Bexley, on the right side of the M25

How quick is Gatwick from Bexley?

Quicker than from much of inner London. The usual route joins the M25 at Swanley and runs clockwise to the M23 junction, about 39 miles in total. Off-peak, the drive takes around 47 minutes; in the weekday rush, allow about an hour.

The M25 between Swanley and Reigate is busy but usually keeps moving, and the M23 is a short final stretch to the terminals. Chauffeurs check for closures before setting off, because a stationary M25 is the one thing that can turn a quick journey into a long one, and the alternative routes through Croydon are much slower.

Tell us your terminal, North or South, and the chauffeur will go straight to the correct drop-off zone. The Gatwick drop-off charge is part of your fixed price.

Is London City the easiest airport from here?

For the routes it serves, it usually is. The terminal in the Royal Docks is about 12 miles from Bexleyheath and takes around 24 minutes via the A2 and the Blackwall Tunnel approach, or about half an hour at busy times. The Blackwall Tunnel is the pinch point; chauffeurs sometimes use the Woolwich Ferry area routes or the Silvertown Tunnel if it offers a clearer run on the day.

London City’s compact terminal suits business travellers and short breaks with hand luggage. For a morning flight to a European city, you can leave Bexley later than for any other airport and still be there comfortably ahead of the airline’s deadline.

What does a Heathrow journey involve?

Time. Heathrow is on the opposite side of London, and the fastest route from Bexley often goes all the way round the M25 rather than through the centre. Our routing data puts it at about 62 miles and 70 minutes off-peak, rising to an hour and a half in the rush. A central route along the A2 and the A4 is shorter in miles but can be slower in practice.

For a long-haul departure, we suggest a pickup around four hours before the flight. That covers the drive, the drop-off, check-in and security with enough margin for the M25 to have a bad day.

The rail alternative is the Elizabeth line from Abbey Wood, which runs straight to Heathrow without a change. It is a long ride, but with light luggage and a daytime flight, it is a real option, especially if someone can drop you at the station.

Can you take me to Biggin Hill or Southend?

Yes. London Biggin Hill, the business aviation airport in the neighbouring borough of Bromley, is about 19 miles and roughly half an hour away. For a private flight, tell us the handling agent and the chauffeur will go directly to the right building.

Southend is about 33 miles away via the Dartford Crossing and the A13, around 47 minutes. The Dartford Crossing charge, when the route uses it, is included in your fixed price.

What should you tell us for a Bexley pickup?

Most Bexley homes have a driveway or a quiet residential street outside, which makes pickups simple. The details that help are the house number and, where there is one, the name of the close or the service road. Several roads in Sidcup, Welling and Bexleyheath share a name with a road in the neighbouring borough, and a clear postcode avoids confusion.

For flats in Thamesmead or the new riverside blocks in Erith, give us the building name and the entrance with the easiest kerb. If you have a lot of luggage and live on an upper floor, mention it; the chauffeur will come up to help rather than wait at the car.

Which car suits a trip from Bexley?

The Mercedes E-Class suits one or two travellers. Families flying from Gatwick with a week’s luggage should book the V-Class, which takes six passengers and six large cases. For a golf trip or a ski holiday, mention the equipment when you book, because a golf bag or a pair of ski bags can take the space of two suitcases.

If you are heading to Dover or Southampton for a cruise, the V-Class is also the usual choice, since cruise luggage tends to be generous.