National Express, the UK’s main coach operator, runs regular coaches from the north and south terminals at Gatwick airport to central London.
The coach takes longer than the train, but in certain circumstances it might be more convenient.
- If your final destination is Victoria Coach Station, useful if you are taking another coach to somewhere else in the UK or mainland Europe. Victoria train and underground station is a 10-minute walk from the coach station.
- Victoria Coach Station is less hectic than Victoria Train Station during the morning or evening rush hours (around 8-9.30am and 5.30-7pm Monday to Friday). There’s a taxi rank just outside the coach station arrivals building on Eccleston Place.
- It’s also a much cheaper alternative to a taxi if there’s a train strike.
Tickets
From £10 adult, £5 child
You can book online with National Express or buy tickets at the airport. You can’t pay on the coach.
South Terminal
There are two National Express ticket offices in the South Terminal. One in the arrivals hall and another near the coach stop. Both are open from 6am-10pm. When the desk is closed there’s a 24-hour ticket inside the ticket office near the coach stop.
North Terminal
There’s a ticket office in the arrivals hall open 6am-10pm and a 24-hour ticket machine next to the office.
NB The ticket machines take debit/credit cards and UK notes and coins. They do not accept £50 notes.
Journey time & timetable
The coaches run every day except 25 December.
To central London it’s approximately 2 hours. Coaches depart approximately hourly.
View the timetable
Departure points
South Terminal
From the arrivals hall, follow the sign for ‘Buses & Coaches’. Take the lift down to Level -0.
The coach leaves from stops 1-5 on the lower forecourt.
North Terminal
From the lower forecourt outside International Arrivals
Luggage allowance
The coaches are full-size and there’s a generous luggage allowance — two medium-sized suitcases, weighing up to 20kg each, plus one small piece of hand luggage per person.
National Express Gatwick to London coach stops
See also
Last updated: 6 October 2023