LGW · Traveller guide
Gatwick South Terminal: arrivals, pick-up and getting to London
The South Terminal is where Gatwick's railway station is, which makes it the easy terminal for trains into London. This guide covers how pick-up works at Gatwick, what the airport charges, the train options and the drive into London.
After you land
What happens after you land
After you leave the aircraft, follow the signs to passport control. Gatwick says you can use the ePassport gates if you are over 10 with a biometric passport from the UK, EU, EEA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore, South Korea or the USA, or if you are a Registered Traveller. Children aged 10 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Then collect your bags: oversized luggage is usually delivered beside the main belt for your flight. Choose the green channel if you have nothing to declare, or the red channel if you have goods to declare. Cash over €10,000 must be declared.
Gatwick's own airline list for the South Terminal includes British Airways, Air France, Air India, Aegean, Aurigny and many more. TUI flights with numbers starting BY use the South Terminal, and those starting TOM use the North. Airlines can change terminal, so check your booking.
Meeting and collection
How collection works at Gatwick
Gatwick does not name a single meeting landmark: passengers are met inside the arrivals area of each terminal, where there are coffee shops and free Wi-Fi. If a chauffeur is meeting you, they will be there with a name board.
The airport's official advice is that all pick-ups should take place in the Short Stay car parks, because collecting passengers takes longer than a drop-off. The express pick-up bay for the South Terminal is in Car Park 3, on the ground floor, and you stay with your vehicle. Gatwick's red routes do not allow stopping, unloading, waiting or parking.
The airport's own charges
These are the airport's published figures, read on 28 October 2026. They change, so use the link on each line to confirm before you rely on them.
Drop-off zones, both terminals
Official page, checked 28 October 2026£10 for the first 10 minutes, then £1 a minute up to 20 minutes; maximum £30 a day; maximum stay 30 minutes
Pay by midnight the next day. Gatwick says taxi and private hire drivers should meet you in a Short Stay car park, and other private hire operators add the drop-off charge to the fare.
Short Stay car park (for pick-ups)
Official page, checked 28 October 2026Up to 30 minutes £8.00; 31 to 60 minutes £14.00
The express bay is charged at standard Short Stay rates.
Waiting area for licensed taxi and private hire drivers (South Terminal)
Official page, checked 28 October 2026Up to 2 hours £2.00; 2 to 4 hours £4.00; 4 to 24 hours £20.00
Open 24 hours. Gatwick's approved pre-booking provider is Airport Cars Gatwick.
Getting to London
From South Terminal to central London
Typical driving times without traffic, then the train options. Allow more time at rush hour and on Friday afternoons.
By car, without traffic
| To | Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Mayfair | about 1 hr 15 min | 42 miles |
| Westminster | about 1 hr 10 min | 31 miles |
| The City (Bank) | about 1 hr 15 min | 32 miles |
| Canary Wharf | about 1 hr 5 min | 48 miles |
| King's Cross | about 1 hr 20 min | 33 miles |
Our estimates from OpenStreetMap road data at normal free-flow speeds, rounded to the nearest five minutes. They are not a promise: traffic, roadworks and the time of day change them.
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By train, coach and Tube
Gatwick Express
30 minutes to London Victoria
Non-stop, twice an hour from the South Terminal station.
Official pageSouthern and Thameslink
30 to 45 minutes to London in total
The airport quotes this range across all three services. Southern serves Victoria and Clapham Junction. Thameslink serves London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras.
Official pageContactless and Oyster
valid between Gatwick and central London
London Travelcards are not valid on this route, according to the airport's FAQ.
Official pageRight now
Weather at Gatwick
The latest report and the next twelve hours, in plain English. Strong wind, low cloud or fog can slow flights, so it is a good moment to check your flight status.
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Good to know
Assistance and useful tips
Assistance
Book assistance through your airline or travel agent, at least 48 hours ahead where you can. You can still ask at an Assisted Travel desk or help point without a booking. The South Terminal Assisted Travel reception is upstairs opposite the lifts at the end of check-in zone J and opens at 04:00 every day.
Useful to know
- Join the network 'Free Gatwick Wi-Fi' and click the button to get online.
- ChangeGroup runs 15 branches and about 70 cash machines across both terminals.
- Uber has its own signposted pick-up and drop-off areas.
- There is a free shuttle between the terminals, about two minutes, every few minutes, 24 hours a day.
Questions
South Terminal FAQs
Where does my chauffeur meet me at Gatwick South Terminal?
Can a car stop outside the terminal to collect me?
How long does it take to drive from Gatwick to central London?
How do I get to the North Terminal from the South?
Sources
Where this information comes from
Checked on 28 October 2026against the airport's own pages, TfL, rail operators and GOV.UK. Airports change terminals, charges and timetables, so confirm anything important with them before you travel.
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