Train (fastest, comfortable)
There are four train operators on a shuttle route between London Gatwick Airport or the city of London.
- Direct trains to London Victoria Station
- Departing every 15 minutes in peak periods
- 30-minute journey
- 10% discount for tickets bought online in advance
- Fares usually around £15 – £17
- Direct trains to London Victoria Station
- Departing every 3-10 minutes
- 30-47 minute journey, a longer journey often secure cheaper fare
- Fares usually from £12 – £17 (from £8 with Oyster or any Debit Contactless card)
- Direct trains to London Victoria Station
- Departing every 3-10 minutes
- 30-35 minute journey, a longer journey often secure cheaper fare
- Trains to London, Reading, Reigate, Guildford
- Fares usually from £12 – £17
To search all providers and buy a ticket, you may also use the National Rail website.
Make sure you use your ticket only on time booked, as your ticket is valid only on the train of the particular provider (not possible to use Gatwick express ticket on Southern etc.)
Forgot to buy your ticket in advance? You can skip the queues by paying for your rail travel with Oyster or Contactless card by tapping in at the station, with fares from as low as £8.00 in off-peak periods. You can buy Oyster cards from the station or from the Transport for London desks in both terminals.
Bus (cheapest)
Coaches are available for journeys to London and are also the cheapest way of getting to the city centre.
There are easyBus, MegaBus or National Express bus operators available at the Gatwick Airport.
Tickets start at £1.99 one way if bought online in advance, from £9 shortly before departure and from £11 at the airport kiosk.
Most of the buses are equipped with air conditioning, WiFi and power sockets. For example with National Express, it is possible to buy a ticket to different cities as well, with a change in London Victoria Coach Station.
Keep in mind that the traffic in London might be very heavy at some times so the journey might take a bit longer.
To Heathrow, Standsted or Luton Airport
You can buy a ticket with National Express or Megabus for direct connection to Heathrow, Standsted (only National Express) or Luton Airport (only National Express)
Heathrow – The fares are usually from £20 (every 5 – 20 minutes, total journey time up to 2 hours).
Standsted – The fares are usually from £26 (every 2 hours, total journey time around 3 hours).
Luton – The fares are usually from £20 (every 1.5 hours, total journey time around 2.5 hours).