The easiest way to get from Gatwick Airport to central London is by train.

However, don’t automatically book the fastest service (the Gatwick Express). Southern also runs to Victoria, which is just as fast and costs less. For London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon or St Pancras, choose the direct Thameslink service.

To be honest, I don’t bother with the names of the trains at all. I simply compare everything on thetrailne.com, where I also buy my ticket.

The bus has one main advantage: National Express tickets start at 6 gbp. Otherwise, the train wins out in terms of speed, frequency and choice of stations in London.

Transport	When to choose it	Journey time and price to the city centre
Southern trains	Best value for money and speed when travelling to Victoria	40 minutes, from 10,70 gbp
Thameslink	London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras	50 minutes, from 14,40 gbp
Gatwick Express	Direct train to Victoria with no stops	32 minutes, from 24,10 gbp
National Express	The cheapest option, if you don’t mind a long journey	from 100 minutes, from 6,50 gbp

Train to London: the best choice for most journeys

For most journeys from Gatwick to London, choose the train. The station is located right next to the South Terminal.

A free automated train runs from the North Terminal to the station. The journey between the terminals takes 2 minutes and the service runs non-stop.

On Trainline.com, you’ll see Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express all in one search. Choose based on your destination and the total price, not the name of the train.

Which train should you choose?

Thameslink, Gatwick Express or Southern? I don’t really worry about it – I don’t find the British rail system very straightforward, so personally I mainly choose based on where I’m going in London or on the price.

So I’ll just pick the train that suits me best without worrying about what it’s called.

I’ll easily buy a ticket online atTrainline.com.

Perhaps the only exception is if you don’t want to buy a ticket in advance – in that case, choose ‘Southern’ trains, where you’ll pay the same price 10,70 gbp as you would at the station – you can pay conveniently by contactless card, so you don’t have to worry about tickets.

In total, up to 19 trains an hour run from Gatwick to London.

Online ticket or contactless card?

At Gatwick, you can pay for trains to London using a contactless card or an Oyster Card. Tap the same card or device when boarding and alighting.

Please note when travelling to Victoria: the Gatwick Express charges a higher fare than Southern. The fare is determined by the exit gate at Victoria station.

Advance tickets are linked to a specific train. Off-Peak and Anytime tickets cost more but offer greater flexibility.

Before travelling, compare the price of a standard ticket with paying by card; if travelling during peak times or in a group, booking in advance may work out cheaper.

• Journey time: 29 to 50 minutes depending on the destination
• Frequency: up to 19 trains per hour to various parts of London
• Fare: from 10,70 gbp with a contactless card during off-peak hours, online tickets from 12,50 gbp
• Buy a ticket: Trainline.com

We explain how to pay for the Underground, London buses and onward journeys from the station in our guide to London transport.

Buses to London: the cheapest option, the longest journey

Choose the National Express coach if you can find a ticket for 6 gbp (Stratford) or 6,50 gbp (Victoria)and time is not a priority for you.

The cheapest fares are usually available if you book at least one month in advance. Otherwise, the price is around 12 gbp.

In all other cases, the train is quicker and more convenient.

• Journey time: from 1 hour 40 minutes
• Frequency: up to 21 services a day
• Fare: from 6 gbp in advance
• Airport stops: North Terminal and South Terminal
• Buy a ticket: NationalExpress.com

Map of transport to Gatwick Airport

To Heathrow, Stansted and Luton airports

When transferring between London’s airports, don’t just factor in journey time. Allow time for check-in, security checks and a buffer for delays.

Airports	Best connections	Journey time and price
Heathrow	Direct National Express	from 70 minutes, from 14,90 gbp
Stansted	Thameslink+ Elizabeth Line + Stansted Express	from 2 hours, from 25 gbp
Luton	Direct Thameslink to Luton Airport Parkway and Luton DART	approx. 1.5 hours, from 20 gbp

Heathrow

The easiest way to get to Heathrow is by the direct National Express coach.

The fastest services take 70 minutes and fares start at 14,90 gbp. The buses stop at both terminals at Gatwick and, at Heathrow Airport, serve both the Central Bus Station and Terminal 5.

The train requires a change from Thameslink to the Elizabeth Line at Farringdon. The journey takes from 1 hour 24 minutes and tickets start at 23,30 gbp, so the bus makes more sense.

• Buy a ticket: NationalExpress.com

Stansted

There is no direct train or direct bus between Gatwick and Stansted.

The quickest route is to take the Thameslink train to Farringdon, then the Elizabeth Line to Liverpool Street, followed by the Stansted Express.

The journey takes about 2 hours and tickets start at 25 gbp. National Express offers a connection with a change in London, but the journey takes over 3 hours.

Luton

There are four direct Thameslink trains an hour to Luton. Get off at Luton Airport Parkway and take the automated DART train for the final 4 minutes.

When booking, select Luton Airport as your destination, not Luton Airport Parkway. The ticket will then include the DART. The fastest journey takes 1 hour 20 minutes and prices start at 20 gbp.

• Buy a ticket: Trainline.com

To Brighton and the South of England

Gatwick isn’t just near London. You can also easily reach Brighton, Eastbourne, Portsmouth, Southampton, Worthing or Reading by train.

The fastest direct trains to Brighton take 26 minutes, so the journey to the seaside is shorter than to parts of London.

Trains also continue on to Eastbourne, Portsmouth and Southampton. Direct Great Western Railway trains to Reading run twice an hour and the journey takes 90 minutes.

Compare fares and direct services on Trainline.com. National Express coaches are only worth considering if the price you find is significantly lower than that of the train.

• Buy a train ticket: Trainline.com
• Buy a bus ticket: NationalExpress.com

Airport hotels and surrounding towns

For an early morning flight, it’s worth staying at a hotel within walking distance of the terminal.

The name ‘Gatwick Airport’ does not necessarily mean the hotel is right next to the terminal; some hotels are located in neighbouring towns and you’ll need to take a bus.

Hotels in the area are served by the Gatwick Hoppa, which runs 24 hours a day. A one-way adult fare ranges from4 gbp to 5,25 gbp depending on the hotel, whilst a return fare ranges from7 gbp to 9,50 gbp. Contactless payment only.

Before buying a Hopp card, do also check the local Metrobus services. They run directly to many hotels and a single journey costs no more than 3 gbp.

• Gatwick Hoppa – North Terminal: stop 11
• Gatwick Hoppa – South Terminal: stop 9 on the lower level
• Find a hotel near Gatwick Airport

Car hire

If you’re only heading to London, don’t hire a car. The train is quicker and you’ll avoid the hassle of parking, London congestion charges and driving on the left in heavy traffic.

A car makes sense for travelling around the south of England, the countryside or the coast. The airport has counters for Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and National. Prices start at 20 gbp per day, but the price on the dates of your trip is what matters.

Compare prices and book a car

Taxis and Uber

Choose a taxi or Uber if you’re travelling with 3 to 4 people, have a lot of luggage, or are heading to a hotel far from the train station.

The journey to the city centre takes 60 to 100 minutes. Pre-booked transfers start at 70 gbp, and depending on your destination and traffic, you’ll pay between70 gbp and 120 gbp. For one or two passengers, the train is both cheaper and quicker.

The official airport partner is Airport Cars Gatwick. Pick-up points and drop-off points for pre-booked cars are located at both terminals.