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LGW → London · head to head

ThameslinkorSouthern and South Western Railway to Southampton?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The Thameslink reaches Victoria, with London Bridge and the City on Thameslink; the Southern and South Western Railway to Southampton does not. This goes to Southampton, not London: it ends at Southampton Central, about a mile from the City and Horizon cruise terminals.

The Thameslink is quicker: 29 min against 1 h 36. The Southern and South Western Railway to Southampton varies between 96 and 115 minutes.

Thameslink: Runs all night. Southern and South Western Railway to Southampton: 05:57–22:32.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares

What each costs for the whole party, in GBP. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
Travelers	Thameslink	Southern and South Western Railway to Southampton	Difference
1	£10.70	£46.50	£35.80
2	£21.40	£93	£71.60
3	£32.10	£139.50	£107.40
4	£42.80	£186	£143.20
5	£53.50	£232.50	£179
6	£64.20	£279	£214.80
7	£74.90	£325.50	£250.60
8	£85.60	£372	£286.40

Side by side

Where each one leaves you

Thameslink · ThameslinkThameslink

From: Gatwick Airport station, in the South Terminal
To: London Bridge, then Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras International
Luggage: Racks by the doors and overhead.
Runs: All night
Journey: 29–63 min

Overnight it is hourly and skips London Bridge: from the airport 00:02, 00:42, 01:45, 02:45, 03:45 and 04:20 on weekdays, about 50 minutes to Blackfriars and an hour to St Pancras.

By day it takes 29 minutes to London Bridge and about 44 to St Pancras; some trains stop more and take up to an hour.

Tapping is the cheap way off-peak and the dear way from 06:30 to 09:30 on weekdays, when the £14.40 paper ticket saves £4.80.

Thameslink: price for every party size

Check times and fares with National Rail

SouthernSWR · Southern and South Western RailwaySouthern and South Western Railway to Southampton

From: Gatwick Airport station, in the South Terminal
To: Southampton Central, changing at Clapham Junction
Runs: 05:57–22:32
Journey: 96–115 min

The £46.50 ticket is not valid via the London terminals, and the Gatwick Express does not take it; buy the ticket for the Clapham Junction route.

Tapping in with a contactless card does not cover this journey: buy a ticket first.

Southern and South Western Railway to Southampton: price for every party size

Check times and fares with National Rail

This compares two of 9 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

ThameslinkorSouthern and South Western Railway to Southampton?

Priced against each other

Side by side

The other comparisons at Gatwick