What is the fastest way from Gatwick to London?

The Gatwick Express is the fastest scheduled option, running non-stop between Gatwick and London Victoria in about 30 minutes, twice an hour. Southern trains to Victoria are only a few minutes slower and cheaper.

What is the cheapest way from Gatwick to London?

A National Express coach to Victoria Coach Station is the cheapest, from around £5 if booked in advance, but it's the slowest at roughly 2.5 hours or more. Among the trains, Thameslink is usually the cheapest, from about £15.10 on the day.

Which station should I travel to from Gatwick?

Victoria (Gatwick Express or Southern) suits west and central London and the Underground's Victoria, District and Circle lines. Thameslink is better for the City and east — London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras International — and continues north to Luton Airport and Cambridge.

Getting from Gatwick to London (2026): Train vs Coach vs Taxi Compared

Q: Is the Gatwick Express worth it over Southern or Thameslink?

Often not. The Gatwick Express only goes to Victoria and costs more (about £24.10 single), while Southern reaches Victoria for less and Thameslink reaches London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras for less again — only a few minutes slower. The Express makes most sense if Victoria is your destination and you value the dedicated luggage space.

Quick answer

Fastest: Gatwick Express, non-stop to Victoria in ~30 min (from about £24.10). Cheapest: the coach to Victoria from ~£5, but slow (~2.5h+); among trains, Thameslink from ~£15.10. Best value train: Southern or Thameslink — cheaper than the Express and only a few minutes slower. Best door-to-door: a fixed-fare taxi/chauffeur (~1h), ideal for groups, luggage or late arrivals. There's no direct Underground from Gatwick.

Gatwick sits about 28 miles south of central London, and the train is the backbone of the journey — the rail station is right under the South Terminal, with a free 2-minute shuttle from the North Terminal. The thing most people get wrong is paying for the famous Gatwick Express when a cheaper Southern or Thameslink train gets them there almost as fast. Here's the full picture.

Gatwick to London compared (2026)

Indicative on-the-day fares and typical times — rail prices vary by ticket type and Advance fares can be much cheaper. Always check live before travelling.

Option	Into London	Time	From (single)	Best for
Gatwick Express	Victoria (non-stop)	~30 min	~£24.10	Speed to Victoria, luggage space
Southern	Victoria, Clapham Junction	~30–35 min	~£21.30	Victoria for less than the Express
Thameslink	London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon, St Pancras	~35–45 min	~£15.10	The City, the east, cross-London
National Express coach	Victoria Coach Station	~2.5h+	~£5 advance	Tightest budgets, no rush
Taxi / chauffeur	Any London address	~1h door-to-door	fixed fare	Groups, luggage, late/early, comfort

Gatwick Express

The non-stop train between Gatwick (South Terminal) and London Victoria, twice an hour, in around 30 minutes. On-the-day fares are about £24.10 single / £47.90 return, with roughly 10% off when you book online or via the app, and a bigger Web Duo discount for two travelling together. First Class tickets include complimentary Fast Track security at the airport. It's the quickest scheduled option — but only useful if Victoria is where you want to be, and it's the priciest of the trains.

Southern

Southern also runs to Victoria (plus Clapham Junction for south-west London and onward to Brighton), frequently and only a few minutes slower than the Express, for less — about £21.30 single on the day, cheaper with Advance tickets, and 33% off for groups of three or more with GroupSave. If Victoria is your stop, Southern usually makes more sense than the Express.

Thameslink

The most useful train for anyone not heading to Victoria. Thameslink runs through central London — London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras International — several times an hour, with an hourly service overnight, and it's typically the cheapest of the trains at around £15.10 single. It continues north to Luton Airport, Bedford and Cambridge, and south to Brighton, so it doubles as a cross-London link. For the City, the East End or a Eurostar connection at St Pancras, this is the one.

National Express coach

Coaches run from both terminals to London Victoria Coach Station and are the cheapest way in — from about £5 if booked ahead — but also the slowest and most traffic-dependent, at roughly two and a half hours or more. Worth it only if budget trumps time and you're not in a hurry.

Taxi / chauffeur

A pre-booked taxi or chauffeur takes about an hour door-to-door depending on traffic and delivers you to the exact address — no changes, no Underground with suitcases, no late-night timetable gaps. On a per-head basis it stops looking expensive the moment two, three or four of you travel together, since one fixed fare covers the whole car. It's also the calm choice after a long-haul or for an awkward arrival time, and the only option that doesn't end with you and your bags on a platform.

Door-to-door, both terminals

When the train doesn't fit, a fixed-fare transfer does

If you're in a group, heavy with luggage, landing late, travelling with kids or heading somewhere the train doesn't reach cleanly, a fixed-fare transfer is usually the better call — met in arrivals with a name board, flight tracked, no surge, and one price agreed before you travel whatever the traffic does. RushXO runs from both North and South Terminals to any London address.

See Gatwick transfer fares →

Which should you pick?

Going to Victoria / west London: Southern (cheaper) or Gatwick Express (fastest).
Going to the City, the east, or St Pancras/Eurostar: Thameslink — cheapest and most direct.
On the tightest budget, time to spare: the coach.
Group, luggage, kids, late arrival, or a non-central address: a fixed-fare taxi/chauffeur — door-to-door beats dragging bags across London.

Frequently asked questions

What's the fastest way from Gatwick to London?

The Gatwick Express, non-stop to Victoria in about 30 minutes, twice an hour. Southern to Victoria is only a few minutes slower and cheaper.

What's the cheapest way from Gatwick to London?

A National Express coach to Victoria Coach Station, from around £5 booked ahead, but it's the slowest (~2.5h+). Among trains, Thameslink is usually cheapest from about £15.10.

Is the Gatwick Express worth it over Southern or Thameslink?

Often not. The Express only goes to Victoria and costs more (~£24.10); Southern reaches Victoria for less and Thameslink reaches London Bridge, Farringdon and St Pancras for less again — only a few minutes slower. The Express suits you if Victoria is your destination and you want the dedicated luggage space.

Which station should I travel to?

Victoria (Express or Southern) for west and central London and the Victoria, District and Circle lines. Thameslink for the City and east — London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon, St Pancras — and onward north to Luton Airport and Cambridge.

Is a taxi from Gatwick to London worth it?

A fixed-fare taxi or chauffeur takes about an hour door-to-door and makes most sense for groups splitting the cost, heavy luggage, late or early arrivals, or a non-central address — no changes, no Tube with bags. Compare a Gatwick transfer.

Times and fares are indicative on-the-day figures current at the time of writing (2026) and change with ticket type, time of day and operator updates; Advance and railcard fares can be considerably lower. Always confirm live times and prices with the relevant operator (Gatwick Express, Southern, Thameslink, National Express) before you travel. RushXO is not affiliated with London Gatwick Airport or any rail operator.

Getting from Gatwick to London