A 16 seater minibus with a driver from Onward Travel Solutions costs £302.44 from central London to Heathrow, which is under £19 a head for a full group. The minibus takes 16 passengers and 14 large cases, and the fare covers the whole vehicle, not each seat. The price is fixed when you book and you pay the driver on the day.
It is the largest vehicle we run and the one groups choose when they want everyone in one vehicle. A driver is included on every booking, so nobody needs a minibus licence. Enter your journey in the booking form above for an exact fare.
16 Seater Minibus Hire Prices
Sample one-way weekday fares from the OTS Taxi booking system, quoted in October 2026 from a full pickup address, for the whole vehicle with driver. Minibus fares are worked out from the driving route when you book, so your own quote may differ by a few pounds.
| Journey | 16 seater fare | Per person (16) |
|---|---|---|
| Crawley → Gatwick | £266.89 | £16.68 |
| Reigate → Gatwick | £280.59 | £17.54 |
| Westminster → London City Airport | £281.28 | £17.58 |
| Kensington → Heathrow | £296.92 | £18.56 |
| Central London (Victoria) → Heathrow | £302.44 | £18.90 |
| Guildford → Heathrow | £331.81 | £20.74 |
| Brighton → Gatwick | £332.69 | £20.79 |
| Cambridge → Stansted | £341.41 | £21.34 |
| Central London (Victoria) → Luton | £355.23 | £22.20 |
| Central London (Victoria) → Gatwick | £370.24 | £23.14 |
| Central London (Victoria) → Stansted | £374.26 | £23.39 |
| Heathrow → Gatwick | £385.49 | £24.09 |
| Oxford → Heathrow | £394.74 | £24.67 |
| Heathrow → Southampton cruise terminals | £444.39 | £27.77 |
| Central London (Victoria) → Portsmouth International Port | £458.76 | £28.67 |
| Central London (Victoria) → Dover cruise terminal | £472.38 | £29.52 |
| Central London (Victoria) → Southampton cruise terminals | £475.82 | £29.74 |
A return booked at the same time takes 5% off the return leg, so central London to Heathrow and back is £589.76 for the minibus. Other routes are priced from your exact address, so use the form for your figure.
Capacity: Passengers and Luggage
The 16 seater carries 16 passengers plus the driver, with space for 14 large suitcases and about 10 items of hand luggage. For a group of 16 with a hold case each, two cases will need to go as cabin-size bags or be shared.
A smaller group with a lot of luggage often books the 16 seater anyway. Twelve people heading on a two-week cruise, for example, usually have more cases than a 12 seater minibus can take. Enter the real number of passengers and cases in the booking form and it will only offer vehicles that fit.
One 16 Seater or Two 8-Seaters?
| Route | One 16 seater | Two 8-seaters |
|---|---|---|
| Central London → Gatwick | £370.24 | £301.00 |
| Central London → Stansted | £374.26 | £314.66 |
| Central London → Southampton cruise terminals | £475.82 | £542.56 |
| Central London → Dover cruise terminal | £472.38 | £564.56 |
For a London airport run, two of our 8-seaters usually cost less than one 16 seater, around £60 less on the routes above, because the 8-seaters have fixed airport fares. They also carry 16 large cases against the minibus’s 14. On long runs, such as the cruise ports, it is the other way round and one 16 seater saves £65 to £95. Many groups still choose the minibus for any trip because everyone travels together, with one driver, one pickup time and one arrival. The booking form shows every option with live prices, so you can pick what suits your group.
Who Books a 16 Seater
Cruise groups. Southampton, Dover and Portsmouth are all a long way from London, and cruise passengers carry heavy luggage. A 16 seater collects the whole party from home, a hotel or the airport and drops at the terminal building for your ship. See Southampton cruise port minibus hire and cruise and ferry port group transfers.
Airport groups. These include sports clubs going to a tournament, choirs and bands on tour, school and university parties, and extended families flying together. See 16 seater minibus to Heathrow and 16 seater minibus to Gatwick.
Events. Typical bookings are wedding guests between the hotel and venue, corporate away days and stag or hen groups. These are booked as point-to-point journeys. If the driver needs to stay with the group between legs, talk to the OTS team before you book. See corporate event minibus hire and stag and hen minibus hire.
Planning a Group Airport Pickup
Getting 16 people out of an arrivals hall takes longer than getting two. The driver tracks the flight, so the pickup follows the real landing time, and the first hour after landing is free. Choose one person as the group contact and put their mobile number on the booking. Ask everyone to meet in one place once they have their bags, rather than heading outside separately. Large vehicles use set pickup areas at most terminals, so the driver will tell your contact exactly where to go.
Picking Up From Several Addresses
Groups are often spread across a town. Add each address as an extra stop in the booking form and the fixed fare includes them. Put the stops in a sensible order, starting furthest from the destination, and allow about five minutes per stop so the timing still works for your flight or sailing.
Cruise Day Timing
On sailing day, cruise lines usually give each cabin a check-in window, and the terminals get busy in the late morning. Allow for the drive and a margin for traffic: from central London, Southampton takes around two hours in normal conditions, and Dover is a similar distance. Plan to arrive at the start of your window rather than the end. Put the ship’s name and terminal in the booking notes so the driver goes straight to the right building. Coming home, give us the disembarkation day and roughly when your group expects to be off the ship, and we will time the pickup to match.
Where We Collect From
The 16 seater collects anywhere in London and the Home Counties, and from further afield on request, for example the Midlands or the South Coast. Fares are worked out from the exact pickup and drop-off, so you pay for the real journey. If the minibus cannot stop outside your address, add a nearby meeting point in the notes.
Booking, Paying and Cancelling
Enter your journey, date and the number of passengers and cases in the form at the top of this page. The 16 seater fare appears with the other vehicles that fit. Confirm the booking, then pay the driver on the day. Nothing is taken online. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup; inside 24 hours, call the OTS team. Minibuses book up faster than cars on summer weekends and around cruise season, so reserve early if your date is fixed.
What’s Included
The fare covers the minibus and driver for the full journey, including any airport fees in your quote, flight tracking and the first hour of waiting on airport pickups, and all luggage within the vehicle’s limits. There is no surge pricing at busy times.
16 Seater Minibus Hire FAQs
How much does it cost to hire a 16 seater minibus?
With a driver, from about £267 for a short airport run, such as Crawley to Gatwick, and £302.44 from central London to Heathrow. Split across 16 people, that is under £19 each.
How many suitcases fit in a 16 seater minibus?
Up to 14 large suitcases plus around 10 pieces of hand luggage.
Do I need a licence to hire a 16 seater minibus?
No. A professional driver comes with every booking.
Is one 16 seater cheaper than two 8-seaters?
On long journeys, yes. Central London to Southampton’s cruise terminals is £475.82 in one minibus against £542.56 in two 8-seaters. For London airport runs, two 8-seaters are usually cheaper.
Can you take us to a cruise ship?
Yes. We run to Southampton, Dover and Portsmouth, and drop at the terminal building for your ship.
Can we book the trip home at the same time?
Yes. Book both legs together and the return leg is 5% off. For airport and cruise returns, the pickup is timed to your landing or disembarkation.
What if we need more than 16 seats?
Book a 16 seater plus a second vehicle for the rest of the group, such as an 8-seater or a 12 seater. The booking form quotes each one separately.
Book Your 16 Seater Minibus
Get your fixed fare from the booking form at the top of this page. For airport-specific details see Heathrow minibus hire and Gatwick minibus hire.
More on costs and local coverage: minibus hire prices, minibus hire in London, minibus hire in Surrey and minibus hire in Brighton.