Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport Transfer
Book a Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Gatwick Airport (LGW) transfer, or compare a direct road journey with airport coaches and indirect rail routes through Central London.
Route at a Glance
How to Get from Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport
Travel from Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport by booked transfer, taxi or direct coach. Heathrow places the airports about 42 miles (68 km) apart by road; allow roughly 60–90 minutes for a direct road journey before adding flight-connection formalities. Rail is indirect and requires a change in Central London.
Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport Transfer Guide
Heathrow lies west of London and Gatwick Airport lies south of the capital, making this an airport-to-airport journey rather than a connection through Central London. A direct vehicle or coach avoids the rail changes in the city. The final endpoint matters: Gatwick Airport has North and South terminals, while Heathrow pickup arrangements differ across Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5.
A booked transfer travels directly from the Heathrow pickup terminal to the correct Gatwick terminal. The published road distance is about 42 miles (68 km), and a practical road allowance is roughly 60–90 minutes before any extra connection buffer.
Direct coaches avoid Central London and are the clearest public-transport alternative. Heathrow lists National Express and FlixBus journeys at about 70 minutes and The Airline at about 75 minutes. Rail requires a change in Central London, usually via Farringdon or Victoria.
For a flight connection, compare the complete landside process rather than the vehicle time alone: immigration, baggage collection, waiting, Gatwick check-in and security can take longer than the transfer itself.
Pickup at Heathrow Airport
For a booked transfer to Gatwick Airport, collect baggage and follow the terminal-specific meeting instructions in the confirmation. For direct coaches, Heathrow’s Central Bus Station serves Terminals 2 and 3; services also board outside Terminal 4 and outside Terminal 5. Confirm the Heathrow terminal before choosing a pickup point.
Drop-off in Gatwick Airport
Give the correct Gatwick Airport terminal address when booking. North and South terminals have separate coach stops and vehicle access points, and the closest legal drop-off depends on the active terminal arrangements. If the airline changes terminals, update the booking where permitted or use Gatwick’s free inter-terminal shuttle.
Travel Time from Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport
Road journeys can be delayed by congestion, incidents and airport-terminal circulation. Heathrow’s published coach times are around 70–75 minutes, while a direct vehicle can still take longer in heavy traffic. Protect the onward flight with a separate buffer for check-in and security rather than treating any road estimate as an arrival guarantee.
Taxi from Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport
Licensed London black cabs are available at ranks outside Heathrow terminals. Gatwick is outside London, so Transport for London says the fare may be negotiated with the driver before the journey begins. This is separate from a booked transfer, which uses the live whole-vehicle quote and the pickup terms shown during booking.
Public Transport from Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport
Direct coaches are the simplest public-transport option. Heathrow lists National Express and FlixBus at about 70 minutes and The Airline at about 75 minutes. National Express boards at Heathrow Central Bus Station for Terminals 2 and 3, outside Terminal 4 and outside Terminal 5, and serves both Gatwick North and South terminals.
There is no direct train. One rail route uses the Elizabeth line from Heathrow to Farringdon and Thameslink to Gatwick. Another reaches Victoria via Paddington before a Gatwick Express or Southern service. Gatwick Airport station is at South Terminal; use the free two-minute shuttle if the flight departs from North Terminal.
Private Transfer vs Taxi and Public Transport
A booked transfer runs terminal to terminal and avoids the Central London rail change, but road time remains exposed to traffic. The price is a live whole-vehicle quote for the selected journey.
Direct coaches also avoid rail changes and serve both Gatwick terminals, but travelers must match the Heathrow boarding point and allow for the published departure. Rail offers an alternative during road disruption, yet it is indirect and requires handling luggage through at least one city interchange.
Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport Transfer Prices
Coach tickets are priced per passenger and vary by operator, date, departure and ticket conditions. A black-cab fare to Gatwick may be agreed before departure because the destination is outside London. Compare those bases with the live whole-vehicle transfer quote; do not compare one passenger ticket directly with a vehicle price for the whole party.
Useful Information for Your Journey
Who Is This Transfer Best For?
A direct vehicle can suit families, groups, heavy luggage and connections where terminal-to-terminal travel matters. A direct coach can suit travelers who can work around a scheduled departure. The indirect rail route is more practical when road disruption outweighs the inconvenience of changing in Central London.
About Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport has North and South terminals. Rail services use the station at South Terminal, while a free inter-terminal shuttle links North Terminal with South Terminal in about two minutes and runs throughout the day. For an onward flight, use the terminal named by the airline rather than treating ‘Gatwick Airport’ as one curb or building.
Gatwick North and South Terminals
Direct coaches call at both Gatwick terminals, but the exact stop depends on the selected service. A booked transfer should use the departure terminal shown by the airline. If you arrive at the wrong terminal, Gatwick’s free shuttle runs every few minutes between North and South, with a journey time of about two minutes.
Transfer Information
Treat this as a landside airport change. Allow separately for immigration, baggage reclaim, the transfer, Gatwick check-in and security. Heathrow advises travelers to include waiting time and possible traffic or service delays, while Gatwick recommends checking the onward airline’s minimum connection requirements.
Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport FAQs
Helpful answers about transfers from Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport.
How far is Heathrow Airport from Gatwick Airport?
Heathrow publishes an approximate road distance of 42 miles (68 km) between the airports. The exact mileage depends on the departure terminal at Heathrow, the arrival terminal at Gatwick and the road route used.
Is there a direct train from Heathrow to Gatwick Airport?
No. Heathrow states that there is no direct train between the airports. The principal rail routes change in Central London, either at Farringdon for Thameslink or through Paddington and Victoria for a Gatwick-bound train.
Where do direct coaches leave Heathrow for Gatwick Airport?
Coaches to Gatwick Airport use Heathrow Central Bus Station for Terminals 2 and 3, with additional boarding points outside Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. Check the selected operator and departure before walking away from your arrival terminal.
Which Gatwick Airport terminal should I choose for drop-off?
Use the Gatwick Airport terminal shown by the onward airline. North and South terminals are separate; if you need the other terminal, the free inter-terminal shuttle runs every few minutes and takes about two minutes.
How much connection time should I allow before a Gatwick Airport flight?
Do not plan from the road time alone. Include immigration where applicable, baggage reclaim, waiting for the vehicle or coach, traffic, Gatwick Airport check-in and security. Confirm the airline’s minimum connection requirements before booking separate flights.