How Long Layover Do I Need at Gatwick?

How long a Gatwick layover you need depends on whether you already hold your onward boarding pass and whether the trip is a protected connection or a separate-ticket self-transfer. For a protected connection, Gatwick advises 60 minutes in the same terminal and 90 minutes across terminals; a separate-ticket self-transfer with checked bags needs 3 to 4 hours. Here are the real numbers.

Times verified: July 2026.

Quick answer: how long should a Gatwick layover be?

• Gatwick advises at least 60 minutes if your next flight is in the same terminal and you already hold the onward boarding pass.
• Gatwick advises at least 90 minutes if you arrive and depart from different terminals.
• The inter-terminal shuttle is easy — a free airside train that runs every 2 to 3 minutes and takes about two minutes to ride.
• A separate-ticket self-transfer with checked bags is different: allow 3 to 4 hours, because the UK border, baggage reclaim and re-check all re-enter the process.

Gatwick layover planning table

Connection type	Planning minimum	More comfortable	Why the buffer changes
Protected, same terminal (onward boarding pass held)	60 minutes	90 minutes	Airside connection with no security re-clear if your inbound is on time.
Protected, different terminals (onward boarding pass held)	90 minutes	120 minutes	You take the free airside shuttle (10–15 minutes end to end); no security re-clear.
International arrival, needs bag re-check	2.5–3 hours	3 hours+	UK border, baggage reclaim, re-check and security all re-enter the process.
Separate tickets with checked bags (self-transfer)	3 hours	4 hours or more	No protected connection; treat Gatwick as an arrival plus a fresh departure.

These are TripBuffer planning ranges — your airline sets the official minimum connection time. For your exact flights, use the Layover Calculator.

Gatwick terminals and the inter-terminal shuttle

Gatwick has just two terminals: North and South, linked by a free automated inter-terminal shuttle train. The shuttle runs every 2 to 3 minutes, 24 hours a day, and the ride takes about two minutes — but allow 10 to 15 minutes end to end once you include the walk to and from the platform. Importantly, for connecting passengers the shuttle runs airside to airside, so if you are already through security and hold your onward boarding pass you do not need to re-clear security when you change terminals. That makes a protected Gatwick terminal change simpler than the equivalent at Heathrow.

The catch: Gatwick is mostly point-to-point, not a hub

Unlike a big connecting hub, most Gatwick passengers fly point to point, and many “connections” are really self-transfers on separate tickets. If your two flights are on one ticket with the onward boarding pass already issued, the 60 or 90 minute baselines apply. If they are separate bookings, you must clear the UK border, reclaim your checked bag, change terminals landside, check in again and pass security — which is why we treat that as a 3 to 4 hour job, not a quick connection.

Worked example: a separate-ticket self-transfer at Gatwick

What changes the Gatwick decision

• Whether you are staying in the same terminal or changing terminals.
• Whether you already hold the onward boarding pass (a protected connection) or not.
• Whether you need to collect a checked bag and check in again.
• Whether the layover is one protected ticket or behaves like a self-transfer.

Related Gatwick guides and tools

• Layover Calculator — run your own Gatwick connection times.
• Gatwick to Central London — if your Gatwick plan ends in the city.
• Gatwick to Stansted transfer — if your day involves an airport change.
• Heathrow to Gatwick transfer, and the Heathrow layover guide.
• Airport hotel stopover guide — for overnight connections.

Methodology and official references

The Gatwick baselines here come from Gatwick’s published connections guidance; the wider ranges are TripBuffer planning ranges that add the real friction of the UK border, baggage and separate-ticket self-transfers. Your airline sets the official minimum connection time, and waits vary by time of day, so always check before you book.

• London Gatwick — flight connections
• London Gatwick — North and South Terminal shuttle

Last verified July 2026. Minimum connection times are set by each airline; border and security waits change by the hour.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum connection time at Gatwick?

Gatwick’s minimum connection time is at least 60 minutes if your next flight is in the same terminal and you already hold the onward boarding pass, or at least 90 minutes if you change terminals. Your airline may set a longer minimum.

How long layover do I need at Gatwick in the same terminal?

Gatwick advises at least 60 minutes if you already have your onward boarding pass and your next flight is in the same terminal. TripBuffer suggests more margin for separate tickets, baggage reclaim or a busy travel day.

How long layover do I need at Gatwick if I must change terminals?

Gatwick advises at least 90 minutes when flights arrive and depart from different terminals. On a protected connection you use the free airside shuttle without re-clearing security, so 90 minutes is a reasonable baseline — but not generous if the day goes wrong.

How long does it take to get from Gatwick North to South Terminal?

The Gatwick shuttle between terminals rides in about two minutes and runs every 2 to 3 minutes, 24 hours a day. Allow 10 to 15 minutes end to end including the walk to and from the platform.

Do separate tickets change a Gatwick layover a lot?

Yes. On separate tickets you must collect bags, clear the UK border, change terminals landside and check in again, so the layover behaves like a fresh departure. Allow 3 to 4 hours rather than the 60 to 90 minute protected-connection baselines.