By MinicabTransfer editorial team · Updated
For a short-haul flight from Gatwick, leave central London about three and a half hours before departure. For long-haul, leave about four and a half hours before. That allows 70 to 90 minutes for the drive, a margin for traffic on the A23 and M23, and the two or three hours airlines recommend you spend at the airport.
Those are starting points. The right time for you depends on the hour you travel, whether you have bags to check, and which terminal you’re using. Here’s how to work it out.
Start with the airport, then add the road
Work backwards from your departure time in three steps:
- Time at the airport. Most airlines recommend arriving two hours before a short-haul flight and three hours before long-haul. Bag drop usually closes 40 to 60 minutes before departure. Check your airline’s exact deadline.
- Drive time. Allow 70 to 90 minutes from Mayfair, Westminster or the City outside the rush hours, and up to two hours in the weekday peaks.
- A margin. Add 15 to 30 minutes for the unexpected: an accident on the M23, roadworks, or simply finding everyone in your party.
Gatwick has two terminals, North and South, linked by a free shuttle train that takes a couple of minutes. Check which one your airline uses before you set off, so you’re dropped at the right door.
Drive times by time of day
Gatwick is about 30 miles south of central London. The route usually runs out through south London on the A23 before joining the M23, and the slow part is almost always the London section, not the motorway.
| Leaving central London | Typical drive to Gatwick |
|---|---|
| Early morning (before 6am) | 60–75 minutes |
| Weekday morning peak (7–10am) | 90–120 minutes |
| Middle of the day | 70–90 minutes |
| Weekday evening peak (4–7pm) | 90–120 minutes |
| Late evening and weekends | 65–85 minutes |
Friday afternoons, the start of school holidays and bank holiday weekends are consistently the slowest. If you’re travelling then, add another half hour.
A ready-reckoner for leaving Mayfair
Assuming checked luggage and a weekday:
| Flight departs | Short-haul: leave by | Long-haul: leave by |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00am | 3:30am | 2:30am |
| 10:00am | 6:00am | 5:00am |
| 1:00pm | 9:30am | 8:30am |
| 6:00pm | 2:00pm | 1:00pm |
| 9:00pm | 5:30pm | 4:30pm |
Leaving from the City, Canary Wharf or north London? Add 15 to 30 minutes. Staying in south-west London, Richmond or near the M25? You may be able to leave a little later.
Agree the pickup time with your operator. Give your flight number and departure time when you request a quote. Many operators will suggest a pickup time based on the day and the hour, and you can adjust it with them.
Car or train to Gatwick?
Trains from Victoria and London Bridge reach Gatwick in about half an hour, and they’re a sensible choice if you’re travelling light and live near a station.
By car, the journey is longer but door to door. You load your luggage once at home and unload it at the terminal, with no stairs, platforms or connections. For families, groups, early departures, and anyone with a lot of luggage, a pre-booked private hire car is usually the easier choice.
On MinicabTransfer, fares for Gatwick transfers start from £99 for a saloon. This is an indicative figure. Compare fares from TfL-licensed operators and request a quote from the one you prefer. The operator confirms the final price directly with you, including whether Gatwick’s drop-off charge and any tolls are included. See our Gatwick airport page for more. For your own postcode, see Gatwick minicab prices by area.
Tips for early-morning departures
- Arrange your car early. Operators’ early-morning slots can fill up, especially in school holidays, so request a quote well before the night before.
- Mention bulky luggage. Include skis, golf bags, pushchairs or extra cases in your quote request so the operator offers a car with room for them.
- Keep your phone on. Drivers usually message when they’re outside. If you’re running late, let the driver or operator know.
- Rest on the way. At 4am the roads are quiet and the drive is calm. It may be the best hour of sleep you get before the flight.
Coming back into Gatwick
For your return, many operators offer meet and greet, with the driver waiting in the North or South Terminal arrivals hall with a name board, and some track your flight. Free waiting time and charges for delays vary between operators, so confirm them when you request your quote. If you want both legs covered, ask the operator for a return quote. Our airport transfers page covers every London airport.