A popular way to transfer to the airport, London to Gatwick train services offer you plenty of different options. Gatwick is one of the best-connected airports by train in the country and provides routes not just to London, but most major towns and cities in the UK. Whether you are looking for a cheap train ticket or are more interested in getting to and from Gatwick quickly, you will easily find a train that fits your needs.
Finding the right option at the right price can be a bit of a challenge, but luckily for you, we have done the research for you! At Parkhero we are dedicated to helping passengers find the easiest and best value transport to and from Gatwick Airport. In this guide you will find information on the train routes available from Gatwick, the train service providers, ticket prices and some money saving tips.
By taking the train from Gatwick to London, you can be in the centre of the city in just 30 minutes without having to worry about traffic delays or spending a fortune. As you will see in the table below, there are direct train services to and from major London train stations with excellent London Underground connections, making it simple to get to your destination. These trains also run around the clock, ensuring you will always be able to get where you need to be, no matter the times of your flight.
| Routes | Single price | Return price | Duration | Tube Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gatwick Airport to London Victoria | from £12.00 | from £24.00 | 33 minutes | Circle & District and Victoria |
| Gatwick Airport to Clapham Junction | from £12.00 | from £24.00 | 35 minutes | N/A |
| Gatwick Airport to London Bridge | from £11.40 | from £22.80 | 28 minutes | Northern and Jubilee |
| Gatwick Airport to London Blackfriars | from £12.40 | from £24.80 | 36 minutes | Circle & District |
| Gatwick Airport to City Thameslink | from £12.40 | from £24.80 | 39 minutes | N/A |
| Gatwick Airport to Farringdon | from £12.40 | from £24.80 | 41 minutes | Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City |
| Gatwick Airport to London St. Pancras | from £12.40 | from £24.80 | 45 minutes | Victoria, Piccadilly, Northern, Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City (from King's Cross 5 minute's walk away) |
The times and prices in the table were found on www.thetrainline.com.
The prices above are based on travel in October 2020 with tickets booked a month in advance. The duration of the journey was based on the fastest option available at the time, but this can vary.
There are 3 main train service providers between Gatwick Airport and London. Each offers a slightly different service and it is worth getting to know them to find the right option for your trip.
Gatwick Express
The Gatwick Express is the quickest way to get to central London from Gatwick with trains taking around 30 minutes. This Victoria to Gatwick train runs every 15 minutes around the clock, ensuring you always have the option of rapid access to and from the airport. The train offers fixed price tickets at £19.90 for a Standard Single and £38.90 for a Standard Return, but you can save 10% by booking your tickets online.
At this time the Gatwick Express is not running due to reduced demand as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. In its place is the Southern service to London Victoria.
Thameslink
For a train London Bridge to Gatwick, the Thameslink is your service and will get you there in around 30 minutes. As well as London Bridge the service runs to London Blackfriars, Farringdon, London St. Pancras International in central London and then on towards Luton Airport Parkway. It is a great value service with Standard Single tickets costing between £11.00 and £12.40.
Southern
If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to the Gatwick Express, then the Southern service to Clapham Junction, London Bridge and London Victoria is a great choice. Tickets cost around £12.00 for a Standard Single, but the service can take 10 to 15 minutes longer than the Gatwick Express.
With so many different options it can seem impossible to find the cheapest train options from Gatwick. However, by planning ahead and following the advice below you will have no trouble saving money on London to Gatwick train tickets!
Using an Oyster card
Many people think that using an Oyster card or a contactless payment card is the cheapest option when travelling in London. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. While these forms of payment are incredibly convenient, it is often better value to purchase your tickets in advance online. This is especially true if you need a return fare, as by using an Oyster card you will pay the same single fare price for each leg of your journey. For example, for the Gatwick Express when using an Oyster card or contactless payment card you will pay £19.80 for a Standard Single ticket each way, whereas if you book online you pay £34.70 for a Standard Return.
Book in advance
By booking in advance online, you give yourself the best chance of finding the cheapest London Gatwick train tickets. As soon as you have booked your flights, make sure to start looking for tickets online using comparison websites, such as thetrainline.com, or directly on the train company websites. Tickets are usually released 3 months in advance for the cheapest Super Advance tickets, but you can still find great value Advance tickets a month or even a couple of weeks in ahead. You can save up to 60%!
When booking online it is also easy to find fantastic deals on return tickets, such as Anytime Returns. These Gatwick to London train tickets are often much cheaper than buying a separate Return ticket and offer you greater flexibility. You can use the ticket to return up to 30 days after your departure date.
Choose the slower option
If you want to save money on trains to and from Gatwick, a simple solution is to choose the slower options. As we saw above, the Southern service to London Victoria is £7.90 cheaper one-way and £14.80 cheaper for a return ticket compared to the Gatwick Express. Southern trains are generally 10 to 15 minutes slower, as they have stops in between, but are much better value. However, keep in mind that the Southern trains are commuter trains and that during the peak hours can become very busy.
Travel during off-peak
By avoiding travelling during the peak hours between 06:00 and 09:00 and between 16:00 and 19:00, you can find cheaper tickets and avoid busy trains. There are also specific Off-peak tickets available offering great deals on London to Gatwick train travel, but make sure to read the conditions on the ticket before purchasing. Some can be very restrictive to only allowing travel during a certain time period and date.
All trains to and from Gatwick arrive and depart directly at the airport train station, which is just a 2 minute walk from the South Terminal. The station has all the facilities of a normal train station with waiting areas, ticket machines, an ATM, refreshment kiosks, toilets and escalators and lifts to the terminal.
Passengers who are travelling to or from the North Terminal can catch one of the frequent monorails between the two terminals. They leave every 2 minutes and take just 3 minutes in transit. The platform at the South Terminal is right outside the entrance to the airport train station.
Parkhero is one of the country’s leading airport car parking comparison websites, helping customers to find great value airport parking across the UK. Whether you are looking for Park & Ride, Meet & Greet or on-site official parking, Parkhero will help you with a simple overview of prices and facilities for each parking option. There are no booking fees and you do not need to make an account with us, allowing you to make your booking in as little as 5 minutes.
At Parkhero we want to ensure that you are well informed and know exactly what your options are. Whether you are thinking about parking at the airport or travelling to Gatwick by taxi, coach or train, we have created a wealth of resources to help you find the best options. Check out our Blog for up to date information on the prices of parking at Gatwick or begin a search in the comparison tool at the top of the page. Enter your travel dates for accurate results and in a few seconds, you will see all the available results ranked from the cheapest to the most expensive. You can find more information on each parking service on their dedicated product page and if you have any questions our customer service team will be more than happy to help.
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.
