First bus to run if you land at 2:30am
Metrobus Route 20 links Gatwick North and South terminals with Horley in about 10–15 minutes and Crawley in roughly 25–35 minutes, running 24 hours on its core section. It’s what a lot of airport staff use for 4am shifts, and fares sit around £2–3 for a local single, similar to Route 100 and capped by national schemes.
Buses stop outside both North and South Terminal buildings, clearly signed as 20 / Fastway 20, and run roughly every 20–30 minutes in the daytime, dropping to about hourly or a bit better overnight. The same bus that gets you to Horley high street in 10–15 minutes will also continue to places like Three Bridges and Crawley bus station in around half an hour, depending on how many local stops it picks up.
Think of it as the budget alternative to hotel shuttles: you can get from Gatwick South to a Horley guesthouse for about £2–3 instead of a £15–25 taxi, or down to Crawley hotels around the town centre for roughly the same bus fare. Airport workers describe it as “slow but reliable,” and regulars build in a one-bus buffer, especially for early starts or late finishes.
How to ride Metrobus Route 20 step by step
- 1. Find the stop: Follow signs for local buses at either North or South Terminal; you’re looking for stands showing route 20 / Fastway 20 towards Horley or Crawley.
- 2. Check timing: Use the Metrobus website, app, or Google Maps to confirm the next departure; daytime gaps are about 20–30 minutes, but overnight you can wait close to an hour if you just miss one.
- 3. Pay on boarding: Contactless bank cards and phones are accepted, with typical single fares around £2–3; ask the driver for “Horley” or “Crawley bus station” so you get the right ticket.
- 4. Watch the branding: Some trips are labelled Fastway 20 and may use slightly different routings or stops; if in doubt, ask the driver if the bus stops near your hotel or street.
- 5. Pick your seat: At night, locals often sit downstairs near the driver for better lighting and a calmer feel, especially after pub closing time around 23:00–00:00.
- 6. Mind late changes: Overnight, town-centre stops in Crawley and Horley can shift due to road rules, and occasional last-bus cancellations sometimes appear only on Metrobus social feeds, so aim one bus earlier than you think you need.
One tip: if you land late and are staying in Horley within a 5–10 minute walk of the main road, take the 20 from either terminal and hop off at the high-street stop instead of paying for a taxi.