£35-65 typically gets you a Bolt from Gatwick into central London
Bolt runs as a rideshare option from both North and South Terminals at London Gatwick, with most Gatwick–central London trips landing somewhere in the £35-65 range depending on time of day, traffic, and exact postcode. Many regulars say Bolt usually prices a few pounds under Uber for the same route, so it’s worth checking both apps before you walk out of arrivals.
Door-to-door time into central London sits around 60-90 minutes, with the M23/M25 stretch deciding which end of that range you hit. From the South Terminal, you’re often in the car slightly quicker because several rideshare pickup points sit closer to the main forecourt, but the time difference between North and South is usually under 10 minutes.
Pickups use signed car parks rather than the immediate kerb, similar to Uber’s zones; expect a 5-10 minute walk from arrivals to your Bolt meeting point at either terminal. Drivers often call to confirm your exact car park level because the in-app GPS pin at LGW can be off by 20-30 metres, so check the signs and tell them the colour/level number when they ring.
Bolt runs on-demand 24/7 at Gatwick, but there are fewer active drivers than Uber, especially after 23:00 and during bad weather, so ETAs can jump from 5 minutes to 20+ minutes quickly. Users also report occasional cancellations at busy times, so build a 15-20 minute buffer if you’re catching a late train connection from Victoria or London Bridge after your ride.
Surge pricing hits Bolt too: during Friday evening peaks or after delays land multiple flights between 21:00 and 23:00, fares that are usually £40-45 into Zone 1 can push closer to £70. On the flip side, new-user and referral promos sometimes knock £10-20 off a first airport ride, so check the “Promotions” section of the app before you request.
Regulars keep both Uber and Bolt open and compare two simple numbers: estimated fare and ETA in minutes from their terminal. Some also drop the pickup pin on a nearby airport hotel, like the Premier Inn or Sofitel by North Terminal, because cars reach those spots with less traffic than the main forecourt. One last tip: message your car park level and bay code through the app as soon as the trip is accepted; that single line of text usually saves a 3-4 minute phone call and a lot of confusion.