The cheapest and fastest trains from Gatwick Airport (GTW) to London Waterloo East (WAE)
Cheapest price
£22
Average price
£22
Fastest journey
1 h 9 m
Average duration
1 h 15 m
Trains per day
5
Distance
39 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Gatwick Airport (GTW) to London Waterloo East (WAE) is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Gatwick Airport (GTW) to London Waterloo East (WAE) will cost around £22 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £22.
Of the 5 trains that leave Gatwick Airport (GTW) for London Waterloo East (WAE) every day 5 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 39 km distance in an average of 1 h 15 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 1 h 9 m .
The slowest trains will take 1 h 21 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.










Travel Information
Compare train and coach for Gatwick Airport (GTW) to London Waterloo East (WAE)
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Gatwick Airport (GTW) to London Waterloo East (WAE) among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £6. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 39m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £6, and a train costs an average of £17.
Distance: 39 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Coach |
|---|---|
£22 Average Price | £8 Average Price Cheapest |
1h 9m Average total duration Fastest 39m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 57m Average total duration 2h 27m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Live departures
Gatwick Airport (GTW) to London Waterloo East (WAE) train times
The table below shows live departures for Gatwick Airport (GTW) to London Waterloo East (WAE) trains for tomorrow, Wednesday 12 November. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 03:20 Gatwick Airport (GTW) | 1h19 | 04:39 London Waterloo East (WAE) | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 05:19 Gatwick Airport (GTW) | 1h21 | 06:40 London Waterloo East (WAE) | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 05:36 Gatwick Airport (GTW) | 1h09 | 06:45 London Waterloo East (WAE) | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 12:16 Gatwick Airport (GTW) | 1h14 | 13:30 London Waterloo East (WAE) | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 17:46 Gatwick Airport (GTW) | 1h14 | 19:00 London Waterloo East (WAE) | 0 changesdirect |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Gatwick Airport (GTW) to London Waterloo East (WAE) by train or coach
Compare train and coach prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
12 Nov
13 Nov
14 Nov
15 Nov
16 Nov
17 Nov
18 Nov
Journey information
Overview: Train from Gatwick Airport (GTW) to London Waterloo East (WAE)
Trains from Gatwick Airport (GTW) to London Waterloo East (WAE) run on average 10 times per day, taking around 39m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £17 but you can travel from only £6 by coach.
The earliest train runs at 03:13, the last at 15:06. The fastest train covers the 39 km distance in 43m.
Distance 39 km |
Average train duration 39m |
Cheapest ticket price £17 |
Trains per day 10 |
Fastest train 43m |
First train 03:13 |
Last train 15:06 |
Train companies: Thameslink, Southern from Gatwick Airport (GTW) to London Waterloo East (WAE) trainsThameslink, Southern trains will get you between Gatwick Airport (GTW) and London Waterloo East (WAE) from £6. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Southern
Thameslink
FAQs: Gatwick Airport (GTW) to London Waterloo East (WAE) train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Gatwick Airport (GTW) to London Waterloo East (WAE) by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at London Waterloo East (WAE), this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Important Stations and Airports in Gatwick Airport (GTW) and London Waterloo East (WAE)
- 24/7
- Free Wi-Fi in the station.
- Provided by Excess Baggage Co located in the North Terminal, open daily from 06:00 until 18:00.
- Car Park: Airport Car Park
- Costa Coffee
- KFC
- McDonald's
- Taxi: Taxis are located in the South Terminal bus Station, about 200 yards from station concourse through airport complex
- Escalators, elevators, induction loop, accessible ticket machines, impaired mobility set down, wheelchair ramp for train access, accessible toilets, accessible booking office.
- Toilets Location: Platforms 1 and 2
- National key toilets: Yes
- Baby changing facilities: Yes
- Hilton London Gatwick Airport
- Travelodge Gatwick Airport Central
- Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport (North Terminal)
- Waiting rooms location: Heated waiting areas are available on platforms
- 24/7
- Car hire: Yes, various companies operate from both North and South airport terminals, 200 yards from the station.
- Located inside the main terminal.
- Bus lines: GH1, 17, 18
- Train lines: Thameslink, Brighton Main Line, Gatwick Express, Redhill Line, Mainline East, Mainline West
- Onward travel information: Available from airport.
- Location for Rail Replacement Services: The upper level of the bus station
- 24/7
- Free Wi-Fi in the station.
- Provided by Excess Baggage Co located in the North Terminal, open daily from 06:00 until 18:00.
- Car Park: Airport Car Park
- Costa Coffee
- KFC
- McDonald's
- Taxi: Taxis are located in the South Terminal bus Station, about 200 yards from station concourse through airport complex
- Escalators, elevators, induction loop, accessible ticket machines, impaired mobility set down, wheelchair ramp for train access, accessible toilets, accessible booking office.
- Toilets Location: Platforms 1 and 2
- National key toilets: Yes
- Baby changing facilities: Yes
- Hilton London Gatwick Airport
- Travelodge Gatwick Airport Central
- Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport (North Terminal)
- Waiting rooms location: Heated waiting areas are available on platforms
- 24/7
- Car hire: Yes, various companies operate from both North and South airport terminals, 200 yards from the station.
- Located inside the main terminal.
- Bus lines: GH1, 17, 18
- Train lines: Thameslink, Brighton Main Line, Gatwick Express, Redhill Line, Mainline East, Mainline West
- Onward travel information: Available from airport.
- Location for Rail Replacement Services: The upper level of the bus station
- Type of shops available: newspapers
- Car Park: No
- Staff help available: Yes
- Step free access coverage: No
- Step free access note: Category B1. This station has a degree of step-free access to the platform, which may be in both directions or in one direction only - please check details - Step free access to Waterloo East is only through use of lift at Waterloo Main. Ramps access to the platforms is steep. There is no ticket office. Full ticket office facilities available in Waterloo Main station. There is an entrance from Southwark underground station but this involves either steps or an escalator. There is also a step only access available from the Sandall Street entrance onto the overbridge connection between Waterloo East and Waterloo main stations. Taxis and direct road access only available from Waterloo main station which is connected via ramps and an overbridge to Waterloo East station.
- Accessible public telephones: Public telephones are not wheelchair accessible
- Accessible taxis: Accessible Black Cabs are available from the taxi rank adjacent to the Cab Road exit from Waterloo Main station.
- Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station
- Accessible ticket machines note: On overbridge from Waterloo Main station
- Accessible toilets: Yes
- Ramp for train access: Yes
- Wheelchairs available: Yes
- Wheelchairs available open hours: Assistance/Help available from station staff from First to Last trains.
- Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No
- Toilets Location: Platform B and C - Available during staffing hours
- National key toilets: Yes
- National key toilets location: Platform B and C - Available during staffing hours
- Baby changing facilities: Yes
- Baby changing facilities location: Only available when staff present
- Waiting rooms location: Heated waiting room on Platform B and C Only available when staff present
- Information available from staff: Yes - from help point
- Helpline Contact: 0345 322 7021 or Text relay 18001 0345 322 7021 Freephone 0800 783 4524 or Text Relay 18001 0800 783 4524
- Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements
- Location for Rail Replacement Services: Bus alighting point in Sandell Street.
- Type of shops available: newspapers
- Car Park: No
- Staff help available: Yes
- Step free access coverage: No
- Step free access note: Category B1. This station has a degree of step-free access to the platform, which may be in both directions or in one direction only - please check details - Step free access to Waterloo East is only through use of lift at Waterloo Main. Ramps access to the platforms is steep. There is no ticket office. Full ticket office facilities available in Waterloo Main station. There is an entrance from Southwark underground station but this involves either steps or an escalator. There is also a step only access available from the Sandall Street entrance onto the overbridge connection between Waterloo East and Waterloo main stations. Taxis and direct road access only available from Waterloo main station which is connected via ramps and an overbridge to Waterloo East station.
- Accessible public telephones: Public telephones are not wheelchair accessible
- Accessible taxis: Accessible Black Cabs are available from the taxi rank adjacent to the Cab Road exit from Waterloo Main station.
- Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station
- Accessible ticket machines note: On overbridge from Waterloo Main station
- Accessible toilets: Yes
- Ramp for train access: Yes
- Wheelchairs available: Yes
- Wheelchairs available open hours: Assistance/Help available from station staff from First to Last trains.
- Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No
- Toilets Location: Platform B and C - Available during staffing hours
- National key toilets: Yes
- National key toilets location: Platform B and C - Available during staffing hours
- Baby changing facilities: Yes
- Baby changing facilities location: Only available when staff present
- Waiting rooms location: Heated waiting room on Platform B and C Only available when staff present
- Information available from staff: Yes - from help point
- Helpline Contact: 0345 322 7021 or Text relay 18001 0345 322 7021 Freephone 0800 783 4524 or Text Relay 18001 0800 783 4524
- Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements
- Location for Rail Replacement Services: Bus alighting point in Sandell Street.
