Taxi from Gatwick Airport to Coventry

Which way to Coventry

Drivers usually take the M23 north, the M25 anticlockwise round the western side of London to junction 16, then the M40 north-west past High Wycombe and Banbury. At junction 15 near Warwick, the A46 runs north-east to Coventry, skirting Kenilworth. Another option is to go round the eastern side of the M25 and up the M1 and M6, which can make sense for addresses in the north of the city or when the M40 is blocked.

Without stops, it is around two and a quarter to two and a half hours. The M25 between Gatwick and the M40 decides most of the journey time. The A46 is usually reliable but can slow near Warwick at peak times.

Universities and students

The University of Warwick is actually on the southern edge of Coventry rather than in Warwick, with a large campus spread across the city boundary and student accommodation both on and off site. Coventry University is in the city centre around the cathedral and Priory Street, with many of its residences close by. At the start of term we carry a lot of international students from Gatwick, often with large cases.

Give us the name of your residence and, if you know it, the block or building. The Warwick campus in particular is big, and the right drop-off point saves a long walk with luggage. For students moving in, an estate or MPV is usually the better choice than a saloon.

Business visitors

Coventry is home to a lot of automotive engineering, research and logistics, much of it on the business parks around the ring road and out towards the A45 and the M6. If you are visiting a company site, give us the full name and postcode, and tell us which reception or gate to use. We can invoice your employer directly and add a booking reference or purchase order number.

The city centre and the ring road

Coventry's inner ring road is a tight loop with closely spaced junctions, and most of the city centre inside it is pedestrianised around the cathedral, Broadgate and the shopping precinct. Drivers use the ring road to reach the right side of the centre and stop as close as possible. For hotels near the station, the cathedral quarter and the Belgrade Theatre, the car can usually pull up very close.

University Hospital Coventry is on the eastern edge of the city at Walsgrave, close to the M6 and M69, so it is easy to reach.

By train from Gatwick

The rail route goes through London. You can take Thameslink to St Pancras, walk across to Euston, and catch a train to Coventry. With a smooth connection, the whole trip takes around two and a half to three hours. It is a reasonable option for a solo traveller with light luggage.

For families, groups and anyone with heavy cases, crossing London is the difficult part, and the car is usually more practical. With three or four people, the fixed fare often comes close to the combined train fares.

Gatwick drop-off charges

If you are flying out of Gatwick again and someone else is driving you, they will pay £10 for the first ten minutes in the forecourt drop-off zones, rising by £1 a minute up to half an hour. Gatwick introduced the higher charge in January 2026. The free alternative is the Long Stay car park with its shuttle bus. With a pre-booked transfer, the fixed fare covers the drop-off.

Breaks and comfort

On a run of over two hours, the driver will stop at a services whenever you ask. Cherwell Valley on the M40 is a convenient halfway point. For business travellers who want to work, the executive saloon or the Mercedes S-Class gives a quieter cabin.

Booking for someone else

Coventry's universities and employers often book transfers for students, new staff and visitors who have never been to the UK before. If you are booking for someone else, put the passenger's name and mobile number on the booking so the driver can contact them directly, and use your own email for the confirmation. The driver will hold a name board with the passenger's name in the arrivals hall.

Frequently asked questions