Flying from Gatwick and starting in Portsmouth? The train is usually the easiest way to the airport, because Southern runs it direct, so you stay on one service the whole way with no change to drag your bags through.
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Portsmouth And has gathered the route, the journey time, how often the trains run and what the tickets cost, all from Southern and National Rail, so you can plan the trip around your flight. Here is how it works.
Portsmouth to Gatwick by train at a glance
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Route | Portsmouth to Gatwick Airport |
| Operator | Southern, direct with no change |
| Via | The coast to Barnham, then the Arun Valley line through Horsham and Crawley |
| Journey time | About 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes |
| Frequency | Roughly one direct train an hour |
| Portsmouth stations | Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth & Southsea, Fratton |
| Fares | Child single from £2 (Southern Kids for £2); adult Advance cheapest, check the live price |
| Updated | November 2026 |
The route on the map
The train heads east along the coast out of Portsmouth, turns north near Barnham and climbs the Arun Valley through Horsham and Crawley before reaching Gatwick. The map traces the way.
The route and where it stops
The direct service calls at the principal stations on the way, in this order.
| No. | Station | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portsmouth Harbour | Start, by the ferries and Gunwharf Quays |
| 2 | Portsmouth & Southsea | City centre |
| 3 | Fratton | East Portsmouth |
| 4 | Havant | Change for the West Coastway and Hayling Island buses |
| 5 | Chichester | Cathedral city and the Festival Theatre |
| 6 | Barnham | Junction, where the train turns north up the Arun Valley |
| 7 | Arundel | Castle town on the river |
| 8 | Horsham | Main West Sussex town |
| 9 | Crawley | For the town and Three Bridges |
| 10 | Gatwick Airport | Right under the terminals |
Faster trains skip some of the smaller stops, while the all-stations service adds places such as Emsworth, Amberley, Pulborough and Billingshurst, so check that your train calls where you need it. The return runs the same line in reverse, from Gatwick Airport back down to Portsmouth.
How long it takes and how often
The journey runs about an hour and a half to an hour and fifty minutes, depending on the service and the stops it makes. There is roughly one direct train an hour through the day, with the pattern thinning in the late evening and on Sundays. Because the exact departures shift through the day, check the live board on the National Rail site or in the operator’s app for the train that lines up with your flight, and give yourself a comfortable margin.
Departure and arrival times
Trains run roughly once an hour through the day, and the trip takes about an hour and three quarters, so you arrive a little under two hours after you set off. As a rough guide:
- leave Portsmouth around 7:00 am and reach Gatwick around 8:45 am;
- leave around 10:00 am and arrive around 11:45 am;
- leave around 3:00 pm and arrive around 4:45 pm.
These are examples to show the pattern, not fixed departures. For the exact departure and arrival times on your day, including any engineering changes, check the live board on the National Rail site or in the Southern app and work back from your check-in time.
Tickets and fares
Booking ahead is what keeps the price down. These are the ticket types to know:
- Advance single, tied to one train, the cheapest fare when booked ahead;
- Off-Peak, flexible outside the busiest times;
- Anytime, valid on any train and the dearest;
- a railcard, which takes roughly a third off most fares;
- child tickets, with Southern’s Kids for £2 offer bringing a child single down to £2.
The adult fare moves with the date and how far ahead you book, so check the live price for your train rather than rely on a fixed figure.
Where and how to buy your ticket
You can buy a Portsmouth to Gatwick ticket in any of these places:
- the National Rail website or app, which shows the trains and fares for the route;
- Southern, on its website or in the Southern app;
- a ticket machine at the station;
- the Portsmouth Harbour ticket office, staffed into the early evening.
To get the cheapest fare and board without fuss, follow these steps:
- pick your train and book an Advance single as far ahead as you can;
- add your railcard, or choose a child ticket for the Kids for £2 fare;
- take an e-ticket to your phone, or collect it from the machine on the day;
- buy before you board, as contactless tap-in does not cover this route.
With the ticket booked, the rest is simply getting to the station in good time for your flight.
Why take the train to Gatwick
The train is direct, so you stay on one service the whole way with your luggage and no changes, which is its main pull over driving or a coach. It sets you down right at the airport station beneath the terminals, a short walk or shuttle from check-in. For the other London airport and the coach options, see our guide to getting from Portsmouth to Heathrow and Gatwick.
Before you fly
Is there a direct train from Portsmouth to Gatwick?
Yes. Southern runs it direct with no change, taking about an hour and a half to an hour and fifty minutes.
How often do the trains run?
Roughly one direct train an hour through the day, fewer late in the evening and on Sundays, so check the live departures for the one that suits your flight.
Which Portsmouth station should I leave from?
Any of Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth and Southsea or Fratton, whichever is nearest you. For more on them, see our guide to Portsmouth’s train stations.
How much time should I leave?
Allow for the full journey plus a cushion for any delay and the walk to the terminal, and aim to be at the airport well before check-in closes.
Which Gatwick terminal does the train reach?
Gatwick Airport station sits beneath the South Terminal, with a free shuttle to the North Terminal, so you can reach either in a few minutes.
Route, journey time and operator are from Southern and National Rail. Last updated: November 2026. Check live times and fares before you travel.
