London Gatwick Airport (LGW) Guide: London, United Kingdom

London Gatwick Airport is London’s best all-round alternative to Heathrow: big enough for long-haul flights, fast enough for budget travel, and unusually strong by train. It works for London, Brighton, Surrey, Sussex, and south London hotels. Gatwick is also a serious low-cost and holiday airport, so the smartest traveler compares the fare after train cost, bags, seat fees, and the hotel side of London.

This guide is written for travelers who want the useful details first: the real airport name, where it sits, how much to budget for transport, what to expect in the terminal, where to search for flights, and which services to arrange before landing. Prices and routes are updated for June 2026 and should be treated as practical planning ranges rather than fixed promises.

Quick airport facts

Item Details
Full airport name London Gatwick Airport
Short codes LGW / EGKK
Also searched as Gatwick Airport, London Gatwick, LGW Airport
City and country London, United Kingdom
Practical address London Gatwick Airport, Horley, Gatwick RH6 0NP, United Kingdom.
Distance to city About 45 km south of central London, with direct rail to Victoria, London Bridge, St Pancras, and the south coast.
Updated 2026-06-15
  • Best for: south London, Brighton, Sussex, Surrey, easyJet routes, British Airways leisure routes, and selected long-haul flights.
  • Main route logic: easyJet dominance plus British Airways, TUI, Norse-style long-haul, Emirates-type connections, and strong European leisure coverage.
  • Airport style: two-terminal major airport with excellent rail, busy security waves, and a wide food/retail offer.
  • Planning rule: choose Gatwick if your London hotel is near Victoria, London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon, St Pancras, or the south coast rail lines.

Address and location

Use London Gatwick Airport (LGW) for flight searches and Gatwick Airport, London Gatwick, LGW Airport as backup search wording in maps, hotel messages, and taxi conversations. The practical address is:

London Gatwick Airport, Horley, Gatwick RH6 0NP, United Kingdom.

About 45 km south of central London, with direct rail to Victoria, London Bridge, St Pancras, and the south coast. For a serious itinerary, save the airport coordinates offline, download the city area in Google Maps or Organic Maps, and keep your hotel address in both English and the local language where possible.

How to get from the airport to the city

Option Typical time Approximate cost Best use
Gatwick Express to London Victoria 29-32 min Premium rail fare, often about GBP 18-25+ depending purchase 🚄 Fastest simple route to Victoria and the West End.
Thameslink to London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon, St Pancras 35-55 min Often about GBP 13-20 depending route and time 🚆 Best value for the City, King’s Cross, Eurostar area, and north London.
Airport coach to London 75-120 min Often GBP 7-18 when booked ahead 🚌 Cheapest if time matters less than price.
Taxi or private transfer to central London 60-110 min About GBP 90-140+ 🚕 Best for families, late arrivals, or awkward hotel addresses.

Gatwick’s rail station is part of the airport, so the train is normally the best answer. Gatwick Express is convenient for Victoria, but Thameslink can be better if your hotel is near London Bridge, Farringdon, or St Pancras. During rail strikes or engineering works, coaches and private transfers become more important.

Transport tips

  • 🧾 Confirm the fare before loading luggage, especially when there is no visible meter or posted rate.
  • 📍 Save the exact hotel pin offline; airport drivers may know districts better than street names.
  • 💵 Carry small local cash for the first transfer, baggage carts, snacks, or phone calls.
  • 🌐 Install an eSIM before departure so you can message your driver immediately after landing.

Public transport and metro

For the London leg, use London Subway Map from the supplied metro-app list. It is useful after the airport train or coach reaches the Underground, Elizabeth line, Thameslink, Victoria, Liverpool Street, St Pancras, or other London rail nodes. Gatwick itself does not sit on the London Underground; use Gatwick Express, Thameslink, Southern rail, coach, taxi, or private transfer for the airport leg.

Where public transport exists, it is usually best for daylight arrivals with light luggage. For late flights, family travel, heavy bags, or first-time visits, a taxi, hotel transfer, or pre-booked private driver is usually worth the extra cost.

Taxi prices and transfer strategy

Taxi prices around airports are rarely as neat as an official table. Time of day, luggage, driver availability, fuel prices, and whether the destination is inside or outside the central city all matter. The ranges above are realistic planning budgets, but the best practice is simple: agree the fare before moving, keep your phone map open, and avoid changing money with random drivers.

For smoother arrival logistics:

  • 🚕 Use official taxi ranks or a hotel-arranged driver where available.
  • 🧳 Pre-book a transfer if you land late, carry equipment, or travel with children.
  • 🚗 Compare rental cars before arrival with DiscoverCars if you need regional freedom.
  • 🏨 Use Expedia to check hotels near the airport and in the city before choosing a transfer.

Airport facilities, shops, and restaurants

  • North and South terminals with free inter-terminal shuttle, airline lounges, duty-free, premium fashion, pharmacies, convenience shops, restaurants, pubs, cafes, family services, prayer rooms, hotels, and car-rental desks.
  • Security and bag drop can be very busy during early-morning leisure waves, especially on school holidays.
  • The South Terminal has the rail station; allow time if your flight uses the North Terminal.
  • Airport hotels are useful for 06:00 departures, but London or Brighton hotels are better for a real stopover.

The smart rule at LGW is to treat the terminal as a transfer point rather than as a shopping destination. Eat before arriving when possible, keep a refillable bottle where security rules allow, and bring a small power bank. If you have a long delay, an airport-area hotel or city hotel is usually more comfortable than waiting in the terminal.

Airlines and where the airport flies

Public route tools list roughly 216 destinations from Gatwick in June 2026, making it one of Europe’s most connected secondary hubs. Short-haul strengths include Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, France, Ireland, Scandinavia, Turkey, Morocco, and Central/Eastern Europe. Long-haul searches can include Dubai, Doha-style connections, New York, Orlando, Tampa, Caribbean islands, West Africa, and seasonal leisure routes.

easyJet is the key Gatwick airline. British Airways, TUI, Wizz Air, Vueling, Norwegian/Norse-style operators, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, TAP, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and many leisure carriers appear according to route and season.

Cheap routes to check first

  • Gatwick to Barcelona, Malaga, Alicante, Faro, Porto, Rome, Milan, or Venice: strong low-cost competition.
  • Gatwick to Marrakech, Agadir, Antalya, Dalaman, or Greek islands: good leisure-value searches outside school holidays.
  • Gatwick to New York, Orlando, Tampa, or Caribbean points: compare total cost against Heathrow, including rail and baggage.

Cheap airport strategy is different from simply sorting by lowest fare. Always compare the final cost after checked baggage, seat selection, payment fees, transfer costs, and missed-connection risk. A slightly more expensive flight into the correct airport can be cheaper than a low base fare that forces a long taxi ride or overnight hotel.

Where to buy flights and hotels

Start with broad searches, then verify the exact airport code before paying. This is especially important in cities with more than one airport or with airport transitions.

Need Recommended booking link Why it matters
Internet on arrival 🌐 Yesim eSIM Install before flying so maps, airline apps, WhatsApp, and hotel messages work as soon as you land.
Flights and hotels 🏨 Expedia flights and stays Useful for comparing nearby hotels, airport overnights, and onward tickets in one search.
Tours and transfers 🎟️ Viator tours and airport transfers Best for guided city tours, day trips, private arrival transfers, and skip-the-line activities.
Rental cars 🚗 DiscoverCars Compare local and international rental agencies before accepting a walk-up airport rate.
Travel medical insurance 🛡️ SafetyWing Check coverage, exclusions, and country wording before travel, especially on complex itineraries.
Support this airport-guide project 🤝 Patreon: HEDONISMcloud Helps keep airport guides updated with fares, route changes, and city transport notes.

eSIM, internet, insurance, and car rental

  • 🌐 Internet: install Yesim eSIM before the flight. Airport Wi-Fi can be slow, blocked by SMS verification, or unavailable exactly when you need maps.
  • 🛡️ Insurance: compare policy wording with SafetyWing. Read exclusions for the destination, adventure activities, medical evacuation, political/security events, and pre-existing conditions.
  • 🚗 Cars: compare vehicles on DiscoverCars before arrival. Airport counters can run out of automatic cars or quote higher walk-up rates.
  • 🎟️ Tours: use Viator for airport transfers, city tours, day trips, and guided experiences when independent transport is inconvenient.

Practical arrival checklist

Before you fly Why it matters
Check the IATA code on the ticket Prevents booking a hotel or transfer for the wrong airport.
Save airline, hotel, and driver contacts offline Messaging apps may not work until data is active.
Carry local cash Useful for taxis, snacks, and small airport expenses.
Recheck live departures Regional schedules can change more quickly than major-hub schedules.
Keep insurance documents accessible Helps at medical facilities and during airline disruption.

Safety and travel notes

The United Kingdom is under a U.S. Level 2 advisory because of terrorism risk. For airport travelers, that means staying alert in terminals, rail stations, markets, nightlife areas, and other busy public places, keeping bags controlled, following official instructions, and allowing extra time during strikes, engineering work, football weekends, or major events. Gatwick is generally straightforward, but rail disruption can break carefully timed itineraries, so monitor National Rail and Gatwick Airport updates before travel.

The most reliable traveler is the boringly prepared traveler: documents printed, data working, transport confirmed, hotel address saved, and enough time between every moving part of the itinerary.

Short airport excursion idea

If you have a long layover or an overnight stop, choose one simple plan rather than trying to see everything. Stay close to the city center or a known hotel district, keep the return transfer booked, and avoid cutting the return to the airport too close. In smaller airports, a missed flight may mean waiting a day or more for the next practical departure.

Frequently asked questions

How far is London Gatwick Airport from London?

About 45 km south of central London, with direct rail to Victoria, London Bridge, St Pancras, and the south coast.

How much is a taxi from LGW airport?

Typical taxi planning ranges are shown in the transport table above. The safest method is to confirm the price before loading luggage and to use a hotel-arranged driver when arriving late or visiting for the first time.

Are there restaurants and shops at London Gatwick Airport?

Yes, but the depth of choice depends on the airport size and operating schedule. Expect practical cafes or snack options at smaller airports and a better range at major hubs. Carry backup snacks and water for delays.

Which airlines should I check first?

easyJet is the key Gatwick airline. British Airways, TUI, Wizz Air, Vueling, Norwegian/Norse-style operators, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, TAP, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and many leisure carriers appear according to route and season.

Is there a metro to the airport?

For the London leg, use London Subway Map from the supplied metro-app list. It is useful after the airport train or coach reaches the Underground, Elizabeth line, Thameslink, Victoria, Liverpool Street, St Pancras, or other London rail nodes. Gatwick itself does not sit on the London Underground; use Gatwick Express, Thameslink, Southern rail, coach, taxi, or private transfer for the airport leg.

Sources checked