Gatwick Airport to London Victoria Trains From £12.50*

There are two train services connecting Gatwick Airport to London Victoria, taking about 30 minutes to reach the city. See below for details on choosing the best option for your trip.

• Southern is often the cheaper option, with tickets starting from about £10 if booked in advance. It also offers a first-class option with roomier seats and larger tables in a dedicated carriage for a guaranteed quiet journey. 
• Gatwick Express connects Gatwick and  London Victoria directly, with no intermediate stops. The train is very efficient and fast, with plenty of space for work in both standard and first class.

Reach London from Gatwick comfortably by train. You will travel south across the River Thames and through South London. 

Gatwick Airport: Getting to the Platform

Gatwick Airport station is directly beneath the South Terminal. Follow signs for "Rail" once inside the terminal building – lifts and escalators will bring you down to the concourse level. The station has seven platforms. Platforms 5 and 6 are usually dedicated to Gatwick Express services, platform 6 serves southbound services towards Brighton, and platforms 1 to 4 handle Southern. The ticket office and self-service machines are on the departure concourse and are staffed 24 hours a day. If in doubt, you can ask for information at the passenger assistance meeting point at the assistance desk on the main departure concourse. Left luggage is not available at the station itself — for luggage storage, you will need to use the facilities available inside the airport terminal.

Onboard trains from Gatwick Airport to London Victoria

At around 30 minutes on the Gatwick Express and under 40 on Southern, this is a short commute — enough time to clear your inbox, grab a coffee from the café, or just decompress after a long-haul flight. The route heads north from the Surrey countryside into the south London suburbs, reaching the rooftops and railway viaducts as the city tightens around the train.

The scenic side

The route from Gatwick passes through suburban South London, calling at East Croydon and Clapham Junction on some services, offering an honest peak on the city's southern areas— red-brick terraces, Victorian railway arches, and glimpses of parks breaking through the urban grain. It is not a scenic route in the traditional sense, but it is quintessentially London.

Arriving at London Victoria

London Victoria is one of London's busiest termini, located in the City of Westminster immediately south of Victoria Street, right in the heart of one of London's most visited neighbourhoods. Step off the train and you are minutes from royal London — Buckingham Palace, St James's Park, and Westminster are all within easy walking distance.

The correct exit

Victoria is effectively two stations in one. Platforms 1–8 on the left side of the concourse primarily serve Southeastern trains toward Kent, while platforms 9–19 on the right serve Southern and Gatwick Express services. Arriving from Gatwick, you will be on the Southern/Gatwick Express side. From there:

• Buckingham Palace Road exit: The side exit onto Buckingham Palace Road is directly adjacent to the Gatwick Express and Southern platforms (15–19). This exit is the quickest route on foot to Buckingham Palace and the Queen’s Gallery.
• Main front exit (Victoria Street / Wilton Road): The principal exit leads onto Victoria Street and the main bus station forecourt — best for onward buses, the Underground, or heading towards Westminster and the West End.
• Hudson's Place exit: A secondary exit to the north of the concourse, useful if heading towards Belgravia or picking up a cab without queuing at the main taxi rank.

Onward travel

• London Underground: Victoria station is served by the Victoria, District, and Circle lines, connecting you directly to King's Cross, Oxford Circus, Paddington, and the whole of central London. The Underground entrance is just outside the main front exit.
• Buses: Victoria Bus Station, directly outside the main exit, is one of London's principal bus hubs with routes across the city and to Victoria Coach Station for national and international coach services.
• Taxis: A large taxi rank is located outside the main front entrance on Wilton Road.

Walkability