Gatwick to Heathrow

How much time do you need between flights?

More than the drive suggests. On arrival at Gatwick, you pass through UK border control, collect your checked bags and walk to the car; that can take anything from half an hour to well over an hour. The drive is about an hour, longer on a Friday afternoon or when the M25 is busy. At Heathrow, most airlines close bag drop about an hour before a long-haul departure, and security can be slow at peak times.

We suggest at least four hours between your scheduled landing at one airport and your departure from the other, and five for a long-haul connection at a busy time. If your two flights are on separate tickets, the second airline will not wait if the first is late, so a generous gap protects you.

Do you need to enter the UK to change airports?

Yes. Changing between Gatwick and Heathrow means passing through UK border control, which the government calls landside transit, even if you leave the country the same day. Depending on your nationality, that means you may need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before you travel. Check the rules for your passport on GOV.UK well in advance; airlines check them before you board.

Which route does the chauffeur take?

From Gatwick, the car joins the M23 north, then the M25 anticlockwise round the south-west of London, past the M3 junction, to the M4 spur and Heathrow. The route goes nowhere near central London, and on a clear road it is steady motorway all the way.

The stretch of the M25 between the M23 and the M4 is one of the busiest in the country, and an incident can add time quickly. The chauffeur checks it before leaving and, if it is blocked, may use the A3 and local roads instead. Your fixed price does not change with the route.

Car or airport coach?

Scheduled coaches run between Gatwick and Heathrow throughout the day. They are cheaper per person, but they run to a timetable, stop at several terminals, and can take longer than a car, especially if you have just missed one.

A private car leaves as soon as you reach it, goes directly to your departure terminal, and waits for you if your flight is late. For two or more travellers, or for a tight connection, the difference in cost is often worth the certainty.

Which terminals are involved?

Gatwick has the North and South terminals; Heathrow has Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Tell us both when you book. The chauffeur meets you in the arrivals hall of your Gatwick terminal and drops you at the departures kerb of your Heathrow terminal, which saves a transfer between terminals at either end.

What if the first flight is delayed?

The chauffeur follows your arriving flight and adjusts the pickup automatically. If the delay threatens your connection, we will tell you as soon as it becomes clear, so you can talk to your second airline about options while there is still time. The fixed price covers the extra waiting.

Can you do the connection in the other direction?

Yes. From Heathrow to Gatwick, the route runs clockwise round the M25, and the timings and the advice about connection time are the same. The chauffeur meets you in arrivals at your Heathrow terminal and drops you at the North or South Terminal at Gatwick.

Travelling with children or needing assistance?

A connection between airports is harder with young children or with a passenger who needs help. Tell us the children’s ages and we will fit suitable seats, so there is no delay in the car park. If a passenger has booked special assistance with the airlines, the assistance staff at Gatwick will bring them to the arrivals area, where the chauffeur will be waiting, and at Heathrow the chauffeur can take you to the assistance point for your departing flight rather than the general kerb.

Should you stay a night between the two flights?

If your first flight lands in the evening and your second leaves the next morning, a night in a hotel near your departure airport is the sensible plan. It turns a stressful same-day connection into two easy journeys. We can take you from Gatwick to a hotel near Heathrow that evening, and the hotel’s own shuttle or a short car ride will take you to the terminal the next morning. On quiet evening roads, the drive between the two airports often takes under an hour.

What does the price include?

The journey, the parking at the arrival airport while the chauffeur waits, and the drop-off charge at the departure airport: £7 at Heathrow or £10 at Gatwick. It does not change if the first flight is late or the M25 is slow.