Can I tap from London Bridge to Gatwick?

Contactless payment cards can be used to travel between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria on Gatwick Express services. Contactless is also valid on most National Rail services in London as well as bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail. Fares and daily caps are the same as with Oyster PAYG.



Yes, you can absolutely "tap" using a contactless bank card or an Oyster card to travel from London Bridge to Gatwick Airport in 2026. This method is part of the "Pay As You Go" (PAYG) system used across the London transit network and its surrounding commuter lines. When traveling from London Bridge, you have two primary options: Thameslink or Southern Railway. Both services accept contactless and Oyster. As of early 2026, a single adult fare via contactless is typically around £10.70 off-peak and £19.20 during peak hours. It is important to note that while the Gatwick Express also accepts "tapping," it is significantly more expensive (around £21.80) for a journey that is often only a few minutes faster. For the best value, ensure you "touch in" at London Bridge and "touch out" at the Gatwick station gate to ensure you are charged the correct fare rather than a "maximum fare" penalty.

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Cheap train tickets from London Bridge to Gatwick Airport Train tickets from London Bridge to Gatwick Airport start at $14.50‡ one way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance. As most UK train companies increase their prices as the departure date approaches, we'll help you find the cheapest tickets.

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Perhaps the most convenient way of all though is to simply tap in or out using your Oyster or Contactless payment card at the ticket gates.

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Perhaps the most convenient way of all though is to simply tap in or out using your Oyster or Contactless payment card at the ticket gates.

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Missed Tap Off Cost If you don't have a default set on your card and you forget to tap off at the end of your trip, you'll be charged the fare to the last stop on the train line or bus route and with your fare type and any applicable loyalty discounts applied.

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We advise that you arrive at least two hours before your flight to allow plenty of extra time to check-in and pass through security.

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Is it cheaper to use Oyster or contactless? As both cards use the same Pay As You Go system and are compatible with the TfL Oyster & Contactless app, the costs are comparable.

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You can now use London's Oyster Cards and contactless payment options to pay for fares on the Gatwick Express, Southern Trains and Thameslink trains between London and Gatwick Airport.

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It costs between £9.50 and £21.80 to take a train one way between London and Gatwick using an Oyster card, depending on the time of day and train company. Insure your trip now! Protect your holiday before you travel.

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The best times to visit the London Gatwick Airport rush hours is to travel either early in the morning or late night because that is the time when the normal traffic is asleep. The peak-times at Gatwick Airport in morning are from 7AM to 10AM and 4PM to 7PM in the evening.

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At YOTELAIR London Gatwick Airport, our day rates are perfect for a long transit or unexpected layover. Cabins (YOTELAIR-speak for bedrooms) can be booked for as little as four hours or as long as overnight.

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Usually, it takes around 49 minutes to travel from London to Gatwick Airport by train, however the fastest services can get you there in as little as 28 minutes. As there are around 810 direct trains running on this popular route each day, you don't need to worry about making any changes along the way.

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Gatwick Airport (IATA code: LGW), or London Gatwick, is the second largest of the main London airports and is the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom in terms of passenger traffic.

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The two passenger terminals at Gatwick Airport are a long way apart; it is not possible to walk between them. There is a free monorail train service that shuttles between the two terminals every 2 or 3 minutes making journeys between the two terminals a breeze, even with luggage.

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