Layover at London Gatwick
Everything you need to decide whether to leave the airport on a layover in London.
City centre
30 min away
Gatwick Express or Thameslink to central London
Min connection
~60 min to change flights
Left luggage
Available — drop your bags and explore.
Round trip
≈ 60 min there and back
London Gatwick to central London — about 30 min min each way. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Is it worth leaving?
As a rule of thumb, allow your round trip (about 60 minutes here) plus two hours for security and immigration on the way back. With a 6-hour layover or more you can comfortably reach London and back. With less, you're better off staying airside.
Thameslink is the cheaper route and also serves London Bridge and St Pancras.
Before you leave — check you can
Whether you can pass immigration on a layover depends on your nationality and the country's transit rules, not just your time. Always confirm with the official source for your passport before you plan to leave: UK FCDO travel advice and the United Kingdom guide.