Gatwick Airport (LGW) is London’s second-largest airport. It has no direct London Underground connection, but you can reach it by combining the Underground with a train.
Here are the main routes from central London, including options for travelling at night.
How to use the Underground to reach Gatwick
The Underground does not go to Gatwick itself, but it connects with stations offering direct airport trains.
The main interchange options are London Victoria, London Bridge and St Pancras International. Choose according to your starting point:
1. Underground to London Victoria and Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express connects London Victoria with the airport without intermediate stops. It can be convenient if you are already near Victoria, but it is not necessarily the fastest route from your accommodation. These Underground lines serve Victoria:
- Victoria line (light blue): connects north and central London with Victoria.
- Circle line and District line (yellow and green): useful when travelling from west or east London.
At Victoria, follow signs for Gatwick Express:
- Train journey time: 30 minutes.
- Fare: Compare a ticket for your date from Gatwick Express with the Oyster or contactless fare. Express fares differ from Southern and Thameslink fares; tapping a card does not guarantee the lowest price. Online offers have their own conditions.
- Frequency: Two trains an hour in the usual timetable; check departures for your date.
- Operating hours: Check the first and last trains for your date and direction. It does not run throughout the night, and engineering work can change the service.
Another option from Victoria: Southern
Southern trains from Victoria also call at Gatwick. Compare price and journey time with Gatwick Express before buying: if you are already at Victoria, this alternative avoids travelling to another London station. Stops and journey times depend on the train you choose.
Check that your ticket covers the operator and service you plan to use. A ticket restricted to Southern or Thameslink should not be assumed valid on Gatwick Express.
2. Underground to London Bridge and Thameslink
To reach London Bridge by Underground, use the Northern line’s Bank branch or the Jubilee line. From there, Thameslink trains run directly to Gatwick. If you are already nearby, go straight to the railway station without using the Underground. Compare the fare with Gatwick Express for your date and ticket type.
- Journey time: Check your specific train from London Bridge; journey times vary with the stops. Add the time to reach the station and get through the airport.
- Fare: Check London Bridge–Gatwick in TfL’s fare finder and compare with a Thameslink ticket for your date. The amount depends on the station, time and applicable discounts.
- Frequency: Check departures from this station for your date; intervals vary with the time and scheduled services.
- Operating hours: Thameslink offers overnight connections with Gatwick, but check your station and date. Not every stop has the same departures, and engineering work or replacement buses may affect your journey.
This route can save a detour to Victoria if you are near London Bridge. Elsewhere in east or north London, compare other Thameslink stations closer to you too.
3. Underground to St Pancras International and Thameslink
St Pancras International has Thameslink trains to Gatwick and can be convenient near King’s Cross or Euston. The shared King’s Cross St Pancras Underground station is served by the Victoria, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern and Piccadilly lines. Follow signs for Thameslink rather than Eurostar platforms. If you are nearby, compare walking to the station with taking the Underground.
- Journey time: Check your chosen train from St Pancras to Gatwick; the duration depends on its stops. Allow time to reach the platforms and your airport terminal.
- Fare: Check the St Pancras–Gatwick Oyster or contactless fare and compare with a Thameslink ticket for your date. Do not assume it costs the same as departing from London Bridge.
- Frequency: Check departures from this station for your date; intervals vary with the time and scheduled services.
- Operating hours: Check overnight trains and planned works for your date. Overnight services do not guarantee a departure at the time you need.
Night-time options for reaching Gatwick
For an overnight journey, first find an actual train to Gatwick and its departure station. Then plan how to get there: a night bus is no use as a connection if no suitable train follows. Two examples from the night bus network:
- N38 bus: connects Walthamstow with Victoria. It does not depart from Trafalgar Square; check your stop and direction on the official route.
- N343 bus: connects the Trafalgar Square area with New Cross via London Bridge. It does not start at Aldgate; check the current route and stops.
Thameslink does not depart from London Victoria. For its Gatwick trains, check stations such as London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon or St Pancras. At Victoria, look for Southern or Gatwick Express and verify that a service runs when you need it. If no train works, compare an available coach departure or a pre-booked transfer.
Additional tips for travelling to Gatwick
- Oyster and contactless: accepted on Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink services to Gatwick, but still compare prices. Touch in and out with the same card or device: a physical card and that card on a phone count separately. Gatwick is outside Zones 1–6; a Travelcard for those zones alone does not cover the whole journey, and the Zones 1–6 cap should not be applied to this trip.
- Groups and luggage: compare the whole group’s cost, including available discounts and child tickets, with individual card payments. Buying ahead does not guarantee a seat on Thameslink, which does not offer seat reservations. Allow space and time for moving luggage too.
- 2FOR1 offers: eligibility depends on the ticket, date and attraction’s conditions. Oyster and contactless are not accepted as proof of rail travel for these offers; a valid National Rail ticket may qualify if it meets the conditions. Gatwick Express and Thameslink are not excluded simply because of the operator.
North Terminal or South Terminal?
The railway station is at the South Terminal. For a flight from the North Terminal, take the free inter-terminal shuttle: the ride takes about two minutes, plus walking and waiting time. Confirm your terminal on your flight booking; arriving at the airport station is not the same as reaching check-in.
How to avoid an unnecessary change
- Near Victoria: compare Southern and Gatwick Express from the same station, including fare, stops and arrival time.
- Near London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon or St Pancras: check direct Thameslink trains before heading to Victoria.
- Early flight: work backwards from the time you need to be at your terminal, finding a real train departure and an available connection from your accommodation.
Planning your journey
Although the Underground does not reach Gatwick directly, combining it with Gatwick Express or Thameslink provides a convenient airport connection.
Choose a suitable nearby railway station, use the Underground connections available and plan ahead for a straightforward journey. Have a good trip!
Last reviewed: 16 October 2026.
This entry is also available in: