Book Your Heathrow to Gatwick Transfer
Airportbee runs fixed-price, licensed transfers between Heathrow and Gatwick, with your driver tracking your inbound flight so pickup happens when you actually land — not when the schedule said you would. One vehicle, no changes, and your luggage travels with you the whole way.
Get a Fixed Quote — Heathrow to Gatwick →
Quick facts
- Distance: around 25 miles direct; the road route via the M25 and M23 is typically 40–45 miles
- Typical journey time: 45–70 minutes in normal traffic; longer at peak times or with M25 disruption
- Route: M25 then M23, with Gatwick reached via Junction 9
- No direct train between the two airports — every rail option routes through central London
- Pickup terminals: Heathrow Terminal 2, 3, 4 or 5
- Drop-off terminals: Gatwick North or South Terminal
- Fare: fixed and confirmed before you travel — get your quote above
Heathrow to Gatwick Transfer Overview
Heathrow and Gatwick sit on opposite sides of London, and there’s no motorway or rail link that connects them directly — every journey between the two goes around the M25 orbital. That makes this one of the more awkward airport-to-airport moves in the UK for anyone without their own car, which is exactly why it’s one of the most searched airport routes in the country.
Most people making this journey fall into one of three groups: passengers with a same-day connecting flight who booked separate tickets on different airlines (a self-transfer), business travellers moving between the two for meetings, or holidaymakers whose cheapest outbound and inbound flights happened to land at different airports. Airportbee covers all three with a single fixed-price, door-to-door transfer and flight monitoring built in. If you’re making the trip the other way round, the pickup and drop-off details differ enough that it’s worth looking at the Gatwick to Heathrow transfer page directly rather than assuming this page in reverse.
How Far Is Heathrow from Gatwick?
Heathrow and Gatwick are around 25 miles apart as the crow flies, but you can’t drive that route directly. By road, via the M25 and M23, the journey is typically 40–45 miles, depending on your exact terminal at each end and the route your driver takes. Actual mileage will vary slightly with live traffic and roadworks.
How Long Does Heathrow to Gatwick Take?
A private transfer between Heathrow and Gatwick typically takes 45–70 minutes in normal traffic. The M25 is one of the busiest motorways in the country, so this journey is more traffic-sensitive than most short airport hops — during the weekday morning peak (roughly 06:50–09:00) or evening peak (14:30–19:00), or after an incident on the M25, journey time can extend well beyond an hour. There’s no way to avoid the M25 on this route, so building in extra time is genuinely worthwhile rather than a standard disclaimer.
Road Route from Heathrow to Gatwick
Drivers normally use the fastest practical route based on live traffic conditions, but the standard path runs:
Heathrow → M25 (southbound) → M23 (southbound) → Gatwick, via Junction 9
The M25 is the only realistic way to cover this distance by road, which means this transfer has more exposure to motorway congestion than routes that stay on local roads. There’s no meaningful alternative route that avoids the M25 for most of the journey — if there’s a serious incident on it, delays apply regardless of which operator you book with. An experienced driver will re-route around a blocked section using live traffic data where a faster option exists, but the M25 itself can’t be avoided entirely.
How Much Time Should I Allow Between Flights?
This is the question that matters most if you’ve booked separate tickets landing at Heathrow and departing from Gatwick (or vice versa) — because unlike a same-airport connection, this is always a self-transfer. There’s no airside link between the two airports, so the full process looks like this:
- Your inbound flight lands and you disembark
- You clear UK Border Force / passport control (if arriving from outside the UK and Ireland)
- You collect your checked baggage
- You meet your Airportbee driver and travel to Gatwick
- You check in and drop your bags again for your onward flight
- You clear security
- You reach your departure gate
That’s a full re-entry into the airport system at the other end — not a quick transfer through a connections corridor. Road journey time alone (45–70 minutes) is only one part of that chain, and it’s the part most likely to be disrupted by traffic.
There’s no single “safe” number that applies to every passenger — it depends on how much luggage you’re carrying, whether you’re clearing immigration, and how much buffer your airline’s check-in cut-off requires. As a general planning guide, many travellers making this specific journey with checked baggage allow a minimum of around 4–5 hours between scheduled landing and departure, with more added during school holidays or when the M25 is known to be busy. Always check your airline’s own connection and check-in guidance, since Airportbee cannot guarantee you’ll make an onward flight on a separately booked ticket.
Pickup at Heathrow Airport
Heathrow has four passenger terminals — Terminal 2, Terminal 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 — so confirm which one you’re landing at when you book. With Meet & Greet, your driver monitors your flight and adjusts to your actual landing time rather than the scheduled one. Once you’ve cleared baggage reclaim, you’ll get an Arrival SMS with your driver’s contact details, and they’ll meet you inside the terminal at the meeting point confirmed in your booking email. Meet & Greet at Heathrow costs £9, and the first 5 minutes of waiting at pickup is free before the standard waiting-time charge applies. For wider terminal-by-terminal detail, see the full Heathrow Airport transfers guide.
Drop-off at Gatwick Airport
Gatwick has two terminals — North and South — and they’re a short shuttle-train ride apart, so it matters which one your Gatwick departure uses. Confirm this at booking so your driver takes you to the correct terminal directly rather than the wrong one. Premium Meet & Greet is available at both terminals for £9, and standard express drop-off charges apply at the terminal (set by the airport, not by Airportbee). See the full Gatwick Airport transfers guide for airline-by-terminal detail.
What Happens If My Flight Is Delayed?
If your inbound Heathrow flight runs late, Airportbee’s flight monitoring means your driver adjusts to your actual landing time automatically — you won’t be marked as a no-show because the scheduled time has passed. This matters more on this route than most, because a late landing combined with heavier M25 traffic later in the day can compound delays. What flight monitoring can’t do is guarantee your onward Gatwick departure — that’s governed by your airline’s own connection rules, particularly on a self-transfer where the two flights aren’t linked on one ticket.
Taxi vs Train vs Coach from Heathrow to Gatwick
There’s no direct train or tube line between Heathrow and Gatwick — every rail option involves travelling into central London and changing at least once, which is one reason this route generates so many “how do I get from Heathrow to Gatwick” searches. Coach services (including National Express) run direct between the two airport, without a change, and are generally the lowest-cost option — check current timetables and fares directly with the operator, as these change regularly.
| Private transfer | Coach | Train (via London) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Changes required | None | None | At least one |
| Typical time | 45–70 min | Roughly 70–105 min, plus wait for departure | Often 80–120+ min door-to-door |
| Luggage handling | Door-to-door, driver assists | Stored in coach hold, self-managed | Self-managed through interchanges |
| Best suited to | Families, groups, heavy luggage, tight connections | Solo travellers on a budget with time to spare | Rarely the practical choice for this specific pair |
For anyone with a genuinely tight self-transfer, checked luggage, or travelling as a family or group, the private transfer avoids the platform changes and walking that make the train and coach options riskier for this particular route.
Heathrow to Gatwick 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. Because fares reflect your exact pickup point, vehicle choice and any Meet & Greet option, get your live fixed quote through the booking engine below rather than relying on an estimate.
Get Your Fixed Heathrow to Gatwick Quote →
Vehicles for This Journey
Most solo and business travellers on this route are comfortable in a Saloon (up to 4 passengers, 2 suitcases). Families or anyone with extra luggage — common on this route given how many passengers are mid-connection — should consider an Estate or 6-Seater for the extra boot space. Groups travelling together can use the 8-Seater, and for a more comfortable ride between two of London’s busiest airports, the Executive option is available.
Why Book Airportbee
- Fixed price agreed before you travel — M25 traffic on the day doesn’t change what you pay
- Flight monitoring on both the Heathrow landing and your booking details
- Meet & Greet available at both Heathrow and Gatwick
- Fully licensed, TfL-authorised vehicles and PCO-certified drivers
- 24/7 booking and support, 365 days a year
Heathrow to Gatwick FAQs
How far is Heathrow from Gatwick?
Around 25 miles as the crow flies. By road, via the M25 and M23, it’s typically 40–45 miles, depending on your exact terminal at each end.
How long does it take to get from Heathrow to Gatwick?
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 direct train from Heathrow to Gatwick?
No. There’s no direct rail line between the two airports — every train route involves travelling into central London and changing at least once.
Can I get a coach from Heathrow to Gatwick?
Yes, direct coach services run between the two airports without a change, and are typically the lowest-cost option. Journey times and fares vary by operator, so check current timetables before you travel.
How much does a taxi from Heathrow to Gatwick cost?
Airportbee runs fixed fares agreed before you travel, so the price doesn’t change with traffic on the day. Get your live quote through the booking engine for your exact route, vehicle and Meet & Greet option.
How much time should I allow if I’m connecting between flights at Heathrow and Gatwick?
Because these are separate airports, any connection between them is a self-transfer — you’ll clear immigration if arriving internationally, collect your baggage, travel by road, then check in again. Many passengers with checked luggage allow a minimum of 4–5 hours between scheduled landing and departure, with more during peak periods, but always check your airline’s own connection guidance.
Where will my driver meet me at Heathrow?
Once you’ve cleared baggage reclaim, you’ll receive an Arrival SMS, and your driver will meet you inside the terminal at the point confirmed in your booking email.
Which Gatwick terminal will I be dropped at?
Gatwick has North and South Terminals. Confirm which one your departure uses when you book, so your driver takes you directly to the right one.
What happens if my flight into Heathrow 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 Heathrow to Gatwick transfer today — flight-monitored, door-to-door, no surprises at the terminal.
