How long should I allow to connect between Gatwick and Heathrow?

For separate flights, allow a generous buffer — a commonly cited minimum is around three hours between landing at one airport and your departure at the other, on top of immigration, baggage reclaim and check-in. A flight-tracked private transfer reduces the waiting compared with a scheduled coach.

Does the transfer work both ways, Heathrow to Gatwick too?

Yes. RushXO runs the transfer in both directions, Gatwick to Heathrow and Heathrow to Gatwick, met in arrivals at either airport with flight tracking and luggage help, at one fixed fare.

Gatwick to Heathrow Transfer 2026: Fixed Fare, Flight-Tracked, ~1 Hour

Q: Is there a direct train between Gatwick and Heathrow?

No. There is no direct train or Underground link between Gatwick and Heathrow — the rail route runs via central London with at least one change and takes far longer. The practical options are the direct National Express coach or a private transfer by road.

Q: How long does Gatwick to Heathrow take?

By road it's roughly 45 miles and about an hour terminal to terminal in good conditions, mainly on the M25. Traffic on the M25 is unpredictable, so allow extra at peak times — a private transfer tracks your flight and plans around it.

Q: How much is a Gatwick to Heathrow transfer?

RushXO quotes one fixed fare for the whole vehicle, agreed before booking, with no meter and no surge. The coach is cheaper per seat (from around £14.70), but a transfer is a single fixed price terminal to terminal that often makes sense for groups, luggage or a tight connection.

The short version

There's no direct train or Tube between Gatwick and Heathrow — rail goes via central London and takes hours. The two real options are the National Express coach (direct, from ~£14.70, ~1 hour or a little more) and a private transfer (~1 hour terminal to terminal, fixed fare, flight tracked). For a tight connection, lots of luggage or a group, the car's certainty usually wins. If you're connecting between flights, leave a generous buffer — commonly around 3 hours minimum.

Switching between London's two biggest airports looks like it should be simple. It isn't, by rail — so most people choose between the direct coach and a private car. This page lays out both honestly, plus the connection times to protect if you're catching an onward flight.

Why there's no direct train

Despite both being major airports, Gatwick and Heathrow have no direct rail or Underground link. Every train route runs into central London and back out again — typically a change (or two), 1.5 to 3 hours, and a fare far higher than the coach. Dragging cases across London by Tube to save nothing is the trap to avoid here. By road the two airports are about 45 miles apart, mostly via the M25, so the sensible choices are both road-based: coach or car.

The journey at a glance

Distance: ~45 miles, mainly on the M25.
Time: ~1 hour terminal to terminal in good conditions — but the M25 is unpredictable, so allow extra at peak times.
Direction: both ways — Gatwick → Heathrow and Heathrow → Gatwick.
Terminals: any Gatwick terminal to any Heathrow terminal (T2, 3, 4, 5) and vice versa.
Price: one fixed fare for the whole vehicle, agreed up front.

Transfer vs coach

Indicative figures — coach fares vary by demand and how far ahead you book. Always check live before travelling.

Option	Time	From	Best for
Private transfer (RushXO)	~1 hour	fixed fare	Tight connections, groups, luggage, no waiting
National Express coach	~1 hour–1h15	from ~£14.70 per seat	Lowest cost, frequent, terminal-to-terminal
Train via London	~1.5–3h	~£35+	Rarely worth it for this route

The coach is genuinely good value and frequent — up to 60-plus services a day, picking up right outside the terminals. Its trade-offs are a scheduled departure (you travel when it leaves, not when you land), set luggage limits, and a fixed route. A private transfer leaves on your timing, tracks your flight, carries what fits the vehicle, and is one fixed price for the car rather than a ticket each — which adds up fast for a group.

Connection times to allow

If you're catching an onward flight from the other airport, build in a generous buffer. A widely cited minimum is around 3 hours between landing at one airport and your departure from the other — and that's after immigration, baggage reclaim and getting to your transport. Self-transferring between separate tickets means a missed connection is your risk, so err on the side of more time, not less.

A flight-tracked private transfer helps here: there's no scheduled coach to miss, the driver follows your inbound flight and is ready when you clear, and you go straight from one terminal to the other without a waiting-room in between.

When the car is the better call

Tight or same-day connections: no fixed coach time to catch — you leave when you're through.
Groups: one fixed fare for the vehicle usually beats several coach seats.
Lots of luggage: no per-passenger case limits to worry about; loaded for you.
Late or early flights: covered to your landing time, flight tracked.
Families or accessibility needs: door to door, terminal to terminal, no transfers.
Peace of mind: a single agreed price and a driver waiting beats stops, schedules and M25 stress.

Both directions, terminal to terminal

A fixed Gatwick–Heathrow fare, flight tracked

Give us your inbound flight and your terminals, and we'll quote one fixed total for the whole vehicle — saloon up to 8-seat minibus. We track the flight, meet you inside arrivals with a name board, help with the bags and drive you straight to the other airport. No meter, no surge, the same price if you land late. Works Heathrow → Gatwick too.

Get my airport-to-airport fare →

How the transfer works

Book ahead with both flight numbers (if connecting) and your terminals; you get the fixed price up front.
We track your inbound flight and adjust the pickup if you land early or late.
Meet & greet inside arrivals, name board, luggage help — at either airport.
Straight across — terminal to terminal, no scheduled departure to catch, no surge.

Heathrow ↔ Gatwick

Frequently asked questions

Is there a direct train between Gatwick and Heathrow?

No — there's no direct train or Tube. The rail route runs via central London with at least one change and takes far longer. The practical options are the direct coach or a private transfer by road.

How long does Gatwick to Heathrow take?

Roughly 45 miles and about an hour terminal to terminal in good conditions, mainly on the M25. The M25 is unpredictable, so allow extra at peak times — a private transfer tracks your flight and plans around it.

How much is a transfer?

One fixed fare for the whole vehicle, agreed before booking, no meter, no surge. The coach is cheaper per seat (from around £14.70), but a transfer is a single fixed price terminal to terminal that often makes sense for groups, luggage or a tight connection.

How long should I allow to connect?

For separate flights, allow a generous buffer — commonly around 3 hours between landing at one airport and departing the other, on top of immigration, baggage and check-in. A flight-tracked transfer cuts the waiting versus a scheduled coach.

Does it work Heathrow to Gatwick too?

Yes — both directions, met in arrivals at either airport with flight tracking and luggage help, at one fixed fare.

Distances and times are approximate and depend heavily on M25 traffic and your exact terminals. Coach and train times and fares are indicative and change with operator, ticket type and demand — check the relevant operator for live details, and always confirm minimum connection times for your own tickets. RushXO is a licensed private-hire operator and is not affiliated with London Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport or any coach or rail operator.

Gatwick to Heathrow Transfer