwick Express is a nonstop train service between the airport and Victoria station in central London.

  • Southern and Thameslink also offer train services from Gatwick Airport to several London stations.

  • Gatwick Cars is the airport's official taxi provider. 

  • Coaches from Victoria Coach Station to Gatwick take about an hour and a half to two hours.

Gatwick Airport (LGW) is the second busiest airport in the UK, serving hundreds of destinations and millions of passengers every year. The airport is located 45km (28 miles) south of London.

Arriving and departing from Gatwick Airport

Gatwick has two terminals: the North Terminal and the South Terminal. Both have a selection of shops, restaurants, cafes, bureaux de change and help desks.

For Gatwick Airport flight departures, check-in desks can be found on the third floor of both the North and South terminals. All passengers must clear security control before entering the departure lounge.

In the Gatwick Airport Arrivals hall, you'll find shops, bars, restaurants and currency exchange. 

Passengers wait in the terminal at Gatwick Airport in London.

How to travel by train from Gatwick Airport to central London

Gatwick Airport's train station is attached to the South Terminal. A free shuttle takes passengers to and from the North Terminal.

The Gatwick Express is a nonstop train service to central London. Trains run every 30 minutes between Gatwick Airport's South Terminal and London Victoria station daily from 5.41am to 11.05pm. The journey time is 34 minutes. Visitor Oyster Cards* are accepted on board for payment.

Thameslink runs trains from Gatwick Airport to London Victoria, London Bridge, London Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras International that leave several times an hour. These Thameslink trains also connect to London Luton Airport.

Southern also offers regular train services from Gatwick Airport to London Victoria via East Croydon and Clapham Junction.

Oyster cards and contactless payment cards are accepted on trains between Gatwick Airport and London.

For easy journeys on the London Underground, it's worth buying a Visitor Oyster Card* in advance. The Visitor Oyster Card is delivered to your home before you arrive in London.

If you do not have a Visitor Oyster Card before you arrive, you can use contactless payment cards or mobile payments to ride the London Underground, or you can buy an Oyster card at Gatwick Airport's train station.

Visit the Transport for London website to plan your journey.

How to travel by coach from Gatwick Airport to London

National Express runs regular daily services between Gatwick Airport and Victoria Coach Station starting at 3.50am and operating until 10.50pm. The journey time is approximately 2 hours. Coaches arrive and depart from the lower level outside International Arrivals at Gatwick Airport's North Terminal.

How to travel by taxi from Gatwick Airport to London

Gatwick Cars is Gatwick Airport's official taxi provider. Fare quotes are provided online, and the company has kiosks at both the North and South terminals. Never use unauthorised drivers who offer their services at airports or stations.

Alternatively, travel in style with a private transfer to or from Gatwick Airport*. 

Passenger waits to board the transit train between terminals at Gatwick Airport in London.

Accessible transport from Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink offer assistance for travellers with disabilities and passengers with mobility needs. The train companies provide support for travellers through every stage of the journey, from booking tickets to boarding and alighting from trains.

National Express can help with accessibility requirements if you contact them at least 36 hours before travel.

Gatwick Airport hotels

Gatwick Airport has hotels in both the North Terminal and South Terminal. If you book through the Gatwick airport website, it is possible to take advantage of offers on joint bookings for hotels and parking.

The wider Gatwick area has an excellent range of places to stay, and many accommodation options offer airport transfers. To find out more, visit our page on accommodation and where to stay in London. 

Gatwick Airport parking

Gatwick Airport has a wide range of parking options to suit all budgets. Choose from short-stay car parks, long-stay car parking, premium parking that's on the same level as the terminal entrance or valet parking. See the Gatwick Parking website for more information and to book a space.

If you are dropping somebody off or collecting them from outside the North or South terminals, you will need to pay a charge online for using the drop off zones.

Explore by category