Is It Easy to Get to Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express airport trains to London Victoria
Quick, hassle free transfer from Gatwick Airport comes at a price - but there are discounts
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| Gatwick Express train at London Victoria Station |
The Gatwick Express is a dedicated rail express link into central London's Victoria Station. "London in 30 minutes, every 15 minutes" is the marketing summarizing what's on offer for the 30 mile transfer into London.
Gatwick Express key points
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The Gatwick Express is the fastest, most stress free, but most expensive transfer between London Gatwick and central London
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There are alternative slower, but cheaper train and bus options
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Cheapest fares are on-line on the Gatwick Express website
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Gatwick Express tickets purchased from Gatwick Express qualify for a 2 for 1 promotion to the London Eye, Tower of London etc
Running non-stop between London Victoria station and London Gatwick Airport this dedicated airport train is both speedy and frequent. However, it's also the most expensive transfer - if you pay full fare.
The Gatwick Express is much faster than a taxi into London while at the same time being much cheaper and much more comfortable than a taxi. Luggage is only limited by what you can carry.
Gatwick Express frequency & timetables
Gatwick Express services are scheduled to depart every 15 minutes between around 5am and midnight.
There is a 3 hour gap in service in the early hours of each morning but the full frequency is running by 5am. The short shoulder hours at the start and end of the day frequency reduces to around twice hourly.
For the full timetable click through on the Gatwick Express link below.
Between London Victoria and Gatwick trains run non-stop and are scheduled to take 30-40 minutes.
The Gatwick Express experience
At Gatwick Airport the train station is integrated into the South Terminal of the airport. From exiting customs into Gatwick Station is about 100 yards. If you are flying into the North Terminal a free monorail link shuttles between the North and South terminals every few minutes. At the South Terminal the free monorail terminus is next to the train station.
There are no reserved seats on the Gatwick Express.
First Class tickets are available which also qualify you for complimentary access to the No1 Lounge at Gatwick Airport, with return tickets.
There is normally a train on the platform waiting for you to board at both Gatwick and Victoria and you board independently and select your own seat. There is no separate luggage car, you store your luggage within the passenger cabin on luggage racks provided if needed.
| Gatwick Express Standard Fares 2020 (Children* Half Price) Gatwick Express Online Tickets | ||
| Tickets can be purchased | Online | At Station |
| First Class - One Way | £26.70 | £29.90 |
| First Class - Return † | £53.30 | £59.80 |
| Standard - One Way | £17.80 | £19.90 |
| Standard - Return † | £34.70 | £38.90 |
| Web Duo (Two Together Railcard) - Return (2 people) | £39.20~ | n/a |
| Payment by Oyster card or Contactless Payment | ||
| Oyster Card or Contactless Payment - One Way | £19.80 | |
| * Child Fares (half price of adult fares) apply to 5 - 15 years olds only. Under 5s travel FREE. † Return travel must be made within 30 days of the outward journey on return tickets ~ Price is for 2 adults or 1 adult plus one child | ||
Gatwick Express ticketing & discounts
You can buy tickets on the day at dedicated Gatwick Express ticket offices at both Gatwick and Victoria railway stations. All major credit cards are taken. However if you buy online you avoid any queues and fares are cheaper than on the day.
Ticket barriers control access to train platforms. You cannot pass through the ticket barriers and access the platforms without a valid ticket and board the train. Return tickets are valid for one month.
Purchasing Gatwick Express tickets online is always cheaper - you can either print out the ticket sent to you by email, have it sent to your mobile or pick the ticket from a machine at the station.
10% online discount on standard fares
Gatwick Express have always rewarded online purchases with a straight discount when purchased from their own website. At this moment in time the discount is 10%.
Web Duo - on-line discount for two buying returns
Another long-running online exclusive fare is the Web Duo. A straight online discount for two people travelling together purchasing either one-way or return tickets.
Note: this ticket is only available for Victoria - Gatwick - Victoria routings and is not available for those arriving at Gatwick Airport.
Group Discounts - Groupsave tickets save up to 34% for groups of 3 to 9
If you are a group of three to nine adults travelling, you can save up to 34% on the price of individual tickets. You can get these GroupSave discounts on First Class and Standard Class tickets.
Railcards (see below) cannot get you any further discounts on GroupSave tickets.
Discounts are variable depending on number of people travelling - click through on the Gatwick Express banner below and use the "Book Your Tickets" utility to find out the fares/discounts for your group size and dates.
Gatwick Express ticketing
UK Railcards - 33% discounts
If you are from the UK or you are a visitor planning on using the trains in the UK regularly then Railcards are worthwhile. There are various railcards targeted at different markets, seniors, families, youth and just frequent travellers.
The broad proposition is that you pay an annual fee which gives a typical discount of 33% on all fares including promotional fares. You can use these Railcard discounts on the Gatwick Express.
Railcards - more information
First Class travel & free airport lounge access
For a significant price premium First Class carriages on the Gatwick Express offer more space and a general emphasis on comfort and spaciousness. Tangibles include a work desk and complementary newspapers.
An added benefit is that if you buy your ticket online you enjoy complimentary entry to the No.1 Traveller Airport Lounge at Gatwick Airport North or South Terminal, you will need a Gatwick Express First Class return ticket to qualify and will have to show your email confirmation at the lounge.
Rail 2 for 1 sightseeing promotion
A worthwhile promotion is the railway 2 for 1 deal. In summary with a return Gatwick Express ticket you qualify for the 2 for 1 sightseeing promotion. As its name suggests, one person pays admission, the other gets in free. Effectively half price.
The scheme is supported by many of the major London attractions as well as many you won't have heard of. Perennial supporters of the scheme have been the Tower of London. Madame Tussauds, London Zoo, Kensington Palace, Churchill War Rooms and the London Dungeon. Others like the London Eye have drifted in and out of the scheme.
Railways 2 for 1 sightseeing promotion details
Using London Oyster cards instead of train tickets between London & Gatwick
You can now use London's Oyster cards and contactless payment options to pay for fares on the Gatwick Express, Southern Trains and Thameslink trains between London and Gatwick Airport. However Travelcards are not valid.
On the Gatwick Express service Oyster is not a particularly attractive option (apart from convenience if you already have an Oyster or will use one within London). It is cheaper to buy tickets direct online from the Gatwick Express website, (banner link above) than use Oyster.
On the Thameslink and Southern services the Oyster proposition is more compelling financially and may or may not be the best solution for you.
Oyster card & Contactless card details
Using Oyster & Visitor Oyster cards to/from Gatwick - key facts:
If you are contemplating using Oyster from/to Gatwick, below are some key factors that are specific to using Oysters at Gatwick that go beyond fare comparisons.
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You can buy Visitor Oyster cards in advance at the TFL online shop (see banner link) or from the Visitor Centre at Gatwick. You can buy standard Oyster cards from a machine at the railway station situated at the South Terminal.
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There is no ticket machine at Gatwick enabling you to cancel your Oyster or Visitor Oyster and get refunded any cash left on the Oyster or your deposit on the standard Oyster. All the machines at Underground Stations in London have this capability including Victoria, London Bridge, Blackfriars and St Pancras.
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Gatwick has no Oyster fare zone and specific fare cap, your Oyster is just debited for the fare between Gatwick and London.
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If you interchange between the Gatwick Train journey and the London Underground / DLR networks you will have to pass through ticket barriers at the interchange rail station. As long as you make this change within 15-30 minutes the journey is counted as one. If you have a coffee, have a break for some reason and take longer you will charged for two individual journeys.
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Travelling from Gatwick using Oyster Cards do not qualify for the railway 2 for 1 promotion, enabling 2 for 1 entry to attractions like the Tower of London, whereas purchasing train tickets would.
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Unlike Oyster, the train companies offer short term promotional fares and group and family fares.
| London - Gatwick Airport comparison of fares 2020 | ||
| Service | Standard Adult Fare* | |
| One-Way | Return | |
| Bus/Coach options | ||
| National Express Bus to Victoria | £5-£10 | £10-£20 |
| easyBus to West Brompton | £4-£11 | £8-£22 |
| Train options | ||
| Southern Train to Victoria (Train Ticket) | £17.20 | £34.40 |
| Southern Train to Victoria (Oyster) | £10.90/£17.90~ | £21.80/£35.80~ |
| Southern Train to Zone 1 (Oyster) | £8.50/£15.50~ | £13.50/£31.70~ |
| Thameslink Train to St Pancras (Train Ticket) | £10.00/£12.40~ | £10.10/£21.70~ |
| Thameslink Train to St Pancras (Oyster) | £8.50/£15.50~ | £17/£31~ |
| Gatwick Express Train (Ticket on day) | £19.90 | £38.90 |
| Gatwick Express Train (Advance online) | £17.80 | £34.70 |
| Gatwick Express Train (Oyster) | £19.80 | £39.60 |
| Gatwick Express Train (Web Duo online) | n/a | £39.20† |
| Shuttles & Private Cars/Coaches | ||
| Hotel Van Shuttle | From £33.60 | From £67.20 |
| Saloon/Sedan Car (2 People) | £73 | £146 |
| Small Bus (12 People) | £240 | £480 |
| * Standard adult ticket. Return leg within one month. † Online only return ticket for 2 adults, available for London Victoria > Gatwick Airport > London Victoria. ~ Cheapest Off Peak and Anytime fares | ||
Source: https://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/gatwick_rail.htm
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