Travel cost guide
The cheapest way to Gatwick from London is the National Express coach from about £10, with Thameslink trains from £13.70. Compare coach, train and Gatwick Express.
In short: the cheapest way to Gatwick from London is usually the National Express coach from around £10, or a Thameslink or Southern train from about £13.70. The Gatwick Express is the premium option at about £19.90 and is no faster than Southern or Thameslink on the same tracks. For a group of three or more, or a very early flight, a fixed-fare transfer from around £50 can be the cheapest option per head once you split the cost.
Decision guide
By train, Thameslink and Southern are the value choice at about £13.70, and they beat the Gatwick Express because they run through more of London. Thameslink continues to London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon, City Thameslink and St Pancras, so you often avoid a second Tube fare. The Gatwick Express only adds value if Victoria is exactly where you need to be and you want the simplest direct train.
By coach, National Express runs from Victoria Coach Station and other stops from about £10, which is the lowest headline fare but the slowest and most exposed to traffic on the M23 and around London. It suits travellers on a tight budget with time to spare and a flexible flight, rather than anyone with an early or important departure.
Driving is only cheaper for groups or with a free off-airport car park and shuttle. A Gatwick drop-off costs £10 for up to 10 minutes at the terminal, one of the most expensive drop-off charges in the country, payable online. The rail station is attached to the South Terminal, so North Terminal passengers should add about 10 minutes for the free inter-terminal shuttle when planning their time.
2026 fares
Every main option from London, cheapest first.
| Option | Cost | Journey time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Express coach | from £10 | 80 to 110 min | Cheapest from London when time is not critical |
| Thameslink / Southern train | from £13.70 | 30 to 35 min | Best value train; runs through the City and beyond Victoria |
| Gatwick Express | £19.90 | 30 min to Victoria | Simplest direct train when Victoria is your stop |
| Drive and drop off | £10 drop-off fee plus fuel and parking | varies | Door to door, but Gatwick drop-off is among the priciest |
| Fixed-fare transfer | from £50 | 35 to 45 min | Cheapest per head for groups of 3 or more |
Fares checked June 2026 against nationalexpress.com, thameslinkrailway.com and gatwickexpress.com. Operators change fares without notice, so confirm before you travel.
Practical checks
These checks keep the guide useful for real journeys rather than just repeating the headline fare or fastest advertised journey time.
Compare the whole journey, including station access, final London transfer, luggage effort, payment deadlines and time buffers.
Use the guide to narrow the choice, then check official operator pages before travelling.
Multiply fares by every passenger before comparing a public route with a fixed-fare vehicle.
Related airports
Cost signals
| Airport | Best public link | Drop-off fee | Main caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gatwick Airport | Gatwick Express | GBP 10 for 10 minutes | The North/South Terminal Shuttle Delay |
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Traveller questions
These answers focus on the decision points that change the real cost, not just the advertised journey time.
The cheapest way is usually the National Express coach from about £10, or a Thameslink or Southern train from around £13.70. The Gatwick Express is the most expensive train at about £19.90 and is no faster than Southern or Thameslink, so it only makes sense when Victoria is exactly where you need to be.
The coach is cheaper on the headline fare, from about £10 against £13.70 for the train, but the train is far faster at 30 to 35 minutes versus 80 to 110 minutes by coach. For most travellers the small price difference is worth paying for the speed and reliability of the train.
A Thameslink or Southern single from central London to Gatwick is about £13.70, while the Gatwick Express is around £19.90. Thameslink and Southern run the same tracks at a similar speed, so you pay extra on the Express only for the branding and the direct Victoria service.
For three or more people a fixed-fare transfer from around £50 is often the cheapest per head once you split the cost, and it takes you door to door with no station connection. Below three people the train usually wins on price.
For one or two people the train is usually cheaper once you add the £10 Gatwick drop-off fee, fuel and parking. Gatwick has one of the most expensive terminal drop-off charges in the country, so driving only saves money for a group or when you use a free off-airport car park with a shuttle.
From Brighton the direct train is cheapest and fastest from about £14.50, and from Croydon a Southern or Thameslink train is around £8 to £12. From either, a coach is cheaper still but much slower, and a fixed-fare car is best for groups or early flights.
How we keep this accurate: fares and fees are checked against official operator and airport sources, last reviewed 2026-06-17. We update the figures when operators change them, but prices can change without notice, so confirm the live fare before you book.
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