Gatwick is about 30 minutes from central London by train and well over an hour by road, so the train wins almost every time. All trains leave from the station at the South Terminal; from the North Terminal, a free shuttle gets you there in two minutes. Which train depends on where you are sleeping: the Gatwick Express runs only to Victoria, while Thameslink runs through London Bridge, the City and St Pancras. Below is every realistic way in, and the way we would reach each of the ten hotels in our London edit.
The short answer
For the West End and Pimlico, take the Gatwick Express to Victoria: about 30 minutes, £24 with contactless. For London Bridge, the City and King's Cross, take Thameslink: 29 minutes to London Bridge and 44 to St Pancras, £10.70 off-peak. A taxi to our hotels takes 88–105 minutes, and with no London meter outside the capital, agree the fare or book a fixed-price transfer.
Book a private transfer
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A driver meets you in arrivals with your name on a sign, at a fixed price agreed when you book. Booked and paid with Welcome Pickups through our partner Travelpayouts; we may earn a commission.
The quickest train to Victoria, and the one for Artist Residence London in Pimlico. Anywhere else, Thameslink is usually cheaper and closer.
The best train for most of our hotels: straight through London Bridge, the City and King's Cross, and the only one running all night.
A few minutes slower than the Gatwick Express to Victoria and much cheaper off-peak.
One easy, step-free change for Soho, Marylebone and Paddington.
A long, variable drive. Use it for heavy luggage or a group, and fix the price first.
Worth it for late or delayed flights, families with car seats and hotels with no simple train. The driver tracks your flight.
City of London
Thameslink runs to City Thameslink in 37 minutes without a change, close to The Ned, against a 96-minute drive.
Mayfair
Thameslink to Farringdon and the Elizabeth line to Bond Street takes 48 minutes, and Claridge's is a couple of minutes' walk from the station.
London Bridge
Thameslink reaches London Bridge in 29 minutes with no change, and the Shard is right beside the station.
King's Cross
Thameslink runs to St Pancras in 44 minutes without a change, and the hotel is across the road; the drive is the longest from Gatwick, at 105 minutes.
South Bank
Thameslink to Blackfriars takes 35 minutes and leaves a short walk.
Bethnal Green
No train from Gatwick reaches Bethnal Green directly: the quickest routes take 56–70 minutes with a change and a walk or a bus, so with luggage a driver to the door is the easier way.
Soho
Thameslink to Farringdon and one stop on the Elizabeth line to Tottenham Court Road takes 46 minutes, and Hazlitt's is a few minutes' walk away in Soho.
Pimlico
The Gatwick Express runs to Victoria in about 30 minutes, leaving about half a kilometre on foot to the hotel in Pimlico.
Marylebone
Thameslink to Farringdon and the Elizabeth line to Bond Street takes 48 minutes, against a 99-minute drive.
Paddington
Thameslink to Farringdon and the Elizabeth line to Paddington takes 52 minutes, and The Pilgrm is a short walk from the station.
Only if Victoria is where you are going. The Gatwick Express is the quickest train to Victoria, about 30 minutes non-stop, but at £24 with contactless it costs more than double the off-peak Thameslink or Southern fare of £10.70. Southern reaches Victoria in about 34 minutes for that lower fare.
For anywhere east or north of the West End, Thameslink is simply better: London Bridge in 29 minutes, City Thameslink in 37, Farringdon in 40 and St Pancras in 44, with no change. At Farringdon, the Elizabeth line takes you on to Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street or Paddington.
Gatwick Airport station is at the South Terminal, about five minutes' walk from arrivals and fully step-free. Landing at the North Terminal, follow signs for the free shuttle: two minutes, every few minutes, 24 hours a day. Tap in at the barriers with a contactless card or Oyster for London; for Brighton or anywhere south you need a ticket. A train leaves on average every four minutes.
Yes. Thameslink runs an hourly train through the night from Gatwick to Blackfriars, taking about 50 minutes, so a late landing does not strand you. The station is staffed around the clock and the shuttle from the North Terminal runs all night. For a hotel far from Blackfriars, or after a long delay, a pre-booked driver who has tracked your flight is the calm answer.
Gatwick is outside London's taxi meter area, so Transport for London advises agreeing the fare before you set off; if you do not, the London cab meter's maximum applies. Airport Cars Gatwick, the airport's official firm, offers fixed rates on pre-bookings and has desks at both terminals. Expect a long drive: Gatwick allows about 1 hour 45 minutes to King's Cross, and our hotels are typically 88–105 minutes away.
Check your terminal before you leave the hotel: trains arrive at the South Terminal, and the North is a two-minute shuttle ride on. Being dropped at either terminal costs £10 for up to 10 minutes, paid by midnight the next day, and taxis add it to the fare. Check the National Rail site for engineering works the weekend you fly, as Victoria services are sometimes replaced by trains from London Bridge or Blackfriars.
Questions people ask
The Gatwick Express to Victoria, about 30 minutes non-stop. For London Bridge, Thameslink is faster still: 29 minutes.
Thameslink or Southern, £10.70 off-peak with contactless, against £24 on the Gatwick Express.
Yes, contactless cards and Oyster work between Gatwick and London; tap in and out at the barriers. They do not work for Brighton or other stations outside London.
Take the free shuttle to the South Terminal: two minutes, every few minutes, 24 hours a day. The station is beside the South Terminal.
Gatwick allows about 1 hour 45 minutes to King's Cross; our hotels are typically 88–105 minutes away. Agree the fare first or book a fixed price.
Yes, Thameslink runs direct to St Pancras International in 44 minutes.
Image credits: Sunil060902 (CC BY-SA 4.0)