£10–20 to Horley or Crawley beats the airport taxi rank
Local Taxis Gatwick really means calling independent minicab firms in Horley or Crawley instead of walking to the official rank outside North or South Terminal. For short hops of about 10–20 minutes in normal traffic, locals report paying around £10–20, often 30–40% less than the on-airport black cabs for the same Horley/Crawley run.
These are on-demand taxis, not an official airport product, so availability shifts with the clock: late-night arrivals after 23:00 and shift-change windows around 07:00–08:00 and 15:00–16:00 can mean longer waits. Journey time from Gatwick to central Crawley is usually under 20 minutes by road, and firms quote fixed prices if you pre-book, versus metered or surge-style pricing if you call last minute during busy holiday periods.
Most local firms operate 24/7 around LGW, but dispatch response can slow in August and at Christmas, when reviews mention no-shows and last‑minute cancellations. Multiple travellers mention skipping “Gatwick official taxis” entirely and instead pre-booking a Crawley operator, getting a text or WhatsApp with the car registration and a fixed fare to RH6 or RH10 postcodes before they even clear South Terminal arrivals.
How Local Taxis Gatwick works step by step
- 1. Collect numbers: Ask your hotel front desk, airport staff at information desks in North or South, or check Google Maps for Horley/Crawley minicab firms; many regulars keep 1–2 trusted numbers saved.
- 2. Pre-book if you can: As soon as your flight lands, call or use the firm’s app/site to book, giving your flight number, terminal (North or South), and destination; confirm a fixed price for the 10–20 minute local run.
- 3. Agree pickup point: Many firms avoid forecourt and parking charges by meeting you at the short-stay car park or a nearby hotel like the Premier Inn or Ibis by the North Terminal; they’ll text exact level/zone.
- 4. Confirm payment: Some operators are cash-only, others take chip-and-PIN or contactless; regulars always ask “card or cash?” on the call to dodge payment arguments at drop-off.
- 5. Walk and meet: From South or North arrivals, expect a 5–8 minute walk to the agreed car park or hotel forecourt; keep your phone on so the driver can call with their registration plate.
- 6. Check fare before moving: Before the car leaves, repeat the quoted £ figure for Horley, Crawley, or further afield so there’s no dispute on arrival at your RH6 or RH10 address.
Watch out for and tip
Lower-rated reviews flag older vehicles and occasional language barriers, plus rare disputes when a dispatcher quotes £15 to Crawley and the driver expects £20 on arrival, especially late at night. Build a 10-minute buffer in case your minicab is late, and always screenshot or write down the agreed fare and firm name while you’re still in the terminal Wi‑Fi zone.