If you are planning your holiday from Gatwick, chances are you are looking for the best value ways to get to and from the airport. With so many factors at play it can be difficult to judge from all the different transport options, which to choose. At first glance, a taxi to Gatwick Airport may seem like the most convenient option, especially as it is only 28 miles from London. However, on closer inspection, you will soon see that a taxi to central London will take more than an hour, whereas the train can take just 30 minutes and cost less than a quarter of the price! If you are travelling as a group of 2 or more or with a lot of luggage, the picture of what is best value becomes far more complicated. The convenience of taking your own car and parking directly at the airport, then easily becomes a more appealing option.
In this simple guide we at Parkhero have put together a set of examples to help you work out what the best option for your transfer to Gatwick could be. We have done the research for you and below you will see how much it costs to travel from Croydon, London Bridge, London Victoria, London St. Pancras, Brighton, Reading and Southampton, when parking at the airport, taking the train, bus or taxi. All prices are shown by the number of passengers and are based on a week’s holiday from Gatwick Airport. These are some of the most popular destinations from the airport and will give you a good idea of the sort of prices you can expect.
As you can see here for Croydon and will see for the other destinations, a Gatwick Airport taxi is the most expensive option. Taking a taxi can still be a worthwhile option if you are travelling with a lot of luggage or together with a large group, but otherwise your best transfer from Croydon to Gatwick will either be the train or parking directly at the airport. The train is the cheapest option for up to 3 people, but if you are travelling with luggage, it may be more convenient to drive your own car.
| Number of passengers | Parking for 1 week | Train (return ticket) | Bus (return ticket) | Taxi (return trip) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 passenger | £28.00 | From £11.20 | From £18.00 | From £78.00 |
| 2 passengers | £31.00 | From £22.40 | From £36.00 | From £78.00 |
| 3 passengers | £34.00 | From £33.60 | From £54.00 | From £78.00 |
| 4 passengers | £37.00 | From £44.80 | From £72.00 | From £101.23 |
| Each additional passenger | There is a £3 charge per person for the shuttle to and from the airport | From +£11.20 | From +£18.00 | Extra charges for larger taxis |
If you are travelling to Gatwick from the London Bridge area, then the best value option is to drive and park at the airport. For 8 days parking at a Park and Ride service, you will pay just £31.00 for 2 people. That is a saving of more than £80, compared to taking an airport taxi Gatwick! The train and bus options are more reasonable and for solo travel could be the best option with regular direct trains to London Bridge and a National Express coach service to nearby Elephant & Castle station.
| Number of passengers | Parking for 1 week | Train (return ticket) | Bus (return ticket) | Taxi (return trip) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 passenger | £28.00 | From £24.80 | From £21.60 | From £111.39 |
| 2 passengers | £31.00 | From £49.60 | From £43.20 | From £111.39 |
| 3 passengers | £34.00 | From £74.40 | From £64.80 | From £111.39 |
| 4 passengers | £37.00 | From £99.20 | From £86.40 | From £153.09 |
| Each additional passenger | There is a £3 charge per person for the shuttle to and from the airport | From +£24.80 | From +£21.60 | Extra charges for larger taxis |
If you are travelling to Gatwick from London Victoria in central London, then a bus or train is your most convenient option. Victoria is a major terminus with excellent connections to the London Underground and national rail and coach services. A return coach to Gatwick will cost you just £18.00, but for £6 extra you can take the train and be there in half the time. Parking at the airport is also a great value choice for central London, especially if you have a lot of luggage. Luggage space on public transport is limited and a hassle at busy times.
| Number of passengers | Parking for 1 week | Train (return ticket) | Bus (return ticket) | Taxi (return trip) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 passenger | £28.00 | From £24.00 | From £18.00 | From £106.77 |
| 2 passengers | £31.00 | From £48.00 | From £36.00 | From £106.77 |
| 3 passengers | £34.00 | From £72.00 | From £54.00 | From £106.77 |
| 4 passengers | £37.00 | From £98.00 | From £72.00 | From £147.30 |
| Each additional passenger | There is a £3 charge per person for the shuttle to and from the airport | From +£24.00 | From +£18.00 | Extra charges for larger taxis |
For transfers between London St. Pancras and Gatwick Airport, the train is your most convenient option. It is the cheapest choice for solo travellers and takes just 45 minutes to reach the airport on the Thameslink service. Parking is also a great option for 2 or more passengers and much better value than taking a taxi to Gatwick Airport, as driving from this area of London will take over an hour.
| Number of passengers | Parking for 1 week | Train (return ticket) | Bus (return ticket) | Taxi (return trip) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 passenger | £28.00 | From £24.80 | N/A | From £117.50 |
| 2 passengers | £31.00 | From £49.60 | N/A | From £117.50 |
| 3 passengers | £34.00 | From £74.40 | N/A | From £117.50 |
| 4 passengers | £37.00 | From £99.20 | N/A | From £161.87 |
| Each additional passenger | There is a £3 charge per person for the shuttle to and from the airport | From +£24.80 | N/A | Extra charges for larger taxis |
Brighton is just 40 minutes by car from Gatwick Airport, making driving yourself and parking at the airport a good option, especially for 2 travellers or more. The train is also a convenient choice with regular services running between Gatwick train station and Brighton’s main station and taking around 30 minutes. You can also take a National Express coach to Brighton, however they are not as frequent and cost more than the train. With such great value alternatives, our advice is to avoid a taxi for Brighton.
| Number of passengers | Parking for 1 week | Train (return ticket) | Bus (return ticket) | Taxi (return trip) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 passenger | £28.00 | From £18.60 | From £19.40 | From £96.90 |
| 2 passengers | £31.00 | From £37.20 | From £34.80 | From £96.90 |
| 3 passengers | £34.00 | From £55.80 | From £58.20 | From £96.90 |
| 4 passengers | £37.00 | From £74.40 | From £77.60 | From £127.62 |
| Each additional passenger | There is a £3 charge per person for the shuttle to and from the airport | From +£18.60 | From +£19.40 | Extra charges for larger taxis |
It takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to drive from Reading to Gatwick Airport and around the same time by train. Even when booked a month in advance for the best prices, parking at the airport is easily the cheapest option. For 8 days parking you pay just £28.00 for one person and up to £37.00 for 4 people. Gatwick Airport taxis by contrast cost up to a whopping £206.90 for 4 passengers! Travelling by train is also a convenient option, especially if you avoid the busy times for travel with luggage or children.
| Number of passengers | Parking for 1 week | Train (return ticket) | Bus (return ticket) | Taxi (return trip) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 passenger | £28.00 | From £40.60 | N/A | From £154.32 |
| 2 passengers | £31.00 | From £81.20 | N/A | From £154.32 |
| 3 passengers | £34.00 | From £121.80 | N/A | From £154.32 |
| 4 passengers | £37.00 | From £162.40 | N/A | From £206.90 |
| Each additional passenger | There is a £3 charge per person for the shuttle to and from the airport | From +£40.60 | N/A | Extra charges for larger taxis |
For transfers between Southampton and Gatwick, the train is by far the cheapest option. At just £10 return per person, you get great value convenient travel directly to the airport train station. Driving is the next cheapest option and is quicker at around 1 hour 30 minutes, compared to on average 2 hours 4 minutes with the train. You also enjoy the added convenience of driving straight from your home with your luggage, rather than having to travel to the train station. Taxis as in all cases above offer the most expensive option and with such cheap train travel available, taking a taxi is not recommended.
| Number of passengers | Parking for 1 week | Train (return ticket) | Bus (return ticket) | Taxi (return trip) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 passenger | £28.00 | From £10.00 | From £42.80 | From £154.32 |
| 2 passengers | £31.00 | From £20.00 | From £85.60 | From £154.32 |
| 3 passengers | £34.00 | From £30.00 | From £128.40 | From £154.32 |
| 4 passengers | £37.00 | From £40.00 | From £171.20 | From £206.90 |
| Each additional passenger | There is a £3 charge per person for the shuttle to and from the airport | From +£10.00 | From +£42.80 | Extra charges for larger taxis |
The prices in the tables above show the cheapest prices available for a week’s travel in October 2020, booked a month in advance. The parking prices are based on parking with Cambridge Hotel, a Park and Ride service just outside Gatwick Airport. This car park provides an excellent value service and is one of our most popular car parks at Gatwick. The prices are based on 8 days parking (1 week) and also include the £3 per person shuttle fee. You can find more about Cambridge Hotel Gatwick Parking on our dedicated page.
Train and coach prices were calculated using www.thetrainline.com fare finder tool, which makes it simple to find the best prices for both train and coach travel. The prices shown are for return tickets, returning within in one week and booked a month in advance. The prices for a taxi to Gatwick Airport were calculated using www.minicabit.com.
There is no simple answer this question, as the best way to get to Gatwick will depend on where you are travelling from. Generally, the further you are from the airport, the better value Gatwick airport parking becomes. Even when booked a month in advance the cost of rail and coach travel is still higher than parking with Cambridge Hotel Park and Ride. You do need to factor in your fuel costs however.
Let’s take a look at the positive and negative aspects of each form of travel.
Parking Pros & Cons
The main benefit of parking directly at Gatwick Airport is the convenience of driving your own car. You can step out of your home with your luggage, load your vehicle and make your way straight to the airport. If you choose a Meet and Greet service, you can drop your car off at the terminal forecourt and it will be parked for your while you make your way to check-in. When you return it will be back where you dropped it off, ready for you to begin your journey home. Parking at the airport is also great value, especially for 2 or more travellers as car parks do not charge per person, but per vehicle. It is also much less hassle to transport a lot of luggage by car than by public transport.
The downside of driving yourself is of course that the journey could be long and tiring and you could get caught in traffic on the way to the airport. Driving is also not as environmentally friendly as taking public transport.
Train Travel Pros & Cons
With train travel becoming increasingly popular and with Gatwick being one of the best-connected airports by rail in the country, rail travel can be cheap and convenient. You can take the train directly from hundreds of stations to the airport and walk from the station to Gatwick South Terminal in just 2 minutes. Gatwick to London trains are one of the quickest ways to get to and from the airport to central London, with the Gatwick Express taking around 30 minutes and running around the clock.
Some of the downsides of taking the train to Gatwick are the chances of delays, the high cost of tickets unless booked in advance and the difficulty of travelling with luggage, especially at busy times.
Coach Travel Pros & Cons
Coach travel in the UK is a great value option and there are many direct coach routes to Gatwick from around the country. National Express coaches stop right outside each terminal and there are also other good bus options from the airport to destinations in central London and beyond. Buses can be extremely cheap if you book in advance, you can store your luggage in the hold, you are guaranteed a seat and most services offer free Wi-Fi.
Some negative aspects of coach travel include the often long duration of the journeys compared to other options, the chance of traffic delays and the low frequency of coaches to Gatwick with some services only running once or twice a day.
Taxi Pros & Cons
Taxis to Gatwick are not a popular option due to the great value offered by alternative transfers. However, taxis are a convenient option if you are travelling with a lot of luggage, a large group or small children. They will pick you up directly from the terminal building and drop-you off directly at your accommodation. You can also be more flexible when travelling by taxi, as you can choose the times for pick-up and drop-off.
The downside is of course that compared to other forms of transport to and from Gatwick, taxis are incredibly expensive. They cost 2 to 3 times more! If you are travelling from London taxis are also a slower option than taking the train, which can take as little as 30 minutes from London Victoria.
Parkhero is one of the UK’s most popular options for comparing airport car parking at airports across the country. With our simple comparison tool, you can compare the best value options and make a booking in less than 10 minutes. All you need to do is select your airport and choose you travel dates. The system does the rest for you, providing you with all the information you need about each service. Whether you are looking for Park and Ride, Meet and Greet or on-site parking, Parkhero can help you find the best prices options.
No matter your budget we can help you save on parking at Gatwick and a host of other airports across the UK. Begin your search today and see how much you could save!
All parking, train, and taxi prices mentioned serve as a guide only. While they were accurate at the time of publishing, rates can and do change regularly. 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.
