Heathrow to Eastbourne is a long trip across the south-east, about 85 miles, and there is no easy public transport link. An OTS Taxi from Heathrow to Eastbourne costs £162 in a saloon and takes around 1 hr 56 min when the M25 and M23 are moving. The driver meets you in arrivals, and the fare is fixed before you land.
Heathrow to Eastbourne taxi prices
| Journey | Miles | Typical time | Saloon | Estate | People carrier | 8-seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow to Eastbourne | 85 | 1 hr 56 min | £162 | £183 | £214 | £285 |
| Heathrow to Seaford | 79 | 1 hr 40 min | £151 | £170 | £199 | £265 |
| Heathrow to Hailsham | 84 | 1 hr 47 min | £157 | £177 | £208 | £276 |
Checked in our booking system on 6 November 2026. Each price is for the whole vehicle, includes Heathrow parking while the driver waits, and is paid to the driver on the day.
The route
The driver leaves Heathrow on the M25 anticlockwise, crosses to the M23 at junction 7, then heads south past Gatwick. From there the choice is the A23 and A27 through Lewes, or the A22 through East Grinstead and Uckfield, depending on traffic. The M25 between Heathrow and junction 7 is the part that decides the journey time. A Friday afternoon can add an hour; an evening arrival is often quicker than the timings in the table.
Why not the train?
From Heathrow you would take the Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express into London, cross to Victoria and catch a Southern train to Eastbourne, or go via Gatwick with more changes. That is three or four legs with suitcases after a long flight. For one traveller with a light bag the train is cheaper; for a couple or a family, or anyone landing late, the car is simpler. Two people sharing a saloon pay about £81 each.
Retirees, cruise returns and long-haul arrivals
A lot of our Heathrow–Eastbourne passengers are coming home from long-haul holidays or visits to family abroad, often with heavy cases and sometimes with mobility needs. The driver helps with the bags, and the estate (£183) has more boot space. If you need a car with easier access, mention it when you book. We also take passengers the other way, from Eastbourne to Heathrow, at the same fixed price, with an early start for morning departures.
Seaford, Hailsham and the villages
We drop off right across the area: Meads, Old Town and the seafront in Eastbourne, plus Polegate, Pevensey Bay, Willingdon, Hailsham and Seaford. Seaford is a little cheaper because the route via the A27 is shorter. Give the full address and any access notes for the seafront roads, where parking is tight.
Gatwick is closer
If your airline also flies from Gatwick, the trip to Eastbourne is much shorter and cheaper from there. See Gatwick to Eastbourne taxi. For other routes from Heathrow, see the Heathrow airport taxi page.
About OTS Taxi
OTS Taxi is run by Onward Travel Solutions from 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX. We track every arriving flight, give one hour of free waiting after landing, and let you cancel free up to 24 hours before pickup. Call or WhatsApp 07575 470883 at any hour. Live arrivals are on the Heathrow website.
Eastbourne to Heathrow for your departure
Going the other way takes more planning, because a late arrival at Heathrow can mean a missed long-haul flight. For a morning departure, most Eastbourne travellers leave between 3am and 4:30am, which gets them past Gatwick and onto the M25 before the rush. For an afternoon flight, leave at least four hours before departure to allow for the M25 between junctions 7 and 14, which is often slow from late morning. Give us your flight number when you book and we confirm the terminal, so the driver goes straight to the right drop-off. The fare is the same in both directions.
Tennis week, the airshow and summer events
Eastbourne fills up in June for the international tennis tournament at Devonshire Park, when players, officials and spectators arrive from all over the world, and again in August for the seafront airshow. Hotels along the seafront book early, and so do cars from Heathrow. If you are travelling for one of these events, book the transfer when you book your hotel, and allow extra time for the final approach along the seafront, which can be busy or partly closed.
Beachy Head, the Downs and walking holidays
Eastbourne sits at the eastern end of the South Downs Way, with Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters a short drive away. Walkers flying in from abroad often start or finish the trail here. The driver can take you from Heathrow arrivals to your hotel or straight to the start of the path, with room for rucksacks and boots in the estate (£183). If your walk ends in Winchester at the western end, we can collect you there for the return flight.
Seaford, Polegate and the villages
Seaford is £151 and Hailsham £157 in a saloon. We also collect from Polegate, Willingdon, Pevensey, Westham, Stone Cross and the villages between Eastbourne and Lewes. For flats in the seafront terraces and Meads, give us the building name and any entry details.
Family visits and multi-generation trips
Many Heathrow–Eastbourne journeys are for families: grandparents flying out to visit children abroad, or relatives flying in for a celebration. For a family of six, the people carrier (£214) is the simplest option, and for a bigger group, the 8-seater (£285) or Heathrow minibus hire. For Brighton-based relatives, see our Brighton to Heathrow taxi page.
Local travel information
For road closures, events and parking around the seafront, see the Lewes and Eastbourne Councils website. For rail times if you want to compare, use National Rail Enquiries. For terminal details, our Terminal 5 guide explains where you will be dropped.
Hastings and Bexhill
East of Eastbourne, we also collect from Bexhill-on-Sea, Hastings and St Leonards. The fares are a little higher because of the extra distance along the A259 and A21. Enter your address in the booking form for an exact quote. For these towns, Gatwick is often the more convenient airport for European flights, but Heathrow remains the choice for long-haul.
Arriving late at Heathrow
Many long-haul flights land in the evening, and by the time you are through passport control the trains to the coast are thinning out. A pre-booked car means the driver is in arrivals whatever time you land, and the drive home is usually quicker at night.
Heathrow to Eastbourne FAQs
How much is a taxi from Heathrow to Eastbourne?
£162 in a saloon, £183 in an estate, fixed when you book.
How long does it take?
Around 1 hr 56 min in normal traffic, via the M25 and M23.
Can you take a wheelchair?
A folding wheelchair fits with the luggage in the estate or people carrier. Tell us when you book.
Is Gatwick a better option?
If your airline flies from both, yes: Gatwick is much closer to Eastbourne.
Do you run during tennis week?
Yes, but book early: hotels and cars from Heathrow fill up quickly in June.
Can you take walkers to the South Downs Way?
Yes, with room for rucksacks in the estate.