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Short answer: a taxi from Gatwick to central London costs from £75 fixed when pre-booked, roughly £90 to £130 if you negotiate with a black cab at the rank, and £75 to £120 on a ride-hailing app before surge. The journey is about 28 miles up the M23 and A23 and takes 60 to 90 minutes. Gatwick sits outside Greater London, which changes how cabs price the trip.
Gatwick is the awkward one. It is far enough out that fares are substantial, and it sits beyond the boundary where London taxi rules apply, so the rank is a negotiation rather than a regulated meter reading. Knowing that before you land is worth about £30.
Why Gatwick prices differently from Heathrow
London black cabs are licensed to work within Greater London. Inside that boundary a driver must accept your fare and run the meter. Gatwick is outside it, so a journey from the airport into town is treated as a private hiring. The driver can decline it, or agree a price with you at the kerb.
In practice that means haggling after a flight with no reference figure. Most drivers land somewhere between £90 and £130. You have no way to judge whether that is fair until later, and if the meter runs instead, motorway traffic can push the total past £150.
This is the core reason pre-booking matters more at Gatwick than at Heathrow, where the meter at least gives you a regulated number. A fixed Gatwick airport taxi removes the conversation entirely.
Fares by destination
| Destination | Miles | Typical time | Fixed price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Croydon, Sutton, Bromley | 17 to 22 | 35 to 55 min | £55 |
| Clapham, Battersea, Wandsworth | 25 | 55 to 80 min | £70 |
| Victoria, Westminster, West End | 28 | 60 to 90 min | £75 |
| The City, King’s Cross, Shoreditch | 31 | 65 to 100 min | £85 |
| Canary Wharf, Stratford | 34 | 70 to 105 min | £90 |
| Heathrow Airport | 45 | 60 to 90 min | £85 |
Prices are per vehicle. Flying on from Heathrow the same day? See fixed rates for Heathrow to Gatwick, which is the same road in reverse.
North Terminal or South Terminal
Gatwick has two terminals joined by a free shuttle that takes about 90 seconds. It matters for two reasons.
First, the rail station is at South Terminal only. If you land at North and plan to take the train, that is an extra leg with your luggage before you even start. Second, a pre-booked driver needs to know which terminal you are arriving at, because meeting you at the wrong one costs everybody twenty minutes.
Give the terminal at the time of booking, and if your airline changes it close to departure, send us a message rather than assuming it will sort itself out.
Taxi against the train
Gatwick has good rail links, so the honest comparison depends on group size. The Gatwick Express runs non-stop to Victoria in about 30 minutes for roughly £20 per person. Thameslink and Southern are slower by a few minutes and cheaper, from about £13, and reach London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras.
- One person, hand luggage, going to Victoria: the train wins clearly.
- Two people: around £40 by rail, plus the last leg to your actual address.
- Three or four with suitcases: £60 to £80 by rail against £75 in one car, door to door, no changes.
- Five or more: one vehicle is comfortably cheaper than the tickets alone.
Rail also stops running usefully late at night, and Gatwick takes a lot of late arrivals. If you land after 23:30, check the timetable before assuming the train is an option.
Charges to check are included
- Gatwick drop-off charge, around £6, payable when a vehicle enters the terminal forecourt on your journey to the airport.
- Terminal parking when a driver meets you inside arrivals.
- Congestion Charge, £18 per day, for central London destinations during charging hours.
- Waiting time if there is no free allowance after landing.
All four are inside our quoted price. If you are comparing operators, ask specifically about them, because a £65 headline can become £90 by the kerb.
Book before you fly
Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name board, at whichever terminal you land at. Flight tracking, terminal parking and an hour of free waiting are included, and the price is fixed at booking.
Call 020 8150 6922 Get a fixed quote
Also see our UK airport transfers, vehicle options and taxi costs from every London airport.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from Gatwick to central London?
From £75 fixed for a saloon carrying up to four passengers. A negotiated black cab typically runs £90 to £130, and ride-hailing sits between the two before surge is applied.
How long does the journey take?
Around 28 miles and 60 to 90 minutes to central London via the M23 and A23. Allow 90 minutes or more during weekday rush hours and on Friday evenings.
Do black cabs have to take you from Gatwick?
No. Gatwick lies outside Greater London, so the trip is a private hiring rather than a regulated fare. A driver can decline it or negotiate a price at the kerb.
Which terminal should I give when booking?
Whichever one your flight arrives at, North or South. They are connected by a free shuttle, but your driver needs the correct terminal to meet you without delay. Tell us if it changes.
Is a taxi worth it if the Gatwick Express is faster?
For one person heading to Victoria, usually not. For groups, late arrivals, or any destination that is not near Victoria, a car is door to door with no changes and no per-person ticket.
What if my flight is delayed?
We track it and move the pickup automatically, at no extra cost, with an hour of free waiting after landing. That is the main practical difference from booking a car once you have already landed.
