Portsmouth is a city on an island, and that shapes every journey into it. There are only a few roads on and off Portsea Island, so how quickly you get home from Gatwick depends a lot on which part of the city you are heading to and how busy the M275 and the A27 are. A taxi from Gatwick Airport to Portsmouth costs from £139 for a saloon, fixed at booking, for around 62 miles.
This page covers the city itself: Southsea, the centre, Gunwharf, the Historic Dockyard and the university. If you are going straight to a ferry or cruise ship, see our separate guide to Portsmouth International Port.
The drive from Gatwick
The usual route is the M23 and A23 south, then west along the A27 past Arundel and Chichester, and onto the island either via the M275 for the west side of the city or the A2030 Eastern Road for Southsea and Eastney. Around an hour and fifteen minutes when the A27 is clear.
The A27 is the variable. It is dual carriageway for most of the way but has single-lane sections and roundabouts near Arundel and Chichester that queue at peak times, in summer and on Friday afternoons. If it is badly blocked, the driver may go inland via Horsham and Petersfield instead.
Where in Portsmouth?
- Southsea and the seafront, including Clarence Pier, the Common and the streets around Albert Road and Osborne Road, are best reached via the Eastern Road.
- Gunwharf Quays and the Spinnaker Tower are at the southern end of the M275. The car can stop at the drop-off by the shopping centre.
- The Historic Dockyard, with HMS Victory and the Mary Rose, has a visitor entrance by the Hard. If you are working on the naval base, tell us which gate.
- The University of Portsmouth campus is spread around Guildhall Walk and Ravelin Park, with halls across the city. Give us the hall name.
- Queen Alexandra Hospital is off the island in Cosham, at the foot of Portsdown Hill, which is often quicker to reach from the A27.
Train from Gatwick to Portsmouth
The train is a genuine option here. Southern services run from Gatwick down the Arun Valley line towards the coast, and with a change or sometimes directly you can reach Portsmouth and Southsea or Portsmouth Harbour in around two hours.
If you are travelling alone with a small bag and the timing works, the train will cost less. If you have a family, holiday luggage, or you are landing after the last convenient service, the door-to-door car is simpler. With three or four people the fixed fare usually compares well with individual tickets.
Navy families and service personnel
Portsmouth is home to much of the Royal Navy's surface fleet, and many of our bookings are for sailors and their families flying in and out around deployments. If you are heading to a specific gate at HMNB Portsmouth, tell us when you book. Drivers cannot enter the base, but they will drop you at the correct gate.
Included in the fare
Flight tracking, meet and greet in the Gatwick arrivals hall, free waiting time after landing and free child seats on request. The price does not change if the A27 is slow.
Gatwick drop-off charges for your trip out
If you are flying out from Gatwick and someone is driving you rather than booking a taxi, it helps to know the rules. Gatwick charges £10 for the first ten minutes in the terminal forecourt drop-off zones, then £1 a minute up to a maximum of thirty minutes, with cameras logging every number plate. The charge rose from £7 in January 2026, so it catches out people who remember the old price. Blue Badge holders are exempt.
The free alternative is the Long Stay car park, which allows up to two hours' free drop-off with a shuttle bus to the terminals. When you book with us, none of this applies to you. The fare is fixed and covers the drop-off.
The view from Portsdown Hill
Coming into Portsmouth from the A27, the road drops off Portsdown Hill with the whole harbour laid out below: the Spinnaker Tower, the dockyard cranes, the warships alongside and the Isle of Wight beyond. After a long flight it is a good moment to arrive home. On a clear evening, the driver can take the old road over the top of the hill if you would like to see it, at no extra charge if it adds only a few minutes.
Booking tips
Give us your full Portsmouth address with postcode, your flight number and terminal, and a mobile number that works when you land. For terraced streets in Southsea, a house number and which end of the road you are at helps. If you have bikes, surfboards or a lot of sailing kit, mention it so we send a vehicle with the right space.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from Gatwick to Portsmouth?
From £139 for a saloon, fixed at booking. Larger vehicles are quoted at their own fixed price.
How long does the drive take?
Usually an hour and fifteen to an hour and a half for around 62 miles via the A23 and A27.
Can you take me to the ferry port instead?
Yes. The International Port has its own drop-off, and we have a separate guide for it. Just enter it as your destination.
Is there a train from Gatwick to Portsmouth?
Yes. Southern trains run towards Portsmouth, sometimes with a change, and take around two hours.
Can you drop me at the naval base?
Yes, at the gate you need. Drivers cannot enter the base itself.
Do you pick up from Portsmouth for Gatwick flights?
Yes, at the same fixed fare. We will suggest a pickup time that allows for the A27.
Is the Gatwick drop-off charge included in my fare?
Yes. The fixed fare covers it. You only need to think about the charge if a friend drives you to the airport.
Can you carry bikes or sailing kit?
Often, yes, in an estate or MPV. Tell us what you are bringing when you book.
