With easy access to central London, Brighton, Peterborough, Reading and direct trains to 120 stations across the country, Gatwick train station is well connected. In fact, it is the best-connected airport by rail in the country, with services offered by the Gatwick Express, Southern, Thameslink and the Great Western Railway. With so many options and with the station being located just 2 minutes’ walk from the South Terminal, getting to and from Gatwick by train is a piece of cake!
However you plan to get to the airport, Parkhero is here to help with all the information you need about travelling to and from Gatwick Airport train station. In our short guide below, we will show you the train services available at Gatwick, ticket prices and where to buy them, how to get to the station, station facilities and more.
As Gatwick Airport is so well-connected to the national train network, you can access it directly via 120 direct stations and via over 700 different stations with just one change. Depending on your location, you can access Gatwick via Reading, Cambridge, Horsham, Brighton or many London stations. These London Gatwick train links to and from London are particularly good with routes from London Bridge, London Victoria, Clapham Junction and London St. Pancras International.
Below you can see a selection of the most popular train links to Gatwick, including ticket prices and expected durations.
| Route | Single ticket price | Return ticket price | Journey time |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Victoria to Gatwick Airport | From £19.90 | From £38.90 | 30 minutes |
| London Bridge to Gatwick Airport | From £11.40 | From £21.40 | 30 minutes |
| Clapham Junction to Gatwick Airport | From £12.00 | From £24.00 | 25 minutes |
| St. Pancras International to Gatwick Airport | From £12.40 | From £22.40 | 45-60 minutes |
| Brighton to Gatwick Airport | From £9.30 | From £16.80 | 35 minutes |
| Reading to Gatwick Airport | From £20.30 | From £40.60 | 1 hour, 30 minutes |
| Cambridge to Gatwick Airport | From £36.50 | From £61.70 | 1 hour, 50 minutes |
The information in the table is sourced from www.thetrainline.com.
The prices above are based on bookings made a month in advance. The further in advance you book your train tickets for Gatwick train station, the more you will save. Most companies release their tickets 3 months in advance, so if you set yourself a reminder, you can easily make big savings. Booking in advance also gives you access to the cheaper Off-Peak Return tickets which are open returns within a month of the outward journey during the off-peak travel times.
You can purchase train tickets directly at Gatwick station via the ticket machines or at the Onward Travel desk at the South Terminal. If you plan to take the Gatwick Express, you can save yourself a wait at the ticket machines by purchasing them in advance with some airlines selling tickets onboard, at the Moneycorp bureaux, Airport Concierge desks or the Gatwick Connects desks in the baggage collection area.
However, the best way to buy a ticket is online via websites, such as thetrainline.com or directly via the train provider. As suggested above, by booking ahead you can make large savings as tickets increase in price the closer to your departure date you book. The train providers, such as the Gatwick Express, also offer incentive discounts for online bookings of up to 10%.
Keep in mind that there are often delays on trains and that you should regularly check the Gatwick Airport train departures information before your trip. When booking your ticket, make sure to check if there are any scheduled works on your route and book a train that gives you plenty of time to spare, in case of any delays!
There are 4 train companies serving Gatwick train station:
Gatwick Express
The Gatwick Express is one of the easiest ways to reach central London with a premium service to London Victoria. The trains leave every 15 minutes and take around 30 minutes to reach London. From Victoria you can catch connecting rail services, access the London Underground and the national coach network.
Southern
This provider runs trains into central London with stations including London Bridge, London Victoria, and Clapham Junction. It also links with the south-east train network with routes to Brighton, Eastbourne, Southampton and Portsmouth.
Thameslink
Thameslink offers popular links to London Bridge, St Pancras International, Farringdon and Bedford. It also offers services from Gatwick to Brighton and Luton Airport Parkway.
Great Western Railway
This rail company offers links to Reading, Redhill, Guildford and smaller stations along the way on an hourly basis from Gatwick. It is a popular route for passengers from the west who need to change at Reading.
Gatwick Airport Train Station was originally just called Gatwick Station and was built in 1891 on the Brighton main line to transport the public to the nearby Gatwick Racecourse. By the 1940s the station had been renamed Gatwick Racecourse Station to reflect its purpose, but shortly afterwards fell out of use as the racecourse shut down. By the 1950s, nearby Tinsley Green airport was being transformed into one of London’s main airports and the former racecourse was purchased as part of the development. Gatwick Racecourse Station was then developed into the current Gatwick Airport station by 1958. In the 2010s a multimillion pound facelift updated the station to its current modern form, reflecting its importance as a hub for the 21 million travellers who use it annually.
There are a range of facilities available at this modern station:
The South Terminal is just a 2 minute walk from the train station. Keep an eye out for Gatwick Train Station terminal directions via regular signs from in the arrivals area of the South Terminal.
To get from Gatwick Train Station to North Terminal, you will need to catch the free monorail from the South Station. The monorails leave every 3 minutes and transfers between the terminals take just 2 minutes.
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When you have chosen the parking service you want, click ‘Book now’ and you can make your booking in less than 5 minutes with no need to make an account. Shortly afterwards you will receive your confirmation email and you are all set to head to the airport! If you have any questions or would like to modify your booking, you can contact our friendly customer service team.
All train prices mentioned serve as a guide only. Travellers should ensure that they check the price of their proposed journey with the service provider before booking. Please note that the information above is provided for reference only, and does not constitute as travel advice.
