Gatwick vs Heathrow: Which London Airport Should You Use?

Heathrow for choice and long-haul frequency; Gatwick for lower-cost fares, easier navigation and strong European plus a slice of long-haul. Both are 30–45 minutes from central London by rail — the decision is usually made by your airline and fare, not the airport.

Gatwick vs Heathrow: Which London Airport Should You Use?: questions people actually ask

Is Gatwick cheaper than Heathrow?

Often for European routes; for long-haul it depends on the airline. Compare both — our London city search does it in one query.

Which is faster into central London?

Heathrow Express is the fastest single train; Gatwick Express is close behind; both beat driving at peak times.

Do any US flights leave from Gatwick?

Yes, seasonal and year-round services including New York operate from Gatwick; Heathrow has the fuller US network.

Airlines and routes

Heathrow hosts virtually every major global carrier — if you want a specific long-haul airline or nonstop route, it probably flies from LHR. Gatwick’s mix is easyJet-led European service plus British Airways, Emirates, Turkish and others on long-haul.

Getting into London

Heathrow Express to Paddington ~15 minutes; Elizabeth line wider coverage; Piccadilly line cheapest. Gatwick Express to Victoria ~30 minutes; Thameslink and Southern services add London Bridge and St Pancras. Both cost roughly similar door-to-door.

Crowds and terminals

Heathrow’s five terminals are busy by volume; security waits fluctuate. Gatwick is a single two-terminal campus that many find calmer and faster end-to-end.

Which London airport is right for your airline and destination?

The airports split by carrier and route before they split by price: Heathrow carries the long-haul weight and the full-service alliances, Gatwick carries the Mediterranean and Canary leisure volume and the largest low-cost operations. Your airline often decides the airport before the fare does.

That is why the comparison starts with your flight, not the airport: the cheapest fare at the wrong airport costs you a longer, pricier ground journey — the total-cost logic from the five-airport comparison applies to every London trip.

Gatwick vs Heathrow: Which London Airport Should You Use?