Book Your Gatwick to Heathrow Transfer
Airportbee runs fixed-price, licensed transfers between Gatwick and Heathrow, with your driver tracking your inbound Gatwick flight so pickup happens when you actually land. One vehicle, no changes, and your luggage travels with you the whole way.
Get a Fixed Quote — Gatwick to Heathrow →
Quick facts
- Distance: around 25 miles direct; the road route via the M23 and M25 is typically 40–45 miles
- Typical journey time: 45–70 minutes in normal traffic; longer at peak times or with M25 disruption
- Route: M23 north from Gatwick, joining the M25 towards Heathrow
- No direct train between the two airports, but a genuinely frequent direct coach service exists
- Pickup terminals: Gatwick North or South Terminal
- Drop-off terminals: Heathrow Terminal 2, 3, 4 or 5
- Fare: fixed and confirmed before you travel — get your quote above
A Different Passenger, the Same Two Motorways
The road between Gatwick and Heathrow doesn’t care which direction you’re travelling — it’s the same M23 and M25 either way. Who’s making the journey tends to look different, though. Gatwick’s network leans heavily on leisure and European short-haul, so a lot of Gatwick-to-Heathrow passengers have just landed from a package holiday, a city break, or a regional European flight and now need Heathrow’s long-haul network for the next leg — a transatlantic or Asia-bound flight that Gatwick simply doesn’t fly as often. Others are business travellers whose meeting was closer to Gatwick, or families being dropped at Heathrow after visiting relatives near Crawley or Redhill.
That mix matters for planning, because it means a meaningful share of passengers on this route are on a self-transfer between two separately booked flights, often with checked luggage and less flexibility if something runs late. If you’re travelling the other way — dropping in at Heathrow before a Gatwick departure — the pickup and drop-off details are different enough that the Heathrow to Gatwick transfer page is written specifically for that direction rather than this one in reverse.
By road, Gatwick and Heathrow are around 25 miles apart direct, or 40–45 miles via the standard route: north on the M23 from Gatwick, joining the M25 and continuing towards Heathrow. Journey time is typically 45–70 minutes in normal traffic, but this route shares the same M25 exposure regardless of direction — the weekday morning peak (roughly 06:50–09:00), evening peak (14:30–19:00), or any M25 incident can push it well beyond an hour either way.
Pickup at Gatwick
Gatwick has two terminals — North and South — so confirm which one your flight lands at when you book; they’re a short shuttle-train ride apart, not walking distance. With Meet & Greet, your driver monitors your flight and adjusts to your actual landing time. Once you’ve cleared customs and baggage reclaim, you’ll get an Arrival SMS with your driver’s contact details, and they’ll meet you inside the terminal at the point confirmed in your booking email — if you can’t locate them, the airport information desk in the arrivals hall can help (on the left as you enter at North Terminal, in the main arrivals area at South). Meet & Greet at Gatwick costs £9, with the first 5 minutes of waiting free before the standard charge applies. See the full Gatwick Airport transfers guide for more.
Drop-off at Heathrow
Heathrow has four terminals — Terminal 2, Terminal 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 — confirm which one your onward flight uses at booking, since a wrong-terminal drop-off with a long-haul departure to catch is the last thing you want after a long transfer. See the full Heathrow Airport transfers guide for terminal-by-terminal detail.
Connecting Between Separately Booked Flights
Because Gatwick and Heathrow are different airports with no airside link, any connection between a Gatwick arrival and a Heathrow departure is a full self-transfer: clear passport control if you’ve arrived from outside the UK and Ireland, collect your baggage, travel by road, then check in and clear security again at Heathrow. Given how many passengers on this specific route are heading onto a long-haul flight — which usually means an earlier check-in cut-off and more time at the gate than a short-haul departure — it’s worth allowing extra margin rather than cutting it close.
There’s no fixed number that works for everyone, but many travellers making this journey with checked baggage and a long-haul connection allow a minimum of around 4–5 hours between landing at Gatwick and their Heathrow departure, more during school holidays or predictable M25 congestion. Always check your airline’s own connection guidance — Airportbee’s flight monitoring keeps your pickup accurate, but it can’t guarantee a separately ticketed onward flight.
What Happens If My Flight Is Delayed?
If your inbound Gatwick flight runs late, flight monitoring means your driver adjusts to your actual landing time automatically — a delay doesn’t mean a missed pickup. What it can’t do is hold a long-haul Heathrow departure for you; that’s down to your airline’s own policy, particularly if the two flights aren’t on one through ticket.
Coach Is a Genuinely Strong Alternative on This Route
Unlike some of Airportbee’s other airport pairs, there’s no need to hedge on this one: National Express runs a frequent, direct coach service between Gatwick and Heathrow, calling at both Gatwick terminals and most Heathrow terminals, with dozens of departures a day rather than a handful. Journey time is typically 70–105 minutes including the stop pattern — longer than a private transfer, but a genuinely practical option for a solo traveller without checked luggage or a tight connection. There’s still no direct train on this pair; rail options involve routing through central London and are rarely competitive on time for this specific journey. For anyone with bags, a family, or a long-haul connection to protect, the private transfer avoids the coach’s multiple stops and luggage handling.
Gatwick to Heathrow Transfer Price
Airportbee runs fixed fares for every booking channel — phone, app, live chat, email or online — so the price you’re quoted is the price you pay, regardless of traffic on the day. Get your live fixed quote through the booking engine below.
Get Your Fixed Gatwick to Heathrow Quote →
Vehicles for This Journey
A Saloon suits most solo and business travellers on this route. Given how many passengers are connecting onto long-haul flights with more luggage than a short-haul hop, an Estate or 6-Seater is worth considering if you’ve got more than a couple of cases. Groups can use the 8-Seater, and the Executive option is available for a more comfortable ride ahead of a long flight.
Why Book Airportbee
- Fixed price agreed before you travel — M25 traffic on the day doesn’t change what you pay
- Flight monitoring on your Gatwick landing and your booking details
- Meet & Greet available at both Gatwick and Heathrow
- Fully licensed, TfL-authorised vehicles and PCO-certified drivers
- 24/7 booking and support, 365 days a year
Gatwick to Heathrow FAQs
How far is Gatwick from Heathrow?
Around 25 miles direct. By road, via the M23 and M25, it’s typically 40–45 miles.
How long does it take to get from Gatwick to Heathrow?
A private transfer usually takes 45–70 minutes in normal traffic. Allow longer during the weekday morning or evening peak, or if there’s an incident on the M25.
Is there a coach from Gatwick to Heathrow?
Yes — National Express runs a frequent direct service calling at both Gatwick terminals and most Heathrow terminals, with journey times typically 70–105 minutes. It’s a genuinely practical option if you’re travelling light without a tight connection.
Is there a direct train from Gatwick to Heathrow?
No. Rail options route through central London and aren’t competitive on time for this specific journey.
How much time should I allow if I’m connecting onto a long-haul flight from Heathrow?
Because Gatwick and Heathrow have no airside link, this is always a self-transfer — clear passport control if arriving internationally, collect baggage, travel by road, then check in again. Many travellers with checked luggage allow a minimum of 4–5 hours given long-haul check-in typically opens earlier, with more during peak traffic periods. Always check your airline’s own guidance.
Which Gatwick terminal will I be picked up from?
Confirm North or South at booking — they’re a short shuttle-train ride apart, not walking distance, so getting this right matters.
How much does a transfer from Gatwick to Heathrow cost?
Airportbee runs fixed fares agreed before you travel, so the price doesn’t change with traffic on the day. Get a live quote through the booking engine for your exact route, vehicle and Meet & Greet option.
What happens if my flight into Gatwick is delayed?
Airportbee tracks your flight and adjusts your pickup to your actual landing time, so a delay doesn’t mean a missed pickup.
Book your fixed-price Gatwick to Heathrow transfer today — flight-monitored, door-to-door, no surprises at the terminal.
