Heathrow to Gatwick.
Plan your connection with confidence.
Book a private car from your Heathrow arrival terminal to Gatwick North or South Terminal. Check your connection time, choose room for your passengers and bags, and review your quote before confirming.
Private vehicle · Heathrow flight monitoring · North or South Terminal
How far is Gatwick, and how long should you allow?
Heathrow publishes an approximate road distance of 42 miles / 68 km. Your actual route depends on the arrival terminal, Gatwick terminal and road conditions.
As a working planning allowance, use around 60–90 minutes for the drive, then check a current route estimate for your travel time. This is our editorial allowance, not an airport-published private-car timetable or a live traffic forecast. Busy periods and incidents can take longer.
The drive is not the full connection. Add time to leave the aircraft, pass border control, reclaim bags, meet your driver and complete Gatwick check-in and security.
Heathrow’s official inter-airport travel guide lists road distance and public-transport options.
Work backwards from your next flight
- Start with your Gatwick airline’s deadline. Check required airport arrival time, bag-drop closure and boarding-gate closure. Online check-in does not remove these deadlines.
- Add the road journey and a disruption margin. Include any agreed stops and the walk from drop-off to check-in.
- Add Heathrow arrival time. Leaving the aircraft, immigration and baggage reclaim can all vary. Include extra time if using airport assistance.
- Check the pickup arrangement. Jupiter’s published Heathrow-arrival terms normally schedule collection 60 minutes after actual touchdown. An earlier pickup needs confirmation.
A worked example—not a minimum connection time
60 minutes to leave Heathrow + 90 minutes for the drive + an airline requirement to arrive 120 minutes before departure = 4 hours 30 minutes between flights, before an extra disruption margin. Replace each allowance with your own circumstances and airline guidance.
For separate tickets, allow more flexibility: do not assume your onward airline will rebook you free of charge if the first flight is late. If your connection leaves little margin, speak to the airlines before buying the transfer.
Gatwick check-in guidance · Your airline’s deadlines take priority.
Meet at Heathrow. Arrive at the right Gatwick terminal.
Heathrow pickup
Use the terminal and meeting point in your booking confirmation. Keep your phone available after landing and contact us if baggage collection takes longer or your terminal changes. Follow the Jupiter Heathrow pickup guide; do not go to a departure drop-off zone to meet your car.
Gatwick drop-off
Choose North Terminal or South Terminal using your airline itinerary. If you arrive at the wrong terminal, Gatwick has a free shuttle with an approximately two-minute ride, but walking and waiting add time. Gatwick’s railway station is at South Terminal.
Collect your bags and check UK entry requirements
This transfer takes you between two separate airports by road. Collect your checked bags at Heathrow and take them with you; do not assume they will be forwarded to Gatwick. Confirm baggage arrangements with your airline even when both flights appear on one itinerary.
Arriving internationally means this is a landside connection through UK border control. Check the permission you need to enter or transit the UK before travelling; requirements depend on your nationality and documents.
British Airways airport-change guidance · Official UK transit requirements
Private car, coach or train?
| Option | What to expect | Before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Private car | An agreed Heathrow collection point and direct transfer to your Gatwick terminal, with luggage in the chosen vehicle. | Check total fare, bag capacity and pickup timing. Road traffic still affects arrival. |
| Coach | Direct scheduled services, including National Express. Heathrow also lists FlixBus and The Airline. | Check exact boarding stop, terminal served, luggage allowance and ticket flexibility if your flight is delayed. |
| Rail | No direct airport-to-airport train. One option is Elizabeth line to Farringdon, then Thameslink to Gatwick. | You carry your bags through the interchange. Allow terminal access time, check disruption and add the shuttle for North Terminal. |
Options reviewed 13 October 2026. Compare live fares and timetables for your date; no fixed public-transport price is quoted here. Check National Express · Gatwick rail connections
Book room for bags—not just seats
Include every passenger and every suitcase, plus carry-ons, pushchairs and oversized items. A vehicle with enough seats may not have enough luggage space. Compare the vehicle and luggage guide before paying.
For child seats, give children’s ages and request a seat before travel; supply must be confirmed. If you need step-free boarding, wheelchair transport or help beyond normal collection, describe the requirement before booking and wait for confirmation of a suitable vehicle.
Have these details ready
- Heathrow flight number, arrival date and terminal.
- Gatwick departure terminal and onward flight time.
- Passenger count, luggage count and bulky items.
- A reachable mobile number with country code.
- Requested pickup adjustments, assistance or stops.
Your quote, waiting and cancellation
Review the fare for your chosen vehicle before confirming. Your quote applies to the journey details accepted by Jupiter Cars; changed stops or arrangements need agreement.
- Heathrow pickup: normally 60 minutes after actual landing. Request changes in advance; they apply only once confirmed.
- Parking: published Heathrow-arrival terms include the first 30 minutes from driver entry. A higher parking tariff can mean an additional charge.
- Waiting: published terms charge £0.40 per minute after 60 minutes from actual landing, only while the driver is present and available at the agreed point.
- Cancellation: published Heathrow-arrival terms allow free cancellation at least 12 hours before scheduled landing; later cancellation costs the full booked fare.
Check Gatwick’s drop-off charge in your quote. The published London-to-Heathrow fee inclusion does not establish whether Gatwick drop-off is included. Contact us before payment if the breakdown is unclear.
Check your confirmation against the current passenger terms.
Heathrow to Gatwick FAQs
Can I stay airside while changing airports?
No. The road transfer requires you to leave Heathrow through arrivals. International passengers must check the UK entry or transit requirements that apply to their documents.
Will my bags automatically reach Gatwick?
Do not assume so. Collect your bags before leaving Heathrow and confirm arrangements with your airline. Allow time to check them in again at Gatwick.
What if my arriving flight is delayed?
Provide your flight number for monitoring. If a delay threatens your onward flight, contact your airline as well as Jupiter Cars; a pickup adjustment cannot extend airline deadlines. Tell us promptly if your travel plans change.
Can I request pickup earlier than 60 minutes after landing?
Yes, request an adjustment before travel by WhatsApp or email. It is effective only when Jupiter Cars confirms it. Hand luggage alone does not guarantee a quick exit through immigration.
Does a quoted driving time guarantee my connection?
No. Road estimates exclude your airport procedures and can change with traffic. Plan against check-in, baggage-drop and boarding deadlines, with a disruption margin.
Can I arrange Gatwick to Heathrow as well?
Yes, use the booking form for a separate journey in the opposite direction. Check its own collection instructions and terms; Heathrow-arrival rules are not automatically Gatwick-pickup rules.
Your next airport. Your own car.
Have your flight, terminal and luggage details ready. Check your quote and book your transfer.
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