Gatwick is 45 km from central London, so prices vary significantly depending on your transport choice. Here is a complete breakdown.
Train prices from Gatwick
| Service | Destination | Single fare | Journey time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gatwick Express | Victoria | Check gatwickexpress.com | 30 min |
| Thameslink | Blackfriars / St Pancras | Check thameslinkrailway.com | 35–50 min |
| Southern | Victoria / Clapham Jct | Check southernrailway.com | 35–45 min |
Fixed-price private transfer
LGW Canary Wharf
From€172for 2 passengers
4 passengers: €172 per vehicle, about €43 per person
- Fixed price, no meter
- Flight tracked
- 60 min free waiting
- Driver meets you at arrivals
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup
Other destinations
We do not print rail fares for this route. None of the three operators publishes a fixed single fare on its website — you get a price through the booking engine, and it moves with ticket type and how far ahead you buy. What London Gatwick does state is that booking Gatwick Express online in advance, directly with the operator, saves 10%. Off-peak Thameslink and Southern tickets are the cheapest rail options. Use a contactless card or Oyster for onward Tube travel.
Road transport prices
| Option | To central London | To Canary Wharf | To Heathrow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked transfer | Fixed, quoted at booking | Fixed, quoted at booking | Fixed, quoted at booking |
| Black cab / taxi | Metered | Metered | Metered |
| Uber | Quoted in the app | Quoted in the app | Quoted in the app |
| National Express coach | Check the operator | N/A | Check the operator |
Only the transfer column is a real price, because it is fixed and quoted when you book. Gatwick taxis are licensed by Crawley Borough Council, not TfL, so the London taxi rates TfL publishes do not apply and no equivalent range is published for Gatwick — ask the driver for an estimate first. Uber and National Express both price dynamically through their own apps and sites.
The group maths
For solo travellers, the train is clearly cheapest. But for groups, the calculation shifts:
| Group size | Transfer (total) | Transfer per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | Fixed, quoted at booking | Fixed, quoted at booking |
| 2 people | Fixed, quoted at booking | Fixed, quoted at booking |
| 3 people | Fixed, quoted at booking | Fixed, quoted at booking |
| 4 people | Fixed, quoted at booking | Fixed, quoted at booking |
A transfer is a per-vehicle price, so it splits; train tickets do not. Look up the live Gatwick Express or Southern fare, multiply by your group size, and compare it against the per-person column above. At 3–4 people a private transfer usually becomes competitive — and you get door-to-door service instead of navigating Victoria Station and the Tube with luggage.
Hidden costs to factor in
- Tube fare from Victoria to your hotel: GBP 3.00 off-peak or GBP 3.10 peak, pay as you go, for a journey within Zone 1 (more if your hotel is further out)
- Taxi from Victoria to your hotel: metered on the TfL tariff — short central runs are a few pounds, with a GBP 4.40 minimum fare
- Luggage trolley at Gatwick: free, but availability varies
- Congestion charge for cars entering central London: GBP 18 a day if paid on the day or in advance, GBP 21 if paid late. It runs 07:00–18:00 Monday to Friday and 12:00–18:00 at weekends and on bank holidays — it is not a weekday-only charge
When a private transfer from LGW is the right choice
- Three or more people: a 4-seat car to Canary Wharf is from €172, about €43 per person, usually level with or below separate public-transport tickets once you count the walk, the wait and the last mile with bags.
- Going to a specific address rather than the main station: the car goes to the door, so the public-transport fare is not the whole cost of the trip.
- Arriving tired or late: the driver waits at arrivals with your name, included for 60 minutes after landing.
LGW → Canary Wharf from €172Fixed price, flight tracked, free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup.