Taxi from CR2 South Croydon to Gatwick Airport

The route to Gatwick

From most of CR2, the driver heads to the A23 at the Brighton Road or Purley, then south through Purley and Coulsdon to join the M23 at junction 7, which runs straight into Gatwick. From Selsdon and the eastern side, the driver may take the A22 south through Warlingham and Godstone to the M25 junction 6, then round to the M23.

It is about 17 miles. In normal traffic, it takes 30 to 35 minutes. The Purley Cross gyratory and the Brighton Road through South Croydon are slow at rush hour. Early morning departures are much quicker.

Around CR2

• South Croydon: the Brighton Road, the South End restaurants and the roads around South Croydon station.
• Croham and Park Hill: quiet residential roads around Croham Hurst woods.
• Sanderstead: a hilltop suburb with large houses, the village pond and views over the Downs.
• Selsdon: 1930s semis around Selsdon Road and Addington Road, with Selsdon Wood nature reserve to the south.
• Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown edge: close to the A23.

Some roads in Sanderstead and around Croham Hurst are steep, with houses set back from the road. If you have a long drive or a gate, tell us when you book.

Train or taxi?

South Croydon, Sanderstead and Purley Oaks have stations, and East Croydon is a short trip away, with frequent fast trains to Gatwick taking about 15 to 20 minutes. If you live near a station and travel light, the train is quick and cheap.

For people in Selsdon or the hilltop roads of Sanderstead, the walk or bus to the station with luggage is the hard part. For families, early flights or late arrivals, the car is simpler. With three or four people, the fixed fare is often close to the cost of tickets plus a local taxi to the station.

Gatwick's drop-off charges

If a friend is giving you a lift, warn them about Gatwick's forecourt charge: since January 2026, it has been £10 for the first ten minutes outside either terminal, then £1 a minute up to thirty minutes, enforced by cameras. Payment is due online by midnight the next day, with a £100 penalty for missing it. The free Long Stay car park allows two hours with a shuttle bus. Blue Badge holders are exempt. With us, the fixed fare covers it.

Timing your pickup

As a guide, leave CR2 about two hours before a short-haul flight and two and a half hours before long-haul, adding half an hour in the school holidays. We will suggest an exact pickup time once we have your flight details.

Coming home

The same fixed fare applies from Gatwick to South Croydon. Your driver tracks your flight, waits in arrivals with a name board and helps with your bags. A late flight costs you nothing extra.

Groups from Croydon

For bigger groups, we also run minibuses and coaches from Croydon for airport runs, weddings and events. See our Croydon coach and minibus hire page for details.

Early starts from the hilltop suburbs

Sanderstead and Selsdon are some of the highest points in Croydon, and at 4am on a winter morning the hills can be icy. Our drivers are used to the local roads in all weathers and will allow a few extra minutes when conditions are poor. If your road is particularly steep or tends to ice over, mention it, and we will make sure the car arrives with time to spare.

Business trips from CR2

Many CR2 residents work in the City, Canary Wharf or Croydon's own office district and travel for business. Our executive saloon gives you a quieter ride, and a company account gives monthly invoices with references for each journey, which makes expense claims easier.

What to tell us when you book

Your flight number and terminal, the full address with postcode, the number of passengers and cases, and a mobile number. If you need a child seat, add the child's age.

Frequently asked questions