Travel from Heathrow Airport to Gatwick and Vice Versa

The Best (and Worst) Ways to Travel Between London’s Biggest Airports

Heathrow and Gatwick are the two largest airports in the UK and are just 38 miles apart.

You have options for getting between them including driving, taxi, rail, tube, or coach. This page takes each option and compares them on easy, speed and cost.

Being so influential in the world of air travel, there might be occasions when travelling from one airport to another to catch a connecting flight is necessary. On this page, all the different travel options between the two are listed, looking at the pros and cons of each journey. This is followed by some essential advice for those occasions when you need to travel from one to the other.

Travel Options between Heathrow and Gatwick Airport

Coach Travel

One of the most popular and economical ways of travelling between the two airports is to make the journey via a coach.

This is made easy by the direct route between the two airports laid on by the National Express Coach service. This journey usually takes around 75 minutes. That time can vary, especially around busy times such as rush hours. The M25 motorway can get clogged.

A National Express coach shuttles between the two airports around five times an hour, so you’re never left waiting too long to start the journey. Be aware that there is a luggage allowance for this trip, so check the details before you decide on this method of moving between the two airports.

If you want to travel in the most economical way, airlines put on coach services to and from central London from both airports. Making the journey this way will add to your travel time immensely, but save you some spending money.

Tube and Train Heathrow to Gatwick

Rail and Tube Services Between Gatwick and Heathrow

If you’d prefer to take rail and tube, you can use the Heathrow Express train to Paddington. Then head on to the London Underground and catch a Circle Line train to Victoria Station. From there, you can board the Gatwick Express.

If you get all connections just right, you could make this trip in around the same time as the coach journey direct between the two airports. However, making all those connections might be a little more stressful. There are multiple changes to consider, and your luggage makes this difficult.

Taxi / Black Cab / Uber Between the London Airports

The other main option for travel between the car is via a taxi service. Which could include black cabs or an app service such as Uber. While the cost is more expensive than a coach, if you are travelling in a group of three or four, the cost will obviously be split.

Bear in mind how much luggage you have if you want to take a taxi as a group, as there might just not be room. The car journey will take a similar amount of time to the coach, although wait times might be shorter. Black cabs can have long lines outside the airports at peak times.

You could also pre-book a private car. This might be a little more expensive than the Black Cab or Uber options, however, it can feel more luxurious. This can be a good option if you are travelling with a party of four or more. When booking a private car, the driver will generally be waiting at the customs area as you walk through holding a sign.

Gatwick Heathrow Express

The Cheapest Route between the Two Airports

If you are looking at the most economical option between the two airports, you will need to take a combination of tube and coach. If travelling from Heathrow, you would catch a London Underground train on the Piccadilly line to Fulham Broadway. From there you can travel to Gatwick on a National Express Coach. If making the journey in the opposite direction, you would take the coach first, before jumping on the London Underground.

Before You Fly: Advice for Travelling Between Heathrow and Gatwick

If you are landing at one airport and then taking off from another, ensure to give yourself plenty of time between the two journeys.

Remember, after landing you will have to go through all the usual post-flight procedures, and then again when arriving at the other airport. If there are just two hours between flights, you just aren’t going to make it.

You must also allow for any hold ups. For example, if you plan on taking the 75-minute coach journey between the two, don’t be surprised if an accident or sheer weight of traffic stretches that journey to two hours or more.

If you can, why not have an overnight stay in London between the two flights?

This will make for a much less stressful time and perhaps give yourself that much more time to travel. You could even find some time to do a little sightseeing between your trips, or head out to a nice restaurant for a meal.

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