Taxi from Gatwick Airport to Portsmouth International Port

Where the port actually is

This trips up a lot of first-time ferry passengers. Portsmouth International Port is not next to Portsmouth Harbour station or Gunwharf Quays. It sits further north on the eastern edge of the harbour, off the M275 at the end of the motorway into the city. Arriving by road is straightforward, and that is how the port is designed to be used, with a passenger drop-off right by the terminal.

The Isle of Wight car ferry and the Gosport ferry leave from different places entirely, so if your booking is for one of those, tell us and we will set the right drop-off point.

The route and timing

From Gatwick the usual road is the M23 and A23 south, then west along the A27 past Chichester and Havant, joining the M27 briefly before the M275 into Portsmouth. An alternative runs through Horsham on the A24 and A29 when the A27 is congested. Either way, the trip is around an hour and twenty minutes on a clear road.

The A27 around Chichester and Arundel is the stretch that slows on summer weekends, and the approach to the port can queue when several ships are boarding at once. If you are catching an overnight ferry with a check-in deadline, allow an hour and three quarters to be safe.

Ferry and cruise timing

Foot passengers on the ferries usually need to check in well before departure, and the exact cut-off depends on the operator and route, so check your ticket. Cruise passengers often get an allocated arrival window instead. Tell us your sailing time or boarding window when you book and we will suggest a Gatwick pickup that leaves sensible margin.

If your flight lands late in the day and your ferry leaves the next morning, a night near the port can be far less stressful than a race down the A27. We are happy to drop you at a Portsmouth hotel and collect you again in the morning, both at fixed prices.

Getting there by train instead

You can do this by rail. Southern runs trains from Gatwick down the Arun Valley line towards the coast, and with a change you can reach Portsmouth and Southsea or Portsmouth Harbour in around two hours. From there you still need a taxi or a bus to the International Port, because it is not within comfortable walking distance with luggage.

For one person travelling light on a day with time to spare, the train works. With ferry luggage, a family, bikes on the roof or a tight check-in, the single car journey is usually the better choice, and with three or four people the fixed fare often compares well with several train tickets plus a taxi at the end.

Choosing the right vehicle

Ferry and cruise trips involve more luggage than an ordinary flight. A saloon takes two large cases comfortably. For two people on a fortnight's cruise we usually suggest an estate, and for a family an MPV. Groups heading to the same sailing can share an eight-seat MPV, which keeps everyone together through the port's drop-off and into the terminal.

Child seats are free on request, and we can carry folding wheelchairs and mobility aids. Just add a note when you book.

Arriving at Gatwick

Give us your flight number and terminal. The driver tracks your flight, waits in arrivals with a name board and walks you to the car in the short-stay car park. If your flight is delayed, the pickup moves with it at no extra charge.

Gatwick's drop-off charge

If you are flying home from Gatwick after your trip and someone is giving you a lift to the airport, it is worth knowing that Gatwick now charges £10 for the first ten minutes in its forecourt drop-off zones, then £1 a minute after that. The free alternative is the Long Stay car park, with two hours free and a shuttle bus to both terminals. Pre-booked taxis are not affected: the fixed fare covers parking and drop-off.

Frequently asked questions