Gatwick Airport directions

By car

If you’re travelling by car, Gatwick Airport is 28 miles or 45km south of London, linked directly to the M23 at Junction 9 and to the A23 London–Brighton road. Alternatively, the M25 is only a 10-minute drive from Gatwick Airport with connections to the UK’s national road and motorway network.

If your car needs a top up, there are 24-hour petrol stations available at both North and South Terminals at Gatwick Airport.

To book your car parking, go to the Gatwick Airport website. Dedicated motorcycle bays are provided in the short stay car parks.

By train

It takes just 30 minutes to get to Gatwick airport from Central London by train. Gatwick is served by four train operators with direct connections to 120 train stations in the UK:

• Gatwick Express – connects Gatwick Airport to London Victoria in just 30 minutes. During peak periods, trains depart every 15 minutes with two trains an hour extending to Brighton.
• Southern – provides services across London and the South East, including London Victoria, London Bridge, Clapham Junction, Southampton, Brighton, Eastbourne and Portsmouth.
• Thameslink – connects Gatwick Airport with the south coast of Brighton; Central London via London Bridge, St. Pancreas International and Farringdon; North London via Bedford; and a direct train to Luton Airport Parkway.
• Great Western Railway – provides an hourly service between Gatwick Airport and Reading, via Redhill, Reigate and Guildford.

You can travel using your contactless payment or Oyster card between Gatwick and London.

By bus

Gatwick Airport is linked to over 100 UK towns and cities by direct coach and bus services, and hundreds more with one change. Many of these services run 24/7, all year round.

Most coach and bus services operate from the lower South Terminal forecourt. Some services also call at the North Terminal on the lower level outside international arrivals. Metrobus operates a local bus service that departs from stops on the A23.

Gatwick Airport Covid-19 testing on departure

If you need a PCR test, select your nearest Gatwick Airport Covid test centre. Follow the steps below for an antigen test.

Gatwick Airport Covid-19 test on arrival

Return Antigen Test

Returning to Gatwick Airport? You will need a fast-action antigen test kit that you take with you and perform before you travel to the UK.

Day 2 and 8 Tests

All arrivals in England require a test on Day 2 of arrival for variant tracking. You will also need a Day 8 test if you're travelling from a country on the Amber or Red list.

Test to Release

The government introduced the Test to Release programme to reduce the self-isolation period for travellers returning to England. Passengers who have not travelled to a red-list country can shorten their mandatory 10-day quarantine period through the Test to Release scheme with a negative Covid-19 PCR test on day five.