Heathrow to Gatwick Taxi & Airport Transfers

London’s airports were not built as one system. If you need a taxi from Heathrow to Gatwick, or the other way round, you are travelling about 45 miles between them. There is no direct rail link between the two, and the coach still means hauling bags between two coach stops. A private transfer collects you inside arrivals and drops you at your departure terminal.

Heathrow to Gatwick taxi and other airport connections

Route	Typical drive	Usual road
Heathrow ↔ Gatwick	60–90 min	M25 / M23
Heathrow ↔ Stansted	75–105 min	M25 / M11
Heathrow ↔ Luton	50–80 min	M25 / M1
Gatwick ↔ Stansted	90–120 min	M25 / M11
Gatwick ↔ Luton	90–120 min	M25 / M1
Heathrow ↔ London City	60–90 min	A4 / A13 or M25

How much time do you need between flights?

For a self-connection between two airports, give yourself plenty. You need time to clear immigration and collect bags at the first airport, the road transfer, then check-in and security at the second. Unless your airline has protected the connection, we suggest at least five to six hours between scheduled landing and the next departure for Heathrow–Gatwick, and more for the longer routes.

We track the inbound flight. If it is late, the driver is told. But we cannot speed up the M25, so build the margin in when you book your flights.

What to give us

• Inbound flight number and arrival airport
• Outbound flight number, departure airport and terminal
• Number of passengers and cases
• A mobile number that works in the UK

Example: Heathrow to Gatwick connection

This is how a typical self-transfer might look for a passenger landing at Heathrow and flying on from Gatwick. Every trip is different, so use it as a guide, not a rule.

Time	What happens
10:00	Flight lands at Heathrow
10:00–11:00	Immigration and baggage reclaim
11:00	Driver meets you in arrivals
11:10–12:40	Drive to Gatwick via the M25 and M23
12:40	Drop-off at your Gatwick terminal
12:45–14:00	Check-in, bag drop and security
15:30	Onward flight departs

Popular airport transfer routes

• Heathrow to Gatwick taxi – the most booked connection, usually 60 to 90 minutes.
• Gatwick to Heathrow taxi – same route in reverse, often timed around long-haul departures.
• Luton to Gatwick taxi – around the M25 from the north side, 80 to 110 minutes.
• Luton to Heathrow taxi – via the M1 and M25, 50 to 80 minutes.
• Gatwick to Stansted taxi – the longest regular swap, allow two hours.

How to plan a self-transfer between London airports

A self-transfer is when you have booked two separate flights and need to get yourself from one airport to the other. Unlike a connection on one ticket, nobody will hold the second flight if the first one is late. That is why the planning matters more than the drive.

1. Check both terminals before you book the car.
2. Count the steps at the first airport: immigration, baggage reclaim and the walk to arrivals.
3. Add the road time from the table above, plus a buffer for the M25.
4. Allow for check-in and security at the second airport, which can be busy at peak times.
5. Book the car with both flight numbers so we can track the first one.

Minimum connection times we suggest

Route	Suggested time between landing and next departure
Heathrow to Gatwick (or reverse)	At least 5–6 hours
Heathrow to Luton or Stansted	At least 5–6 hours
Gatwick to Stansted or Luton	At least 6 hours
London City to Heathrow or Gatwick	At least 5 hours

What if your first flight is delayed?

We track your inbound flight, so the driver arrives for the actual landing time. If the delay puts your onward flight at risk, call us as soon as you can. We cannot change the airline’s rules, but we can make sure there is no wasted minute between arrivals and the departure terminal.

Luggage on airport-to-airport transfers

Self-transfer passengers usually have all their checked bags with them, sometimes for a long trip. Tell us how many large cases you have so we send a car with enough room. A family with four big cases will need an estate or MPV, and larger groups an 8-seater minibus.

Questions about airport transfers

Do you meet me inside the first airport?

Yes. Your driver waits in the arrivals hall with a name board, as with every airport collection.

Can I stop on the way?

Yes, if you have time. Tell us when you book so we can include it in the price and the timing.

Is it one price for the whole trip?

Yes. The fare covers the full journey from one terminal to the other, including airport charges.

Heathrow to Gatwick by taxi, coach or train

Option	Typical time	Changes	Luggage
Private taxi	60–90 min	None	Door to door, any amount that fits the vehicle
Direct coach	75–120 min	None, plus walks to and from coach stations	Hold space, but you carry bags to the coach
Train via central London	2 hours or more	At least one	You carry everything through stations

For a full comparison, read our guide to getting from Heathrow to Gatwick.

Which terminal at the other end?

A surprising number of connection problems come down to the wrong terminal. Heathrow has four, with Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 on separate approach roads. Gatwick has two, North and South, joined by a shuttle. Check both terminals on your airline bookings a few days before you travel, and include them in your booking so the driver heads straight to the right one.

Overnight connections

If your onward flight is the next morning, it may make sense to stay near the second airport rather than in central London. We can take you from your arrival airport to a hotel near your departure airport in the evening, then collect you in the morning for the short hop to the terminal. Ask for both journeys in one quote.

Connections involving London City or Southend

London City and Southend are on the eastern side of London, so connections to Heathrow or Gatwick cross the whole city. Allow 60 to 100 minutes on the road depending on the airports and the time of day, and build a generous buffer into your plans.

Airport transfer questions

Can you collect me from one airport and take me to a hotel near another?

Yes. This is common for overnight connections. Ask for the evening transfer and the morning drop-off in one quote.

Do I pay the airport charges at both ends?

No. Drop-off and parking charges at both airports are included in the fixed price.

What if I have a lot of luggage?

Tell us how many large cases you have. We will send an estate, MPV or minibus with room for everything.

Can I book a transfer for someone else?

Yes. Give us the traveller’s name, flight numbers and a UK mobile number, plus your own contact details.

Planning a connection in the other direction, such as Gatwick to Heathrow or Stansted to Heathrow? The same advice applies: check both terminals, allow plenty of time between flights and book the car with both flight numbers so the driver can follow your arrival.

Related pages

Heathrow taxi · Gatwick taxi · Stansted taxi · Luton taxi · Heathrow to Gatwick guide