Pre-booked journeys to and from Gatwick
National Transfer arranges Gatwick airport taxis from Crawley and the surrounding towns, with the route, vehicle and communication managed before travel. This is a pre-booked service: you choose the addresses and timing, review the fixed fare and complete payment online to confirm the booking. We are not Gatwick's official airport operator and do not operate its taxi rank.
An arrival transfer needs more than the word Gatwick in an address field. Include the terminal, flight details, passenger numbers and luggage so the booking fits the journey. For departures, work backwards from your airline's check-in requirements rather than using the flight time as the collection time. If your plans change, contact us before travelling.
North Terminal or South Terminal?
Check your terminal on your airline's booking information and current flight details. Gatwick's official terminal guide is useful for checking airport information, but your airline's latest instruction should guide you if a change is announced. Select North or South Terminal in your pickup or destination details so your driver has the correct location.
Gatwick provides a free inter-terminal shuttle between North and South. Its official guidance for travel between terminals explains the connection. The railway station is at South Terminal, so rail passengers using North need to account for the terminal transfer as well as their train journey.
If you discover you entered the wrong terminal, let us know promptly. Do not assume that a driver can meet you at a different location without an update. Clear terminal information is especially helpful for passengers travelling with children, mobility equipment or several cases, where an unnecessary change adds more than a short walk.
Where your driver meets you
With Meet & Greet (£20), your driver waits inside arrivals with a name board. Without it, you're collected from the pickup point agreed when you book, and we confirm your meeting instructions before you travel.
The agreed instructions matter more than a generic description of airport collection. Keep the telephone number on your booking available after landing, and tell us if you need assistance reaching the vehicle. For wheelchair users, arrangements should reflect both your vehicle requirements and the airport's access rules.
Gatwick's official passenger pick-up page sets out current collection arrangements. Its drop-off page explains the separate forecourt rules and charges. We link to the airport rather than repeat a charge that may change. Do not treat the drop-off zone as a general waiting or collection area.
Early-morning departures and late-night arrivals
We are available 24/7 for pre-booked travel, including the first departures and late arrivals. For an early flight, settle the collection address and passenger details in advance, and choose a pickup time that gives enough room for check-in. Availability still depends on a confirmed booking; a quotation alone does not hold a vehicle.
Late-night arrival plans should include your onward destination and a working contact number. We monitor airport pickup flights and aim to reduce disruption from delays. If the journey is long, the driver may need to set off before landing to meet your onward schedule, and we aim to keep you informed. There is no blanket promise of driver availability for flights more than six hours late; our Booking Terms say we will help arrange an alternative.
Popular Gatwick journeys
Crawley and Horley
Gatwick to Crawley and Horley journeys can finish at a home, hotel, workplace or station. Enter the full destination rather than just the town name, particularly if someone is meeting you at the other end. Our pre-booked Crawley taxi service covers local addresses and onward journeys throughout the town.
Horsham, Redhill and Reigate
For Horsham, Redhill and Reigate, a direct collection can be useful when you have luggage, children or a destination away from the station. Compare the whole journey with rail or bus, including how you reach the final address. We confirm the route and vehicle before travel without quoting an unsupported standard price for every address in a town.
London and Heathrow
A Gatwick to London taxi needs a specific destination: a hotel, office, station or residential address can involve different routing. For Gatwick to Heathrow connections, check the onward terminal and the connection time available. Allow for immigration, baggage and road conditions; no transfer provider can guarantee a flight connection against every delay. Explore our airport transfer service for other London airports and executive options.
Wheelchair accessible Gatwick taxis
Wheelchair accessible vehicles can be arranged for Gatwick arrivals and departures. Tell us the wheelchair or mobility aid details, whether the passenger remains seated in it, and what help is needed at either end. Carers or family members can travel at no extra charge, subject to the vehicle having the required passenger capacity.
Our wheelchair accessible Gatwick transport page explains the service in detail. Licensed drivers are enhanced DBS-checked and safeguarding-trained, and the booking is coordinated around the passenger's needs rather than assuming all accessible journeys are alike. Vehicle suitability should be confirmed from the equipment information you provide.
Gatwick's Assisted Travel guidance covers North and South Terminal help points, airline assistance and Blue Badge arrangements. The airport advises requesting assistance through your airline or travel agent, ideally at least 48 hours ahead. A taxi booking does not arrange airport or aircraft assistance on your behalf.
Waiting time, delays and cancellation
Airport collection includes one hour from actual flight landing before waiting charges apply, then £25 per hour pro rata. The allowance starts at landing, not when you reach arrivals. If baggage reclaim or assistance is taking longer, stay in contact so the team knows what is happening. These are the same conditions set out in the existing Booking Terms.
A cancellation made 48 hours or more before the scheduled journey is fully refunded. From 24 to 48 hours before, 50% of the fare is charged, and less than 24 hours before, the full fare is charged. Please contact us early if you need to cancel or revise the trip. No-shows with no contact after the airport waiting period attract the full fare under the terms.
Pre-booking versus the airport taxi rank
Pre-booking gives you an agreed route, a confirmed vehicle category and a price before payment. It can help when accessible transport, luggage capacity or a particular onward schedule needs attention. It does not make roads immune to traffic, and you should still allow a sensible contingency before a flight or appointment.
A taxi rank can suit someone who has not arranged onward travel and wants to discuss a journey on arrival. Availability and price are matters to establish with that operator. We do not claim our service is always cheaper, that the rank always has a queue, or that a rank vehicle will meet every accessibility requirement. Rail and bus can also be practical where the timetable and final destination fit.
The Northern Runway and your transfer today
Our Gatwick second runway timeline explains the approved project and what remains ahead. Planning decisions alone do not change your flight terminal or collection instructions. Follow current airline information and airport travel notices for the journey you are booking now.
Gatwick taxi, train or bus?
| Choice | Useful consideration | Official information |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked Gatwick taxi | Agreed pickup and direct onward destination; road delays remain possible | Review National Transfer's quote and Booking Terms |
| Train | Convenient where your destination fits the rail network; check the last service | Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink |
| Bus or coach | Can suit travellers close to a scheduled stop; consider luggage and total travel time | Metrobus and National Express |
No fare comparison is quoted here because tickets, routes and vehicle requirements vary. Look at current operator information for your date, include any onward connection, and choose the arrangement that fits the people travelling.