Heathrow to Gatwick Transfer Guide

Last updated: June 12, 2026

Heathrow and Gatwick sit about 40 miles apart on opposite sides of London, and the good news is that getting between them is simpler than most airport-to-airport transfers. In 2026 your three options are a direct National Express coach (the easiest and cheapest, from £14.70), a private taxi (fastest door-to-door, 40–56 minutes), or the train via central London (slowest and priciest — usually the one to avoid). If you’re connecting between flights, the coach or a taxi is almost always the smarter call — and the buffer you leave matters more than the route.

Heathrow to Gatwick: quick comparison (2026)

Option	Time	Cost (one-way)	Best for
National Express coach	50 min–1h15m	From £14.70	Easiest + cheapest, direct, no London changes
Private taxi / transfer	40–56 min	~£49–£108 (fixed)	Speed, groups, luggage, tight connections
Train via central London	~2 hours+	£40+	Rarely the best choice — only if already heading into London

National Express coach: the easiest and cheapest way

The National Express coach (the service most people search for as the Heathrow to Gatwick “bus”) is the obvious choice for this transfer. It runs directly between the two airports from £14.70, with no changes in London, and is frequent: up to 63 services a day, 7 days a week, on routes 025, 200, 201, 205 and 210. The fastest journeys take about 50 minutes, with the average around 1 hour 15 minutes depending on traffic.

Your luggage goes in the hold, most coaches have wi-fi, and the pick-up and drop-off points are right at the terminals — so for most travellers, especially anyone watching the budget, the coach is the easy winner. The only reason to skip it is if your connection is tight, when the more predictable door-to-door speed of a taxi is worth paying for.

Private taxi or transfer: the fastest option

A pre-booked private transfer is the quickest way between the airports, covering the 40 miles via the M25 in 40 to 56 minutes in normal traffic. Fixed fares vary by provider but generally run £49–£108 for a saloon, shared across everyone in the car. The big caveat is the M25 at rush hour: on weekday mornings (roughly 07:00–09:30) and evenings (16:30–19:00) you should budget close to double the time.

For two or more people, or anyone with heavy luggage or a tight connection, a taxi is often worth the premium over the coach — it’s door-to-door, runs to your schedule rather than a timetable, and removes the risk of a coach caught in traffic. Compare the per-person cost against the coach with the airport transfer cost calculator.

Is there a train from Heathrow to Gatwick?

There’s no direct train between Heathrow and Gatwick. Doing it by rail means going right through central London: the Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express to Paddington, across London to Victoria, then the Gatwick Express down to Gatwick. All in, that’s around 2 hours and £40 or more once you add up the separate tickets — slower and pricier than the direct coach, with the added hassle of crossing London with your bags. Unless you specifically need to stop in central London on the way, the train isn’t worth it for this journey.

How far is Heathrow from Gatwick?

The two airports are about 40 miles apart by road, linked by the M25 motorway that loops around the south and west of London. There’s no shorter way between them — every option, road or rail, has to cover that distance or go via London. By road in clear conditions it’s well under an hour; the variable is always the M25, which is one of Britain’s busiest motorways and prone to delays at peak times.

How much buffer should you leave between Heathrow and Gatwick flights?

This transfer is almost always part of a connecting journey on separate tickets — and no airline protects you if you miss the second flight. You need to budget the whole chain, not just the 40-mile hop.

Worked example. Land at Heathrow at 10:00: allow ~45–60 minutes to clear the airport and collect any checked bags (ready ~11:00), then the transfer itself — about 1 hour by direct coach (or ~45 minutes by taxi off-peak) — putting you at Gatwick around 12:00. Add Gatwick’s recommended 2 hours before a short-haul departure (3 hours for long-haul), and the earliest safe Gatwick departure is around 14:00–15:00 — a minimum gap of roughly 4 to 5 hours between landing and take-off. Because the M25 is unpredictable and these tickets are unprotected, we’d pad that to a 5–6 hour buffer for peace of mind. Check your own timings with the best time to leave for the airport calculator.

Which option is best for you?

• Cheapest and easiest: National Express coach (from £14.70, direct) — the right call for most travellers
• Fastest / tight connection: private taxi (40–56 min, door-to-door) — especially for two or more people
• Families with kids and luggage: taxi, to skip the timetable and stay in one vehicle
• Already stopping in London: the train via Victoria — otherwise avoid it

Frequently asked questions

How far is Heathrow from Gatwick?

About 40 miles by road via the M25, on opposite sides of London. By direct coach it’s roughly 50 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes; by taxi 40 to 56 minutes in normal traffic.

Is there a direct train from Heathrow to Gatwick?

No. There’s no direct rail link — the train route goes via central London (to Paddington, across to Victoria, then the Gatwick Express), taking around 2 hours and costing £40 or more. The direct National Express coach is cheaper and simpler.

How much is a taxi from Heathrow to Gatwick?

Pre-booked fixed fares generally run £49–£108 for a saloon car, depending on the provider, vehicle and time of day. It covers the 40 miles in 40–56 minutes off-peak, but allow close to double during weekday rush hours on the M25.

How long does it take to get from Heathrow to Gatwick?

By direct coach, 50 minutes to about 1 hour 15 minutes. By taxi, 40 to 56 minutes off-peak (longer in rush hour). By train via London, around 2 hours including the cross-city transfer.

How much time should I leave between connecting flights at Heathrow and Gatwick?

Plan for a minimum of 4–5 hours between landing and take-off, and ideally a 5–6 hour buffer. These connections are almost always on separate, unprotected tickets, so leave margin for bag collection, the M25, and check-in at the second airport.

Plan the rest of your transfer

• Airport transfer cost calculator — compare coach, train and taxi for your group
• Best time to leave for the airport calculator — works backwards from your flight
• How long should a Gatwick layover be? — if you’re connecting at Gatwick
• Gatwick to Stansted transfer guide — for the other inter-airport hop

Fares and times verified June 2026 against National Express, Heathrow Airport and published private-transfer rates. Prices vary with demand and booking lead time — always confirm before you travel.