It seems like almost everybody knows about Heathrow Airport.
But, Gatwick Airport is the second-busiest airport in the UK and 8th busiest in Europe as a whole!
When I keep an eye on our London Travel Tips Facebook group, I notice that more and more people are flying into our city via Gatwick.
Because of that, I've seen a lot of questions asking about the Gatwick Express.
People always want to know if the Gatwick Express is worth it, how much does it cost, is it better than taking a regular train, etc.
So I've put together this post to detail everything you need to know about the Gatwick Express.
I'll also give you information on tickets, fares and transfers, as well as sharing my personal tips to make sure you have all the information you need when you're trying to decide if you'd like to to use the Gatwick Express.
- My Recommendation
- Gatwick Express Prices
- Schedules
- Transfers at Victoria Station
- Gatwick Express Pros and Cons
- Gatwick Express Timetable
- Tips on Using the London Underground
MY RECOMMENDATION
Before getting into the pros and cons, here is my general recommendation.
Keep in mind, this is not a one size fits all solution, but rather a guideline that I think would help you to make the right choice.
I'll explain my suggestion in more detail in the following section.
For a quick overview of all the train options read here. Note that this recommendation is what I follow myself!
If you are staying near Victoria Station (an area I would personally recommend, as the transport links are great in general), the Gatwick Express during peak hours is the best option for you.
Peak hours are Monday to Friday at these times:
- Morning - 6:30am - 9:30am
- Evening - 4:00pm (16:00) - 7:00pm (19:00)
Outside the peak hours, the Southern commuter trains to London Gatwick Airport are the way to go to save money.
During peak hours, Gatwick Express standard tickets purchased in advance are only slightly more expensive than the tickets for the commuter trains - but I think it's worth it!
Firstly, it's faster which I really appreciate, especially after coming off long flights like the ones I take to visit family in the USA.
Secondly, it's more comfortable.
What I mean by that is there's more space for my suitcases, the trains are less busy and there's also more space around the seats.
If I'm travelling with a group, then the Express is also more worthwhile because I can take advantage of the "Group Save" offer (read below).
This offer actually makes the Gatwick Express is cheaper than the Southern trains.
Thirdly, it's a quick ride into the heart of London, approximately a 30-minutes from Victoria Station.
Fourthly, you can use your Oyster Card or contactless credit card to pay.
And lastly, for anybody who is glued to their phone or laptop like I am, the Gatwick Express has a quality free WiFi, which I always take advantage of.
Ticket Prices
The Gatwick Express has several ticket types with varying price points.
In my years of using it, I have noticed that there are varying fares depending on when I buy your ticket, how I choose to pay (at the station, online, or through the app) and how many travellers there are in my group.
Personally, I buy my ticket in advance because I am a planner, and because booking online saves me 10%.
However, I confess that I have just turned up and used my contactless card on the day, so this is an option for you, too.
Just tap in and out at the barriers.
Contactless or Oyster prices at the gate are:
- Peak (Monday to Friday 6:30 - 9:30 and 16:00 - 19:00): £21.20
- Off Peak (All other dates and times): £12.80
(Learn about Oyster Cards and Travelcards)
Anytime Tickets
Booking online saves 10% off the ticket fare so that's always my recommendation.
Purchasing anytime tickets online is what I personally do, also.
These tickets allow you to travel on any train at any time they are in operation.
I can't overstate how important that is!
These tickets mean I can get on ANY train - no rushing for a particular one or panic if I miss it or if my plane is delayed.
If you buy the tickets online, they cost:
- £20.50 single and £40.80 return for adults
- £10.25 single and £20.40 return for children (5-15)
- Under 5 travel for free
- Explore tickets
If you buy a return, it is open-ended and is valid for up to 30 calendar days.
Anytime Day Ticket
This is similar to the Anytime Ticket above but you must use the ticket on the day you purchased it (up to 04:29 am the following morning).
However, this type of ticket is limited and may not be available for your trip.
To be honest, this type of ticket only helped me once.
I was going to be headed to the airport to meet somebody but their trip was delayed so this ticket covered me for peak and off peak times.
Ticket Fares
Here are the prices for all fare types. A description of each type of ticket is below.
| Ticket Type | One-Way (Online) | One-Way (At Station) | Return (Online) | Return (At Station) |
| Adult | £20.50 | £23.00 | £40.80 | £45.80 |
| Child | £10.25 | £11.50 | £20.40 | £22.90 |
| 1st Class Adult | £30.80 | £34.50 | £61.50 | £69.00 |
| 1st Class Child | £15.35 | £17.25 | £30.70 | £34.50 |
| 2nd Class Same Day Off-Peak Round Trip | N/A | N/A | £31.40 | £35.20 |
| 1st Class Same Day Off-Peak Round Trip | N/A | N/A | £41.40 | £46.50 |
| Web Duo | N/A | N/A | £58.70 for 2 tickets | N/A |
| Group Save (3-9 passengers) | 34% off all classes | N/A | 34% off all classes | N/A |
The Gatwick Express App
I fly in and out of Gatwick enough that it was worth it to me to download the app.
I recommend it to my visitors, too, because it's very straightforward to use and I also find it convenient.
Also, I like that using the app gives me the online price AND it provides real-time updates.
So, if there are any issues on the train line (which any Londoner will tell you can and does happen), the app will let me know ahead of time.
Group Save Tickets
If you are traveling with 3-9 adults, you will save 34% on all tickets and classes.
This is perfect for when I am travelling with friends (usually for hen dos!).
To get the offer, all tickets have to be booked at the same time, which is fine for me since I am usually the organiser in the group.
Web Duo Tickets
This is probably the offer that I take advantage of the most, since I am married and travel with a partner most of the time.
The Web Duo offers gives me £25.00 off two Anytime Return tickets - which is a savings of 36%.
They're also good for any time, which I like, so I don't have to worry about peak and off peak times, I can just jump on any train.
The offer only works for two people who are travelling together, at the same time.
And, of course, the tickets need to be booked at the same time, too.
The only downside is that these tickets are only good for journeys originating at Victoria Station.
So, because I live in London this is fine!
But if I have guests flying in, who need to travel from Gatwick Airport to Victoria, the offer doesn't apply.
Also, strangely, these tickets can be bought online but I have to collect them from a ticket machine at Victoria Station, they don't come as eTickets.
So keep that in mind!
Other savings:
When you travel by the Gatwick Express you are eligible for National Rail's 2 For 1 deal where you get 2 for the price of 1 on top attractions in and around London.
In my opinion, this is one of the best money-saving schemes in London and I recommend it to my visitors often.
For more information on the 2FOR1 deal, just read my blog post to see how it works.
THE PROS AND CONS OF TAKING THE GATWICK EXPRESS
The Gatwick Express is just one of several transportation options between Gatwick Airport and London.
In addition to the Express, there are also two slightly slower suburban trains, two bus companies, as well as taxis, and shared shuttles.
I go over all the different options, including travel times and ticket prices in a comprehensive post that you might find helpful.
You'll find in my post above that I usually recommend taking the Southern Train service when I am going to and from Gatwick Airport.
However, there are times that I prefer to take the Gatwick Express, as I've already explained in this post.
To help keep things simple for you, I am going to list my Gatwick Express pros and cons to help you understand when and why I would travel using the Express.
Pros
Firstly, it’s usually the fastest option available to me with a direct trip taking just 30-minutes.
Secondly, it’s the most comfortable option.
Since it's a dedicated service, I find that it's never as crowded as the commuter trains, which makes a more comfortable journey.
Also, often the train starts at Gatwick which means nobody is on the train when I am boarding at the airport.
(Although, to be fair, this is sometimes the case as well with the Southern trains and Thameslink trains).
And, as I mentioned above, I love the free Wi-Fi.
Thirdly, it's the best for travelling with a lot of luggage.
The trains have large luggage racks which I find extremely useful since I am a very heavy packer!
So I never have to worry about my suitcases fitting, which I've struggled with on the other train lines.
Also, it's easier to carry luggage on and off the Gatwick Express trains.
The smaller train lines have huge gaps between the platforms and the train which don't exist on the Express.
Lastly, it's convenient to where I live as I can take the Victoria Line up to King's Cross.
This might not be the case for you, but if your hotel is near Victoria then this is the best way to get there!
Cons
The Gatwick Express is the most expensive option, particularly during off-peak times, even with any concessions I am able to take advantage of.
At £18.00/adult for an any time ticket (paying with an Oyster Card or my contactless), the Southern commuter train is £2.50 cheaper than the group save price of Gatwick Express.
A fixed-time ticket on a Southern commuter train is only £14.00 which is a huge difference if you're counting your pennies.
The Gatwick Express is only slightly faster than the Southern trains, which share the same tracks.
I usually end up saving no more than 10-15 minutes.
(Great after my long haul flights but not so important for travel closer to home).
If your accommodation is south of the River Thames, then the Gatwick Express might take longer than other options.
The Southern commuter trains make a few stops south of the river where you can transfer to the Underground and other local trains which could be a shorter trip for you.
Likewise, if your final destination is London Bridge Station or points north or east of here, then the Thameslink trains will likely be a faster (and cheaper) option for you, depending on the train frequency.
Thameslink Train stops are circled in red.
In the image above, the stops in central London with red circles are stops made by Thameslink trains.
From Victoria Station, you would have to transfer to the London Underground.
This would add 15-20 minutes to your journey time and you will likely be traveling with luggage.
I find managing Victoria Station with luggage is not very difficult but other stations are not as easy!
One other thing that may or may not be a con for you:
The Gatwick Express departs and arrives at Gatwick South Terminal.
This is great if you need to get to the South Terminal - which I do most often.
But, if I am arriving or departing from the North Terminal, I just get on the free shuttle service.
It runs 24/7 and literally takes 2 minutes so I don't consider this much of a "con" but I wanted to mention it for people who prefer a more straight-forward journey.
TRANSFERRING AT VICTORIA STATION
As I mentioned above, all Gatwick Express trains travel directly between Gatwick Airport and Victoria Rail Station.
At Victoria Rail Station, you can transfer to the Victoria, District, and Circle Underground lines.
And remember what I said, transferring at Victoria is very easy and there are plenty of lifts, so I don't have to worry about the stairs when I've got luggage.
If you are unfamiliar with London’s Underground system, read my posts about navigating the London Underground and using Oyster and Travelcards.
Plus, the Victoria Coach Station is within a short walk from the Rail Station - and there are fantastic bus links from Victoria to anywhere else in town.
Aside from the Gatwick Express, several other suburban commuter and intercity rail lines terminate at Victoria Station.
I also find Victoria Station quite convenient because there are lots of places to eat and drink so I can drab a coffee and a snack before I board my train to the airport.
Or, I'll pick something up to take home with me on my return journey.
TIP: If you arrive earlier than your hotel check-in time and want to do some sightseeing, you will want to store your luggage instead of carrying it around with you.
There is luggage storage on-site in Victoria, but it’s a bit pricey.
Instead, consider these less expensive places to store your luggage nearby starting at £6/bag for the day.
If am going away, but I have a tour to deliver first, I will also sometimes use Stasher to keep my bag near Victoria Station.
Summary of pros/cons of train services and bus services to/from Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Express
Fast, comfortable, and a good choice for those who need to depart or arrive in central London as there are many transfers available there.
It is the more expensive of the options.
The Gatwick Express to Victoria Station takes 30 minutes. Always my preferred choice when I've got a lot of luggage.
Southern Trains
Takes about 15 minutes more to Victoria but is much cheaper than the Gatwick Express.
Convenient for those who want to connect with trains south of the river at Clapham Junction or Waterloo Train Station south of the river.
Thameslink Trains
Almost as fast as the Gatwick Express and cheaper. Stops at London St Pancras train station which is the terminal for the Eurostar, perfect for heading straight from the UK to Paris.
Because I live near King's Cross this one is also convenient for me.
National Express Coaches
Fares are extremely cheap, but the ride is three times longer than trains and departures are only twice an hour.
I never take the coach to the airport if I can help it! Traffic is unpredictable and I've been caught out one too many times.
easyBus Shuttles
Convenient for those staying in the Kensington area of London as the minibus shuttle departs from London West Brompton Underground.
Fares are variable, but the earlier you book online, the cheaper the fare.
Again, I wouldn't choose this but if you are on a very tight budget it's worth looking at.
Read more about all the options here.
Gatwick Express Timetable
The Gatwick Express departs every 30 min between roughly 05:00 and Midnight. See the Gatwick Express Timetable for the full schedule.
| Brighton | Preston Park | Hassocks | Burgess Hill | Haywards Heath | Gatwick Airport | Gatwick Airport | London Victoria |
| BTN | PRP | HSK | BUG | HHE | GTW | GTW | VIC |
| Station within Airport terminal | Station within Airport terminal | Interchange with London Underground | |||||
| Departure time | Departure time | Departure time | Departure time | Departure time | Arrival time | Departure time | Arrival time |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | 05:41 | 06:15 |
| 05:39 | - | - | - | 05:56 | 06:09 | 06:10 | 06:41 |
| 06:06 | 06:10 | 06:17 | 06:21 | 06:27 | 06:39 | 06:40 | 07:11 |
| 06:36 | 06:40 | 06:47 | 06:51 | 06:57 | 07:09 | 07:10 | 07:41 |
| 07:06 | 07:10 | 07:17 | 07:21 | 07:27 | 07:39 | 07:40 | 08:11 |
| 07:36 | 07:40 | 07:47 | 07:51 | 07:57 | 08:09 | 08:10 | 08:41 |
| 08:06 | 08:10 | 08:17 | 08:21 | 08:27 | 08:39 | 08:40 | 09:11 |
| 08:36 | 08:40 | 08:47 | 08:51 | 08:57 | 09:09 | 09:10 | 09:41 |
| 09:09 | - | - | - | 09:26 | 09:39 | 09:40 | 10:11 |
| 09:39 | - | - | - | 09:56 | 10:09 | 10:10 | 10:41 |
| 10:09 | - | - | - | 10:26 | 10:39 | 10:40 | 11:11 |
| 10:39 | - | - | - | 10:56 | 11:09 | 11:10 | 11:41 |
| 11:09 | - | - | - | 11:26 | 11:39 | 11:40 | 12:11 |
| 11:39 | - | - | - | 11:56 | 12:09 | 12:10 | 12:41 |
| 12:09 | - | - | - | 12:26 | 12:39 | 12:40 | 13:11 |
| 12:39 | - | - | - | 12:57 | 13:09 | 13:10 | 13:41 |
| 13:09 | - | - | - | 13:26 | 13:39 | 13:40 | 14:11 |
| 13:39 | - | - | - | 13:56 | 14:09 | 14:10 | 14:41 |
| 14:09 | - | - | - | 14:26 | 14:39 | 14:40 | 15:11 |
| 14:39 | - | - | - | 14:56 | 15:09 | 15:10 | 15:41 |
| 15:09 | - | - | - | 15:26 | 15:39 | 15:40 | 16:11 |
| 15:39 | - | - | - | 15:56 | 16:09 | 16:10 | 16:41 |
| 16:09 | - | - | - | 16:26 | 16:39 | 16:40 | 17:11 |
| 16:39 | - | - | - | 16:56 | 17:09 | 17:10 | 17:41 |
| 17:09 | - | - | - | 17:26 | 17:39 | 17:40 | 18:11 |
| 17:39 | - | - | - | 17:56 | 18:09 | 18:10 | 18:41 |
| 18:09 | - | - | - | 18:26 | 18:39 | 18:40 | 19:11 |
| 18:39 | - | - | - | 18:56 | 19:09 | 19:10 | 19:41 |
| 19:09 | - | - | - | 19:26 | 19:39 | 19:40 | 20:11 |
| 19:39 | - | - | - | 19:56 | 20:09 | 20:10 | 20:41 |
| 20:09 | - | - | - | 20:26 | 20:39 | 20:40 | 21:11 |
| 20:39 | - | - | - | 20:56 | 21:09 | 21:10 | 21:41 |
| 21:09 | - | - | - | 21:26 | 21:39 | 21:40 | 22:11 |
| 21:39 | - | - | - | 21:56 | 22:09 | 22:10 | 22:41 |
| 22:09 | - | - | - | 22:26 | 22:39 | 22:40 | 23:11 |
| 22:39 | - | - | - | 22:56 | 23:09 | 23:10 | 23:39 |
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