Private Transfer from Cardiff to Gatwick

One of the few downsides of living in or near to the great city of Cardiff is the lack of a major international airports with good connections to Europe and the rest of the world. London Gatwick is a fair way from south Wales so you have to decide whether to travel by bus, rail, your own car or a Private Transfer from Cardiff to Gatwick

Gatwick Airport (which is also known as London Gatwick) is situated near Crawley, West Sussex, England, 30 miles south of Central London.

It is the second-busiest airport by total passenger traffic in the UK, after Heathrow Airport and offers a large selection of national, low cost and charter flights all over the world.

Gatwick Airport Terminals

London Gatwick airport has two terminals, the North Terminal and the South Terminal and operates as a single-runway airport.

The Gatwick South Terminal normally deals with most of the airport’s traffic and is the original terminal at the airport. One of the most popular airlines British Airways fly’s from the South Terminal. It’s connected to the North Terminal by a shuttle system but this is only accessible before security. Check in desks are located on level 2 at Gatwick’s South Terminal.

The North Terminal is home to the world’s largest passenger air bridge which connected the main part of the terminal to a new pier. The North Terminal now houses all easyJet flights as part of ongoing work to improve the services at Gatwick. Check-in is located on level 2 of Gatwick’s North Terminal. During the Covid-19 pandemic all flights are operating from the North Terminal.

Coach from Cardiff to Gatwick Airport

National Express coaches travel from Sophia Gardens bus station in Cardiff to Gatwick Airport 3 times a day, from £9 one-way in non Covid-19 times. Sophia Gardens Coach Station is a 20-minute walk from Cardiff Central Rail Station passing by many shops, restaurants and Cardiff Castle. You can also reach the bus station by bus or by taxi. There is a dedicated taxi rank if you are arriving at the bus station.

It is currently running a reduced network however, National Express plans to add routes as Covid-19 becomes under control and more demand from passengers.

The fastest coach journey from Cardiff to London Gatwick Airport is 5h 15m but the journey can take longer due to traffic.

Cardiff to Gatwick route stops include Newport, Chepstow, Bristol Coach Station, Heathrow Airport London (Terminals 2, 3) and Gatwick Airport London (North and South Terminals).

Train from Cardiff to Gatwick Airport

The average journey time between Cardiff Central and Gatwick Airport is 4 hours 30 minutes. On an standard (non Covid-19) weekday, there are 48 trains travelling from Cardiff Central to Gatwick Airport. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays.

It is not possible to travel from Cardiff Central to Gatwick Airport without having to change trains. The fastest route from Cardiff Central to Gatwick Airport is via Reading and takes around 3 hours. The waiting time at Reading is normally around 15 minutes. This fast route uses Great Western Railway

The cost of travelling from Cardiff to London Gatwick can vary enormously. Prices start at £85 for a pre-booked return ticket and it usually more expensive when purchased closer to the day of travel. Prices can also change depending the time of day, route and class you book.

The railway station is located at the South Terminal, just a short walk from both departures and arrivals. The station is accessible from the North Terminal by a free shuttle.

Driving from Cardiff to Gatwick Airport

The fastest driving time from Cardiff Central to Gatwick Airport in Horley, Sussex is 3 hours and 5 minutes to cover the 162 miles. However, expect the journey to take longer due to the roadworks on motorway, bad weather and accidents.

The journey is quite straightforward from the centre of Cardiff:

Follow North Rd/A470 and Eastern Ave/A48 to A48(M) – 13 min (7.0 mi)
Take M4 and M25 to Reigate Hill/A217 in Surrey. Take exit 8 from M25 – 2 hr 29 min (147 mi)
Follow A217 to London Rd/A23 in Horley – 18 min (8.7 mi)

Unless you are truly fortunate and have a friend or family member to give you a lift then you will need to use airport parking at Gatwick Airport. There are several options:

Official Gatwick Airport Parking Options

Short stay parking – Park minutes away from the terminal
Long stay parking – A budget-friendly parking option
Premium parking close to the terminal
Valet parking where you can hop straight in the car on your return

Details on these London Gatwick parking options can be found here: https://www.gatwickairport.com/parking/

London Gatwick’s Approved Off-Airport Parking Scheme

The list approved operators are:

Cophall Parking
Help Me Park
I Love Meet & Greet
Maple Manor
Purple Parking
Ace Meet & Greet
Tudor Rose

There are also a number non-approved parking operators that we do not recommend using.

London Gatwick Hotel Parking

It is sometimes cheaper to book a hotel with parking than it is to book car parking on its own.

The hotels with parking located at the airport are:

Bloc hotel – A cutting edge hotel with a runway view
Hampton by Hilton – A welcoming hotel, just minutes from Gatwick’s North Terminal
YOTELAIR – The perfect haven for travellers if you are travelling to or from the South Terminal

There are also numerous hotels available near to Gatwick Airport that can be booked using an online platform such as Booking.com