Last updated: September 2026. Fares and timetables checked against National Express, Heathrow and Elizabeth line information.

Heathrow and Gatwick are about 45 miles apart, and there is no direct train between them. That surprises a lot of passengers who land at one airport with an onward flight from the other. You have four realistic ways to make the trip: a direct coach, a train with one change in central London, a metered taxi or ride-hailing app, or a pre-booked private transfer. This guide compares all four on time, cost and luggage, so you can choose the right one for your connection.

Heathrow to Gatwick at a Glance

Option	Typical journey time	Typical cost	Changes	Best for
Private transfer (pre-booked)	60 to 90 minutes	From £85 to £120 per vehicle, fixed	None, terminal to terminal	Families, groups, heavy luggage, tight connections
National Express coach	50 to 75 minutes (longer in traffic)	From £14.90 per person	None	Solo travellers on a budget
Elizabeth line + Thameslink	Around 80 to 100 minutes	Roughly £30 per person, depending on time of day	One, at Farringdon	Light packers avoiding road traffic
Heathrow Express + Tube + Gatwick Express	Around 90 to 110 minutes	Usually the most expensive rail option	Two, at Paddington and Victoria	Rarely the best choice with bags
Metered taxi or app	60 to 90 minutes	Varies with traffic and surge pricing	None	Unplanned, last-minute trips

Coach fares and times are from National Express. Rail routes follow Heathrow’s own guide to travelling between airports. Always confirm prices when you book, as they change.

Why Travellers Need a Heathrow to Gatwick Transfer

Most people making this trip fall into one of these groups:

Self-connecting passengers who booked two separate tickets, for example a long-haul arrival into Heathrow and a European low-cost flight out of Gatwick.
Rebooked passengers moved to a Gatwick flight after a cancellation or delay at Heathrow.
Price hunters who found a cheaper departure from Gatwick than from Heathrow.
Cruise and holiday travellers joining a charter or package flight from Gatwick.

If you are on separate tickets, your bags will not be transferred for you. You must collect them at Heathrow and check them in again at Gatwick, which affects the time you need to allow.

Transfer Options Compared

Private Transfer: Terminal to Terminal

A pre-booked private transfer is the only option with no changes and no queue once you land. With Gatwick Express Cars, your driver tracks your flight number, waits in the Heathrow arrivals hall with a name board, loads your luggage and drives you straight to the correct Gatwick terminal (North or South). The price is agreed when you book, so heavy M25 traffic does not change what you pay. Read how fixed-price taxis compare with metered fares if you want the full breakdown.

For a group of three or four, the per-person cost often ends up close to the train fare, and you avoid carrying cases up and down station stairs. It is also the safest choice for early-morning or late-night connections when public transport is limited. Our guide on whether a private transfer is worth it covers this in more detail.

National Express Coach

National Express is the cheapest direct option. It runs up to 56 coaches a day between the airports on several route numbers, from around 00:40 until late evening. Coaches leave Heathrow from the Central Bus Station (for Terminals 2 and 3), Terminal 4 and Terminal 5, and stop at both Gatwick North and South terminals. Fares start from £14.90 one way when booked early.

The fastest services take about 50 minutes, but most take longer, and all of them share the M25 with everyone else. Each passenger can bring one large suitcase (or two medium cases) plus a small bag. If you are travelling with more than that, a coach becomes awkward.

Train: Elizabeth Line and Thameslink via Farringdon

Many older guides still send you via Paddington and Victoria. The simpler rail route today is:

Take the Elizabeth line from any Heathrow rail station (Terminals 2 and 3, Terminal 4 or Terminal 5) to Farringdon. This takes around 30 to 35 minutes. Some services need a change at Paddington.
Change at Farringdon to a Thameslink train to Gatwick Airport, which takes about 40 minutes.

You can pay with contactless or Oyster on the Elizabeth line (fares to central London start at £13.90, according to Heathrow). You then need a separate ticket, or contactless, for the Thameslink leg. With waiting time included, expect 80 to 100 minutes door to door.

The older route, the Heathrow Express to Paddington, the Underground to Victoria, then the Gatwick Express, involves two changes and a Tube journey with luggage. It rarely saves time and usually costs more.

Metered Taxi and Ride-Hailing Apps

Black cabs from the Heathrow rank will take you to Gatwick, but the fare runs on the meter, so a slow M25 means a higher bill. App-based rides can be cheaper at quiet times, but prices surge when demand is high, and pickup points at Heathrow can be a walk from the terminal. We compare these in detail in Gatwick taxi vs Uber vs train.

How Much Time Should You Allow?

For a self-connection on separate tickets, work backwards from your Gatwick departure:

Heathrow arrival to kerb: 45 to 90 minutes for passport control and baggage reclaim, longer at peak times for non-UK passport holders.
Road or rail transfer: 60 to 110 minutes depending on the option you choose.
Gatwick check-in and security: most airlines close bag drop 40 to 60 minutes before departure.

Adding those together, allow at least 4 hours between landing at Heathrow and departing from Gatwick, and 5 to 6 hours on weekday mornings, Friday afternoons or during school holidays. If your Heathrow flight is delayed, a pre-booked driver who tracks your flight will adjust the pickup time. A coach or train ticket for a fixed time may not be valid on a later service.

Which Heathrow and Gatwick Terminals?

Check your terminals before you travel, because it changes where you catch the coach or train and where your driver drops you:

Heathrow has Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Terminals 2 and 3 share the Central Bus Station and one rail station. Terminals 4 and 5 each have their own.
Gatwick has a North Terminal and a South Terminal, linked by a free shuttle that runs every few minutes. Your airline’s booking will tell you which one you need.

When you book a private transfer, give us both flight numbers and we will drop you at the right Gatwick terminal.

Travelling On to Tunbridge Wells or Kent?

If you are flying into Heathrow but heading to Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks or elsewhere in Kent rather than catching a second flight, the same M25 route applies. We run fixed-price transfers from Heathrow and Gatwick to Tunbridge Wells and across Kent. See our Tunbridge Wells airport taxi fares and the Kent towns we cover.

Tips for a Stress-Free Transfer

Book ahead, especially in summer and during school holidays, when coaches and cars fill up. See why pre-booking an airport taxi pays off.
Share your flight number with your transfer company so the pickup moves if you land late.
Ask for child seats or extra luggage space when you book, not on the day.
Save your driver’s phone number before you fly, and switch your phone on as soon as you land.
Pack travel documents in your hand luggage so you can go straight to bag drop at Gatwick.

For business travellers who want to work on the way, an executive car adds more space and a quieter ride. Read about the benefits of an executive Gatwick taxi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a direct train from Heathrow to Gatwick?

No. Every rail route needs at least one change in central London. The simplest is the Elizabeth line to Farringdon, then Thameslink to Gatwick Airport.

What is the quickest way from Heathrow to Gatwick?

By road, when traffic is light. A private car or the fastest coach can take under an hour. At peak times, road and rail take a similar time, but a private car saves you the changes and the walking.

What is the cheapest way from Heathrow to Gatwick?

The National Express coach, with fares from £14.90 one way when booked early. For a group of three or four with luggage, a fixed-price private transfer works out close to the train fare per person.

How long should I leave between flights at Heathrow and Gatwick?

Allow at least 4 hours between landing at Heathrow and your Gatwick departure, and 5 to 6 hours at busy times. On separate tickets, you need time to collect your bags and check in again.

Book Your Heathrow to Gatwick Transfer

If you want a fixed price, a driver waiting when you land and no changes with your luggage, a private transfer is the most reliable way between London’s two biggest airports. Book your Heathrow to Gatwick transfer with Gatwick Express Cars, or read our Gatwick taxi fares guide to compare prices for other routes.

Heathrow to Gatwick Transfer: A Complete Guide