A taxi from Gatwick to Tilbury cruise terminal costs £94.84 in a saloon with Onward Travel Solutions, and Tilbury to Gatwick is the same fixed price. That’s for up to three passengers with three large cases, from either the North or South Terminal, paid to the driver on the day.
Gatwick and Tilbury are closer than many people expect. Rather than going through London, the drive goes round the east side of the M25 and crosses the Thames at Dartford, with Tilbury just a few miles beyond. It’s a good option for cruise passengers flying in from Europe or the regions to join an Ambassador sailing or another ship at the London International Cruise Terminal.
Gatwick to Tilbury Taxi Prices
Live fares from the OTS Taxi booking system. The price is per vehicle and fixed when you book.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Large cases | Gatwick ↔ Tilbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saloon | 3 | 3 | £94.84 |
| Estate | 4 | 4 | £108.51 |
| Executive | 3 | 2 | £127.06 |
| People carrier | 6 | 5 | £127.06 |
| 8-seater minivan | 8 | 8 | £139.76 |
| Executive minivan | 6 | 6 | £169.41 |
| 12-seat minibus | 12 | 10 | from £330 |
| 16-seat minibus | 16 | 14 | from £389 |
Cost per person
| Group | Vehicle | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 people | Saloon | £94.84 | £31.61 |
| 4 people | Estate | £108.51 | £27.13 |
| 6 people | People carrier | £127.06 | £21.18 |
| 8 people | 8-seater minivan | £139.76 | £17.47 |
Book the return at the same time and the return leg is 5% off: £184.94 for a saloon there and back instead of £189.68.
The Route via Dartford
From Gatwick the driver takes the M23 to the M25, heads anticlockwise round to junction 1a and crosses the Thames at the Dartford Crossing, then follows the A282 and A13 to the port. It’s about 45 to 50 miles and usually takes around an hour. The Dartford Crossing is one of the busiest points on the M25, so on weekday mornings and evenings, or on a summer Saturday when several ships are turning round, allow longer.
Taxi or Train?
The rail route is a train to London Bridge, the Jubilee line to West Ham, the c2c line to Tilbury Town, and then a walk of about 20 minutes or a local cab to the terminal. With cruise cases that’s a long morning. A taxi from Gatwick avoids central London entirely and drops you at the terminal door.
At the Cruise Terminal
Drop-off is directly outside the terminal building at Tilbury. Tag your bags before you leave the airport and keep your cruise documents to hand. If your cruise line has given you a check-in slot, let us know when booking so the timing works.
Pickup at Gatwick
Tell us your flight number and whether you land at the North or South Terminal. We track the flight and give you one hour of free waiting from the time it actually lands. Your driver meets you in arrivals, and the OTS team sends their name and number with your confirmation.
Planning Your Day: Gatwick to the Ship
Gatwick handles a lot of short-haul flights from Europe and the UK regions, which makes a same-day connection to a Tilbury sailing very achievable. Here’s how a typical morning works for a flight landing at 9:30am at the South Terminal:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 9:30 | Flight lands at Gatwick |
| 9:30 to 10:15 | Passport control and baggage reclaim. Domestic arrivals are usually quicker. |
| 10:15 | Meet your driver in arrivals |
| 10:15 to 11:20 | M23 and M25 to the Dartford Crossing, then the A13 to Tilbury |
| Around 11:20 | Arrive at the terminal, ready for a midday or early-afternoon check-in |
On a weekday afternoon or a summer Saturday, the Dartford Crossing can add half an hour or more. Our drivers check the traffic before setting off, but if your check-in slot is tight, tell us and we’ll build in extra time.
Coming Home: Tilbury to Gatwick
Most ships are alongside at Tilbury early in the morning, and guests leave in groups over the next few hours. Give us your ship and expected disembarkation time when you book the return, and your driver will be there when you come out. For a flight home the same day, aim for a Gatwick departure after about 1:00pm for short-haul flights so there’s no rush.
The Dartford Crossing
Going from Gatwick to Tilbury means crossing the Thames, and the only sensible way is the Dartford Crossing, made up of the tunnels northbound and the QEII bridge southbound. It’s a fixed part of this route, so the fare is set with it in mind and you won’t be asked for anything extra on the day. It’s also the reason this transfer is quicker than you might expect: you never go near central London.
Which Vehicle Do You Need?
Cruise luggage takes more room than a normal holiday’s. As a rough guide:
- Couple, two large cases: saloon.
- Couple with extra cases, a suit carrier or a folding wheelchair: estate.
- Family of four or five: people carrier, with room for five large cases.
- Group of up to eight: 8-seater minivan, at £17.47 each when full.
Child seats can be added in the booking form at no fuss; tell us the children’s ages so the right seats are fitted.
Gatwick North or South Terminal?
The fare is the same from both, but your driver needs to know which one. Your airline and flight number decide it, and if you’re not sure, the flight number in your booking lets us check. If an airline moves terminals, we’ll follow the flight rather than the booking note.
Why Book With Onward Travel Solutions?
You get a fixed price agreed before you travel, a driver who tracks your flight, an hour of free waiting after landing, and nothing to pay until the day. For a cruise transfer, where the ship sails on time whatever happens on the road, that peace of mind is the main thing you’re paying for.
Travelling With Children or Reduced Mobility
Add child seats in the booking form and give the children’s ages, and the right seats will be fitted before your driver sets off. Booster seats and baby seats both take room in the boot area of smaller cars, so for a family of four with cruise luggage, the people carrier is usually the more comfortable choice. If someone in your party uses a folding wheelchair or walking frame, mention it in the booking notes. The estate and people carrier both take a folding chair alongside the cases, and your driver will help with loading.
If Your Flight Is Delayed or Diverted
Because we track the flight number, a delay simply moves your pickup time, and the first hour after the actual landing is free. If a flight is diverted to another airport, call the OTS team and we’ll work out the best way to get you to Tilbury. On a sailing day, keep your cruise line’s emergency number handy too, so they know if you’re running late.
Paying and Changing Your Booking
Nothing is paid online. The fare is fixed when you book and you pay the driver on the day. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup through Manage My Booking; inside 24 hours, call the OTS team. Child seats and extra stops can be added in the booking form.
Related Transfers
- Tilbury cruise port taxi: all routes
- Heathrow to Tilbury cruise terminal taxi
- Stansted to Tilbury cruise terminal taxi
- Gatwick Airport taxi: all routes and fares
- Gatwick to Dover cruise port taxi
Gatwick to Tilbury Taxi FAQs
How much is a taxi from Gatwick to Tilbury cruise terminal?
£94.84 in a saloon for up to three people with Onward Travel Solutions. An estate for four is £108.51 and a people carrier for six is £127.06.
Is it the same price from Tilbury back to Gatwick?
Yes, the fixed fare is the same both ways and from both Gatwick terminals.
How long is the drive?
Usually around an hour, longer when the Dartford Crossing is busy.
How far is Gatwick from Tilbury?
About 45 to 50 miles by road.
Can we fit a group and luggage?
Yes. An 8-seater minivan for eight people with eight large cases is £139.76, or £17.47 each.
Is the Dartford Crossing included in the fare?
It’s a fixed part of the route, so there’s nothing extra to pay on the day. The fare you’re quoted is what you pay the driver.
Can I book a taxi from the ship back to Gatwick?
Yes. Book both legs together for 5% off the return, and tell us your ship and expected time off.
Can we stop for shopping on the way to the ship?
Add an extra stop in the booking form and it will be included in your quoted price.
Book Your Gatwick to Tilbury Cruise Transfer
Enter your terminal, flight number and party size in the form at the top of the page to see the OTS Taxi price for every vehicle and book.