Gatwick by train and coach: every public transport option

The cheapest fast route from Gatwick into London is Thameslink, from about £14.80, reaching central London in 30 to 50 minutes with no change for the City or St Pancras. The fastest to Victoria is the Gatwick Express, non-stop in 30 minutes for £19.80. For the lowest fare of all, book an easyBus or National Express coach ahead from around £2. The station is at the South Terminal. Prices checked August 2026.

Gatwick Express

The Gatwick Express runs non-stop between Gatwick and London Victoria in 30 minutes, roughly every 15 minutes from about 05:00 to midnight. A single is £19.80, cheaper booked in advance online, with a super-off-peak weekend single around £14.50. Up to four children travel for £2 each off-peak and under-fives go free. It only serves Victoria, so it wins when Victoria is exactly where you need to be, fast.

Thameslink

Thameslink is often the better-value choice and reaches more of London. A single is about £14.80 to £15.10, with a weekend super-off-peak single around £14.50, and the journey takes roughly 30 to 50 minutes. It runs through central London without a change to London Bridge, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras International, which makes it the natural pick for the City, Farringdon (for the Elizabeth line) or a Eurostar connection at St Pancras.

Southern

Southern runs cheaper stopping services to Victoria and to Clapham Junction and West London, as well as south to the coast. These take longer than the Gatwick Express but cost less and are useful if your destination is on the Southern network rather than central London.

Underground and contactless

There is no direct Underground line to Gatwick. You connect via the rail routes: Thameslink links to London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon (for the Elizabeth line) and St Pancras (for the Northern and Victoria lines and Eurostar), while the Gatwick Express reaches Victoria for the Victoria, District and Circle lines. Contactless and Oyster pay-as-you-go are valid on the rail routes into London, with a single from a Zone 1 station around £10.70 off-peak or £19.20 peak.

Coaches: National Express and easyBus

National Express runs coaches between Gatwick and London Victoria from about £6 one-way, which includes a £1.50 booking fee that is waived if you book through the app or My Account. The journey takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. easyBus, which is operated with National Express, sells the same South Terminal to Victoria route from as little as £1.99 to £2 one-way if booked early online, with limited daily departures. The coach station is at the South Terminal.

At a glance

When a taxi is worth it

Public transport is cheaper and, for Victoria or the City, usually faster door to platform. A taxi makes more sense when you are a group with luggage sharing one fixed fare, when you are heading somewhere off the rail network, or when you land late and want to avoid changing trains. For pickups by car, the forecourt charge and the free alternative are covered on the drop-off page.

Public transport FAQs

What is the cheapest way from Gatwick to central London? A coach: easyBus from about £1.99 and National Express from about £6 if booked ahead. The cheapest fast option is Thameslink from around £14.80.

Gatwick Express or Thameslink, which should I take? Gatwick Express is fastest to Victoria, 30 minutes for £19.80. Thameslink is cheaper at about £14.80 and reaches London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras with no change.

Where is the Gatwick train station? At the South Terminal, directly attached to the building. From the North Terminal, take the free inter-terminal shuttle, which runs 24 hours and takes about 2 minutes.

Can I use contactless or Oyster from Gatwick? Yes, on the rail routes into London. A single from a Zone 1 station is around £10.70 off-peak or £19.20 peak.

More: Overview, Taxis, Parking, Drop-off, Routes, FAQs.

Last verified August 2026 by the Gatwick Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Gatwick Airport website before you travel.