There are multiple ways to get get from Gatwick Airport to central London, including train, bus and taxi. The easiest option is to go by train, as the station is conveniently located and you won’t get stuck in any traffic jams. We took the train, but also cover the other options below, including links to buying your tickets.
Train
The train is the easiest option and is what we got. You can either get the Gatwick Express or a local train.
The Gatwick Express is a non-stop service to London Victoria, with trains running every 15 minutes. The journey time is 30 minutes, with tickets costing £19.90 one-way. Buy tickets at the station, or in advance from gatwickexpress.com (usually a 10% discount).
The local trains stop at East Croydon and Clapham Junction. These trains also run four times an hour, with a journey time of around 32-38 minutes. Ticket prices vary depending on when you book them, and usually cost between £11 and £15.30. Book ahead for the best prices. Buy tickets at the station, or in advance from thetrainline.com.
PRO TIP: We used raileasy.trainsplit.com to get tickets for £10.70 instead of £15.90, so a saving of £5.20 each. This is an excellent website that finds ways to split your rail tickets to save you money. Gatwick to London Victoria was £15.90, but Gatwick to Horley and Horley to London Victoria came to £10.70. You sit on the same train and don’t need to get off.
There are also local trains that go to St. Pancras International. I’ve seen tickets for these trains for as low as £7.90. Journey time is around an hour. Buy tickets at the station, or in advance from thetrainline.com.
Bus
Both National Express and easyBus run services between Gatwick Airport and central London.
National Express buses run 24/7, with buses departing from directly outside the terminal doors. Services run every 30 minutes at peak time. Journey time is 1 to 2.25 hours depending on time of day and amount of traffic. Ticket prices start at £7 one-way, but vary depending on time of day and when booked. Buy tickets at the airport, or in advance from nationalexpress.com.
easyBus runs services from both the north and south terminals to Earls Court/West Brompton and London Victoria Coach station. They also run services from the south terminal to London Waterloo. Buses run from 04:00 until 01:00. They run every 15 minutes during peak times. Ticket prices start at £2 and can be bought at easybus.co.uk.
Taxi
Taxis are available at both terminals and take around an hour into central London. The advantage with a taxi is that you can get dropped off at your hotel. The cost would likely be a minimum of £100. Make sure you only used licensed taxi services.
Hotels In London
We opted to stay at the Premier Inn Hammersmith for our first night in London, as the location was quite good for us. For other great hotels in London, check out Agoda London, our favorite hotel booking website.
