Tool · Flying from Gatwick
When should I leave for Gatwick?
Enter your flight time, terminal and starting point. We work back using the slowest journey time we recorded for each option, plus the walk at Gatwick.
Calculator
The calculator needs JavaScript. Every figure it uses is listed under “Figures this tool uses” below, so you can work it out by hand: take your flight time and subtract 120 minutes (Gatwick’s general advice), the walk from the station or coach stop, the shuttle ride if you fly from the North Terminal, and the longest journey time for your option.
When to leave
Enter your flight time and terminal to see when to leave.
Journey times checked . We always use the slow end of each recorded range. Delays, engineering work and queues are not included.
Figures this tool uses
6 routes, 43 figures, each with its source and the date we checked it.
Every number the calculator uses, with where it came from and when we checked it. Service hours we have not confirmed show as “Not recorded”; for those options the calculator tells you to check the timetable instead of guessing.
At the airport
| Figure | Minutes | Checked, source |
|---|---|---|
| Gatwick’s general advice: arrive at least two hours before your flight | 120 | Checked gatwickairport.com |
| Walk from Gatwick Airport station to South Terminal departures | 5 | Checked gatwickairport.com |
| Inter-terminal shuttle ride between South and North Terminal (wait not included) | 2 | Checked gatwickairport.com |
| Walk from a coach or bus stop to the terminal (Gatwick says some stops are 5–10 minutes away) | 10 | Checked gatwickairport.com |
Journeys, by starting point
Brighton to Gatwick
| Option | Journey | Service hours | Checked, source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrainThameslink | 30–33 min | Not recorded | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)gatwickairport.com |
| TrainGatwick Express | 28–30 min | Not recorded | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)en.wikipedia.org |
| CoachNational Express | 40–60 min | 02:50–22:45 | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)timetables.nationalexpress.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (3 firms)Saloon | 32–50 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)gatwicktaxitransfer.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (3 firms)Estate | 32–50 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)gatwicktaxitransfer.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (2 firms)MPV (up to 6 passengers) | 32–50 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)gatwicktaxitransfer.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (3 firms)Minibus (8 seats) | 32–50 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)gatwicktaxitransfer.com |
East Croydon to Gatwick
| Option | Journey | Service hours | Checked, source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrainThameslink | 15–28 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)nationalrail.co.uk |
| TrainSouthern | 15–27 min | First 04:59; last not recorded | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)nationalrail.co.uk |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (5 firms)Saloon | 18–45 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)gatwicktaxitransfer.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (4 firms)Estate | 18–45 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)gatwicktaxitransfer.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (4 firms)MPV (6 passengers) | 18–45 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)gatwicktaxitransfer.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (5 firms)Minibus (8 seats) | 18–45 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)gatwicktaxitransfer.com |
Heathrow to Gatwick
| Option | Journey | Service hours | Checked, source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CoachNational Express | 50–70 min | 00:40–22:40 | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)nationalexpress.com |
| TrainElizabeth line + Thameslink | 83–104 min | 05:21–23:38 | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)gatwickairport.com |
| BusTfL Superloop SL7 + Southern or Thameslink | 108–141 min | Not recorded | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)gatwickairport.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (4 firms)Saloon | 40–90 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)rapidairporttransfers.co.uk |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (3 firms)Estate | 40–90 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)rapidairporttransfers.co.uk |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (3 firms)MPV (6–7 seats) | 40–90 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)rapidairporttransfers.co.uk |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (2 firms)Minibus (8 seats) | 45–90 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)rapidairporttransfers.co.uk |
London Bridge to Gatwick
| Option | Journey | Service hours | Checked, source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrainThameslink | 28–35 min | Not recorded | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)thameslinkrailway.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (4 firms)Saloon | 55–91 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)minicabride.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (2 firms)Estate | 55–91 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)blackberrycars.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (2 firms)MPV (5 seats) | 55–91 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)airport-pickups-london.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (2 firms)MPV (6 seats) | 55–91 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)albionairportcars.co.uk |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (2 firms)Minibus (8 seats) | 55–91 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)albionairportcars.co.uk |
St Pancras to Gatwick
| Option | Journey | Service hours | Checked, source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrainThameslink | 44–62 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)nationalrail.co.uk |
| TrainLondon Underground + Southern | 51–52 min | Not recorded | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)api.tfl.gov.uk |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (4 firms)Saloon | 70–105 min | Not recorded | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)minicabride.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (2 firms)Estate | 70–105 min | Not recorded | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)blackberrycars.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (2 firms)MPV (6 seats) | 70–105 min | Not recorded | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)blackberrycars.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (2 firms)Minibus (8 seats) | 70–105 min | Not recorded | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)airport-pickups-london.com |
Victoria to Gatwick
| Option | Journey | Service hours | Checked, source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrainSouthern | 33–55 min | 04:30–00:08 | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)railwaydata.co.uk |
| TrainGatwick Express | 31–40 min | 05:05–22:59 | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)railwaydata.co.uk |
| CoachNational Express | 65–106 min | 02:00–23:59 | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)nationalexpress.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (6 firms)Saloon | 50–84 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)getlondontransfer.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (2 firms)Estate | 60–80 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)londonairport-taxi.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (3 firms)MPV (6 seats) | 50–80 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)getlondontransfer.com |
| Private transferPre-booked private hire (3 firms)Minibus (8 seats) | 50–80 min | Runs 24 hours | Checked unconfirmed (not yet confirmed against a second source)getlondontransfer.com |