Sachin Walls
Gatwick Airport has excellent rail connections, with direct services to over 120 stations across London and the South East. The airport is served by four train operators, including the Gatwick Express, which offers a non-stop service to London Victoria twice an hour. Thameslink and Southern trains also provide regular services to Gatwick Airport from London stations such as London Bridge, London Blackfriars, and St Pancras International. With trains departing every four minutes on average, passengers can enjoy a seamless and stress-free journey to and from the airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Train Operators | Gatwick Express, Southern, Thameslink, Great Western Railway |
| Stations | London Victoria, London Bridge, London Blackfriars, St Pancras International, London Luton Airport, Brighton, Portsmouth, Southampton, Reading, Peterborough, Cambridge, Bedford, London Gatwick Airport |
| Travel Time | 30-35 minutes |
| Frequency | Every 30 minutes, up to 8 times an hour |
| Booking | No booking fees, 10% discount for online booking |
| Payment | Contactless, Oyster cards |
| Facilities | Shuttle service, escalators, lifts, stairways, widened platforms, ticket gates, passenger assistance, accessible toilets |
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What You'll Learn
- Gatwick Express: a non-stop service to London Victoria twice an hour, taking 30 minutes
- Thameslink: connects London Gatwick to Brighton and central London stations
- Southern: services across London and the South-East, including London Victoria, Brighton, Southampton, and Portsmouth
- Great Western Railway: direct services between Gatwick and Reading every 30 minutes
- London Gatwick Airport train station: accessible from both the North and South Terminals
Gatwick Express: a non-stop service to London Victoria twice an hour, taking 30 minutes
Yes, you can get to Gatwick Airport by train. The Gatwick Express offers a non-stop service to London Victoria twice an hour, taking 30 minutes. This service is ideal for those who want a direct, stress-free journey from central London or Brighton. The Gatwick Express is also a fast way to get to the airport, with trains departing as early as 5:27 am and arriving in under 35 minutes.
The Gatwick Express is not the only option for travelling to Gatwick Airport by train. Thameslink also provides fast and frequent trains from over 50 stations across Central London and beyond, with trains running around the clock and up to eight times an hour. Southern services also serve Gatwick from Victoria and other London stations, including London Bridge, London Blackfriars, and St Pancras International. These trains run throughout the day and night, making it convenient for travellers catching early morning or late-night flights.
Travellers can also opt for Great Western Railway (GWR) direct services, which run between London Gatwick and Reading every half hour. These services take around 90 minutes, and passengers can save money by booking early. Additionally, contactless payment options are available for trips to and from London, making the ticketing process more convenient.
For those travelling in a group, the Gatwick Express offers a Groupsave discount of 33% when booking tickets for three to nine adults together. Southern Railway also offers a Groupsave discount of £2 tickets for children travelling with an adult. Booking online directly through the Gatwick Express or Southern websites can result in additional savings of 10%.
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Thameslink: connects London Gatwick to Brighton and central London stations
Thameslink provides a fast and frequent train service connecting London Gatwick Airport to Brighton and central London stations. With Thameslink, you can reach Gatwick Airport in under 35 minutes from over 50 stations across Central London and beyond. The trains run around the clock, with up to eight services per hour, making it convenient for travellers to catch those early morning or late-night flights.
The Thameslink network offers direct connections to various central London stations, including St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, and London Bridge. These stations provide connections to Eurostar, London Underground, and mainline services to other parts of the country. Thameslink also offers direct trains to Gatwick Airport from Brighton, with a journey time of around 30 minutes.
Passengers travelling from London to Gatwick Airport can board Thameslink trains from any of the central London stations mentioned earlier or Victoria, with services running throughout the day and night. Thameslink trains offer a seamless and stress-free journey to the airport, skipping the traffic and providing a comfortable travel experience with access to Wi-Fi, tables, and power outlets onboard.
In addition to the convenience of frequent services and central London connections, Thameslink also provides hassle-free ticketing options. Both contactless payments and Oyster cards are accepted on Thameslink trains between London and Gatwick, making the ticketing process more accessible. However, it is important to note that Oyster coverage ends at Gatwick, and separate tickets are required for any onward travel beyond the airport.
Thameslink is a reliable and efficient choice for travellers looking to get to Gatwick Airport from Brighton or central London. With its frequent services, convenient connections, and modern onboard amenities, Thameslink ensures a smooth and stress-free journey to the airport, allowing passengers to start their trips with ease.
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Southern: services across London and the South-East, including London Victoria, Brighton, Southampton, and Portsmouth
London Gatwick Airport has direct train connections to over 120 stations across London and the South East, including 7 key stations in London and easy interchange to the Elizabeth Line. This makes it the airport with the best train connections in Britain. On average, a train departs 4 minutes, making it a quick and convenient way to get to and from the airport.
Southern provides services across London and the South-East, including London Victoria, Brighton, Southampton, and Portsmouth, as well as many other local stations. Southern trains run from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport, and you can also take Southern and Thameslink services from other London stations such as London Bridge, London Blackfriars, and St Pancras International. These trains run throughout the day and night, ensuring travellers can get to the airport for early morning or late-night flights.
Travellers can also take the Gatwick Express for a non-stop service direct to London Victoria, departing twice an hour and taking approximately 30 minutes. Booking online in advance through the Gatwick Express website can save travellers 10%.
From London Victoria, passengers can also travel to other London stations via the London Underground, allowing for easy connections to stations across the UK. The Gatwick Airport train station is located just outside the South Terminal, with a free shuttle bus available to take passengers to the terminal in 2 minutes.
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Great Western Railway: direct services between Gatwick and Reading every 30 minutes
Gatwick Airport is easily accessible by train, with several train companies offering services to and from the airport. One of these is Great Western Railway (GWR), which provides direct services between Gatwick Airport and Reading.
From December 2023, GWR doubled the frequency of its direct trains between Reading and Gatwick Airport. This means that every day, from Monday to Saturday, two trains now depart every hour from Reading to Gatwick Airport and vice versa. The departure times from Reading are at 24 and 54 minutes past the hour, while trains depart from Gatwick Airport at 29 and 59 minutes past the hour. This upgrade provides a half-hourly direct service between the two locations, catering to the increasing number of passengers using the airport.
The journey between Reading and Gatwick Airport takes approximately 90 minutes, and passengers can save money by purchasing tickets in advance online. GWR also offers discounted fares for families and individuals aged 16 to 25 with a Railcard.
In addition to GWR, other train companies serving Gatwick Airport include Southern, Thameslink, and Gatwick Express. Southern provides services across London and the South East, connecting Gatwick to London Victoria, Clapham Junction, Brighton, Horsham, Southampton, Eastbourne, Portsmouth, and other local stations. Thameslink offers direct connections to and from Gatwick Airport, serving destinations such as Brighton, London Bridge, London Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, and St Pancras International. Gatwick Express provides fast and direct services to Gatwick Airport, with trains departing from Brighton and central London, ensuring a stress-free journey to the airport.
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London Gatwick Airport train station: accessible from both the North and South Terminals
London Gatwick Airport is easily accessible by train from both the North and South Terminals. The airport has the best train connections of any airport in Britain, with a train departing on average every four minutes. The train station is located at the South Terminal, just a five-minute walk from both departures and arrivals. It is also easily accessible from the North Terminal, with a free shuttle service taking two minutes.
There are several train services that connect London to Gatwick Airport. The Gatwick Express is the fastest option, taking only 30-31 minutes from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport. This service departs twice an hour and offers cheap train tickets with no booking fees. Southern trains also run from London Victoria to Gatwick, serving other stations across London and the South-East, including Clapham Junction, Brighton, Horsham, Southampton, Eastbourne, and Portsmouth.
Thameslink is another option, connecting London Gatwick to the south coast at Brighton and several central London stations such as London Bridge, London Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, and St Pancras International. Thameslink services also provide direct connections to Cambridge and Bedford, and other destinations north of London. Direct trains also run to Gatwick Airport from London Luton Airport, Guildford, Reading, Portsmouth, and Southampton.
Great Western Railway (GWR) provides direct services between London Gatwick and Reading every half hour, with a journey time of around 90 minutes. To save money on this route, it is recommended to book early.
Passengers travelling to and from London can use contactless payment cards or Oyster cards (excluding the 60+ Oyster photocard) to tap in and out at the ticket barrier. It is worth noting that Oyster coverage ends at Gatwick, so travellers continuing their journey beyond the airport will need a separate ticket.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Gatwick Airport has direct train connections to London, Brighton, Portsmouth, Southampton, Reading, Cambridge, Bedford, and other destinations.
The journey time varies depending on the starting point. From London Victoria, it takes around 30-35 minutes, while from Brighton, it takes 30 minutes.
Ticket prices vary depending on the route and type of ticket purchased. Booking in advance and using railcards can help you get cheaper fares.
Yes, assistance is available within the station and from the station to the airport. It is recommended to contact the Gatwick Express assisted travel team 48 hours in advance for more effective help.
