Heathrow to Gatwick - Inter-Airport direct bus service
Heathrow to Gatwick & Gatwick to Heathrow - timetables, fares & online booking
The best way to travel between Gatwick and Heathrow by bus
When travelling between Gatwick and Heathrow, there is only one popular and the most reliable option. National Express is by far the most reliable coach service operator. The coach service provides about a 100 services on a daily basis and most schedules are run on a 24/7 basis. If you have endeavours of travelling Heathrow and Gatwick Airports, this is the shuttle service that is worth relying upon. Some travellers may prefer booking a private vehicle as opposed to booking a coach. However, booking one of the coach services is usually advantageous. Coach Service operators such as National Express have a vast array of services that come with booking their shuttle. Depending on the bus that you board, you may be entitled to free wireless internet. Some coaches also provide special seats or spaces for passengers who are physically crippled. National Express coaches are modern and high quality coaches that are equipped with a toilet and an increased leg room for the comfort all the passengers. The coach ride takes between 65 and 95 minutes.
Gatwick Airport has a two main passenger terminals which are located in the south and the north. The coach picks up passengers from both the South and North Terminals. Taking a coach at Heathrow is rather complicated because all coaches make their way to the central bus station. This is where the terminals 1 and 3 can be found. Some coach services do not make stops at all the terminals at the two airports. However, National Express makes stops at all the terminals. If you travelling to a hotel, it is important to bear in mind the fact that National Express coaches do not make stops at hotels or lodges.
There is no direct train between the two airports. Therefore, it is advisable to book a coach when you are travelling between the airports Gatwick and Heathrow. However, there is a combined connection (by train and underground). The option usually takes a much longer time than the coach does; a total of 2-3 hours is usually the time it takes for the train to travel between the two airports. The journey is not as convenient as it may sound. This is particularly because of the time it takes to reach one destination between the two airports. Apart from the time taken, there is also the issue of moving luggage up the escalators as well as stairs.
Booking a coach is by far the cheapest way to travel between Heathrow and Gatwick. The private vehicles are quite expensive for any lay person to afford. If you want to save enough during your travel between the two airports, booking a coach is the best. Boarding a coach also exposes you to a good number of stops between the two airports. Unlike the underground and train, you only need to make one booking.
National Express coach from Heathrow to Gatwick Airport Useful links to coach timetables & fares
On this page you’ll also find:
- How to buy tickets online
- What if my flight is delayed
- Carriage of luggage & bikes
- Alternate transportation: private cars, taxis, car rentals
- Travel insurance
- Accommodation near Heathrow Airport & Gatwick Airport
National Express’ coaches are high-class vehicles, equipped with toilet, air conditioning, reclining seats and radio. This carrier puts the safety and comfort of passengers in the first place, so the vehicles are equipped with a large number of safeguards. National Express uses modern vehicles with large panoramic windows and increased legroom. Some coaches on this route provide free Wi-Fi and can take passengers in wheelchairs on board the coach.
Go to National Express website to see current timetable and prices and book a ticket for your journey.
Timetables and fares...
Heathrow to Gatwick by National Express Inter-Airport service
| Nat Exp service number |
▼ | Various | ||||||||||
| Days of operation | ▼ | Monday to Friday | ||||||||||
| HEATHROW, T2, T3, T4 & T5 |
Dep. | One coach every 5 - 20 minutes, 24 / 7, about 100 links a day |
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| Days of operation | ▼ | Saturdays | ||||||||||
| HEATHROW, T2, T3, T4 & T5 | Dep. | One coach every 5 - 20 minutes, 24 / 7, about 100 links a day | ||||||||||
| Days of operation | ▼ | Sundays and Bank Holidays | ||||||||||
| HEATHROW, T2, T3, T4 & T5 | Dep. | One coach every 5 - 20 minutes, 24 / 7, about 100 links a day | ||||||||||
| GATWICK AIRPORT, North |
Arr. | From Heathrow T2 & T3 up to 80mins, from Heathrow T4 up to 60 mins, from Heathrow T5 up to 45mins | ||||||||||
| GATWICK AIRPORT, South |
Arr. | From Heathrow T2 & T3 up to 90mins, from Heathrow T4 up to 70 mins, from Heathrow T5 up to 55mins | ||||||||||
Gatwick to Heathrow by National Express Inter-Airport service
| Nat Exp service number |
▼ | Various | ||||||||||
| Days of operation | ▼ | Monday to Friday | ||||||||||
| GATWICK, South & North Term. | Dep. | One coach every 5 - 20 minutes, 24 / 7, about 100 links a day | ||||||||||
| Days of operation | ▼ | Saturdays | ||||||||||
| GATWICK, South & North Term. | Dep. | One coach every 5 - 20 minutes, 24 / 7, about 100 links a day | ||||||||||
| Days of operation | ▼ | Sundays and Bank Holidays | ||||||||||
| GATWICK, South & North Term. | Dep. | One coach every 5 - 20 minutes, 24 / 7, about 100 links a day | ||||||||||
| HEATHROW AIRPORT, T5 |
Arr. | Travel times: From Gatwick South Terminal up to 55mins, from Gatwick North Terminal up to 45mins | ||||||||||
| HEATHROW AIRPORT, T4 |
Arr. | Travel times: From Gatwick South Terminal up to 70mins, from Gatwick North Terminal up to 60mins | ||||||||||
| HEATHROW AIRPORT, T2 & T3 | Arr. | Travel times: From Gatwick South Terminal up to 90mins, from Gatwick North Terminal up to 80mins | ||||||||||
Bus and coach boarding points
| HEATHROW AIRPORT, T2 & T3, Central Bus Station |
| HEATHROW AIRPORT, T4, Arrivals Forecourt |
| HEATHROW AIRPORT, T5, Arrivals Level |
| GATWICK AIRPORT, (South), Lower Forecourt |
| GATWICK AIRPORT, (North), Lower Forecourt |
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Gatwick North Terminal - National Express coach services arrive and depart from the lower level, outside International Arrivals. Ticket office is inside the terminal at International Arrivals. Transit train is on upper level and connects with the south terminal. |
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Gatwick South Terminal - National Express coaches arrive and depart from the lower forecourt at stops 16 & 17. Escalators, lifts, ramps and travelators make it easy to get between the forecourt and the terminal. Ticket offices are in Arrivals and the lower forecourt area. |
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Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 - National Express coach services arrive and depart from the Central Bus Station which is only a 5 minute walk from the terminal buildings via the lift, escalators and travelators. |
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Heathrow Terminal 4 - National Express coach services use stops 13 and 14 right outside the terminal building at arrivals level. Free transfers to the Central Bus Station & Terminal 5 can be made at stop 7 outside arrivals. |
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Heathrow Terminal 5 - National Express coach services use stops 13 -16 right outside the terminal building at arrivals level. |
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Free travel connections between Heathrow's terminals - Take advantage of free connection services between all Heathrow Airport terminals on National Express coach services or by travelling on Heathrow Connect and Heathrow Express train services. |
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Free travel connections between Gatwick's terminals - The fast and easy way to get from one terminal to another, both are connected to an automatic shuttle "train", the route is 1.5 km, and the transit takes about 2 minutes. A "train" shuttle runs every three minutes at peak times and every six minutes during the rest of the day. |
Prices for online tickets
| National Express Inter-Airport service between Heathrow and Gatwick Airports |
Adult | Youth/Senior | Child | BOOK NOW | |||
| Single | Return | Single | Return | Single | Return | ||
| Heathrow to Gatwick |
£25 | £40 | £20 | £32.10 | £12.50 | £20 | Heathrow to Gatwick |
| Gatwick to Heathrow |
£25 | £40 | £20 | £32.10 | £12.50 | £20 | Gatwick to Heathrow |
- Age categories: Children: 3-15 years, Seniors: 60+ years. Children aged under 3 travel free.
How to buy tickets online for travel from Gatwick to Heathrow?
To purchase tickets online you can do it directly at the Europebus’s home page using a journey planner provided. You can also do it on the National Express website. Simply fill out all fields in the journey planner and follow the instructions to buy a ticket. One-way „Standard” travel ticket from Gatwick to Heathrow costs £25, Discounted tickets are also available for youths, children and seniors. Early booking is highly recommended, because the National Express route between Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport is very popular and the coaches are fully booked on some days. Buy a ticket online
What if my flight is delayed?
If you miss the coach due to a delay, approach the National Express’ staff at the Airport and they will be happy to assist. Look for National Express kiosks. There may be a fee collected.
Usually, National Express drivers will allow passengers to use the next connection. It is not mandatory, the driver has no obligation to do so if the coach has no free seats.
Carriage of luggage and bikes
With National Express you can carry two suitcases - weighing up to 20kg each - plus one small piece of hand luggage per person, which you can store onto overhead racks or under the passenger's seat. The coach driver will load and unload customers’ luggage but customers are responsible for seeing their own luggage onto and off the coach on which they are travelling. Note, over this 20 kg allowance and steep excess luggage, extra charges apply.
Of course you can take a bike but... In a bike bag as carry-on luggage, semi-dismantled, free of charge. You can take a bicycle with you as carry-on luggage free of charge on any coach, if you put it in a zip-up 'bike bag', with wheels and pedals removed and handlebars turned. Bike bags are available from most cycle shops, for example www.wiggle.co.uk
Overview of alternative transports between Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport
To/From Heathrow Airport to/from Gatwick Airport by taxi / cab...Taxis/cabs are a safe way of travelling between Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport. You can travel alone or in groups. It’s possible to book a taxi service online. |
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| Provider & online bookings | Travel time | Single |
Return |
Something you should know about... |
| minicabit.com | up to 80mins | POA | POA | Private taxis, group minibuses, low-cost shuttles |
| ResortHoppa.com | up to 80mins | POA | POA | Private taxis, group minibuses, low-cost shuttle |
To/From Heathrow Airport to/from Gatwick Airport by rented car...If you need a car, please use the information provided on the Rent a car page. There you can rent a car online with proven rental agency located throughout the United Kingdom & Europe. You'll save money because you don't have to pay commission to the agent. Car hire online |
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Travel insurance
The best way to protect against unexpected accidents is to buy travel insurance. In my opinion, that the journey was stress-free, you should never travel without travel insurance. You can insure your journey with National Express, it’s possible directly on the National Express website, during ticket purchase.
You can also insure individual with another insurer. This will be the insurance that will apply during the journey and while in a foreign country. The insurance should cover: loss of cash and goods, cancellation of travel and the main treatment abroad. If you travel several times a year and want to save money, you may want to buy an annual insurance policy. Click here to buy an insurance.
Are you looking for a budget hotel or hostel?
On our Accommodation page you can book a hotel room or place in a hostel. This is the online hotel reservation system, easy to use. With this tool you can choose from thousands of hotel offered all over the world. You also save time and money because you do not pay intermediaries.