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How To Get From Gatwick Airport to Downtown London

October 7, 2011 by The Runaway Guide 4 Comments

Low cost airlines offer deals on flights that often can’t be beat. They can afford to sell such cheap seats for a few reasons. The first is that governments often subsidize an airline’s costs in order to promote tourism. The second is that low cost carriers generally have a very low luggage weight limit, and will charge you a bundle should you go over. Finally and most inconvenient, low cost carriers use secondary airports, which are often hours away from the city center, in order to cut operating costs.

So, unless your destination is near your arrival airport, you are going to need to find a cheap ride to the city center. The high speed train is the quickest yet most expensive means. And many airports around major cities offer this. Your next option, which is substantially cheaper, is to go by bus or local train *if available. However, not all busses offer competitive fares, so be sure to check online in advance. Finally, the cheapest option is to hitchhike. Since almost everyone is going in the same direction, getting a ride with your thumb is definitely doable.

In order to better illustrate the various means of transportation and their costs, lets take a look at London’s Gatwick airport. Not only did I just do a lot of research on this airport in preparation for my arrival here, but it also epitomizes a peripheral airport’s transportation service options.

1) Gatwick Express

gatwick express train

A highspeed rail line that runs from Gatwick’s south terminal to Victoria station in central London. Though it is most expensive, at a price of 23 £, it is only a 30 minute ride. Tickets can be found for 16 £ if you buy online in advance. If you’re late to Hogwarts, this is your train.

2) First Capital Trains

first capital train from gatwick airport

Considered a local train, First Capital makes mutiple stops on its way from Gatwick to Kings Cross station. Though it is cheaper than the Express, at roughly 10 pounds, it takes around 45 minutes.

3)  National Express

the national express buss gatwick “When your life’s a mess take the National Express!”  This Bus is the most widely in used the UK and can often be the cheapest for long hauls. However, if your traveling between Gatwick and London, there are plenty of cheaper and quicker bus services out there. A one way fare from either the north or south terminal to Victoria runs at 7 pounds and takes approximately 90 minutes.

4) Mega Bus

megabus uk budget bus

Mega Bus is another popular buss company throughout the UK and offers competitive fares from Gatwick. Prices depend on the dates you travel and can range from 2 to 10 pounds.

5) Easybus

easy bus

A branch of the low cost carrier Easy Jet, EasyBus offers the lowest fare but only if you book online in advance. The starting rate is 2 pounds from Gatwick to West Brompton station and takes a reasonable 70 minutes. Careful though, like the Easy Jet, Easy Bus has a luggage limit of 23kg and if you go over, expect to pay more.

6) Hitchhike

backpackers hitchhiking north

The best way to find a ride begins on the plane. Try striking up a conversation with your neighbor and see where it takes you. If you don’t have any luck, your next best option is to ask around the parking garage. Finally, you can always stand around the airport exit. However, make sure to be discreet in order to avoid power hungry traffic cops. For more information check out, “A Guide To Hitchhiking.”

 

 

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Filed Under: Runaway's Blog Tagged: cheap flights, england, hitchhiking

Let Me Know What You Think!

  1. AJ says

    January 25, 2015 at 4:02 pm

    Hey Leif,

    Interesting post you have made bro, But I urge you to add this. I am from the UK and travel frequently, altho I have just got my driving licence I don’t use buses as much anymore.

    If you take the Stage Couch option you can pick up a Gold Mega Rider for around £11. These are very handy to have as you can travel a stupid amount of distance with it.

    I traveled from Peterborough in East Anglia to Devon in South West which is around 250 miles. I think. Plus the late night trains are easy enough to jump unless you get the bitchy ticket jockey, but you can always play the “drop your trousers” in the toilet trick which my work.

    Best times to jump the trains in London are usually around 2pm to 7pm on weekends as the ticket barriers are almost always open, but you will have to pay if you use the Underground!

    Also, if you don’t mind sleeping in a trainstation over night you should check out TheTrainLine.com and see what tickets are available, I got a ticket from Manchester in North West to Peterborough in East Anglia for around £8.. Normally a ticket would be around £40 :-)..

    Hope this helps from and would be happy to give you more info regarding travel and stuff for the UK..

    Reply
    • The Runaway Guide says

      April 20, 2015 at 9:32 am

      Hey Aj, that’s great to know. Thanks for sharing!!!

      Reply
  2. Adrian says

    June 26, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    Just a warning about Easybus. Never, ever use if you’re on a tight schedule. Often they will simply just not arrive and there are loads of reports of drivers refusing to take passengers. One (possibly dodgy) review has the driver physically attacking a customer who refused to take no for an answer given that he had a ticket and climbed on.

    Reply
    • The Runaway Guide says

      June 27, 2014 at 3:53 am

      Haha, I’ve had this experience as well with Easybus. Magnus must have been involved.

      Reply

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Who Is The Runaway Guide?

When I was 16 I ran away from home and traveled the world with nothing but the clothes on my back. Over 10 years later and I'm still "on the run," surviving in style, thriving off adventure, searching for that elusive road to enlightenment, and cultivating the life of travel that I want to live. More...

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