Slough sits right next to Heathrow, so people are often surprised to find themselves flying into Gatwick instead. It happens all the time with holiday flights and with business travellers whose company has booked the cheapest fare. The good news is that the drive is mostly motorway. A taxi from Gatwick Airport to Slough costs from £99 for a saloon, fixed at booking, and covers the whole car rather than each passenger.
The road from Gatwick to Slough
The driver takes the M23 north to the M25, then goes anticlockwise around the western side of London to junction 15, where the M4 heads west to Slough. It is about 40 miles and, on a decent day, around 45 to 55 minutes from the Gatwick short-stay car park to an address in central Slough.
The section of M25 between junctions 9 and 15 is the one to watch. The interchanges with the M3 and the M4, plus the Heathrow traffic around junction 14, mean this stretch can back up at rush hour or after an accident. Weekday late afternoons are the slowest. If you land then, allow an hour and a quarter.
Business addresses on the Slough Trading Estate
A lot of our Slough journeys finish on the Slough Trading Estate, which is one of the largest business parks in Europe and home to data centres, offices and distribution sites. The estate has its own internal road network and dozens of near-identical buildings, so the more detail you give, the better. A building number, company name and the gate or reception you need saves a driver hunting for the right entrance.
For visitors staying overnight, Slough's hotels cluster near the M4 junctions and along the Bath Road. Give us the hotel name and the driver will take you to the main entrance.
Training it from Gatwick to Slough
There is no direct train, and the options all involve a change. The usual routes are to take the Great Western Railway service from Gatwick across to Reading and then come back east to Slough on the Elizabeth line or GWR, or to go into London and come out again from Paddington. Either way, expect around an hour and three quarters to two hours.
For a solo traveller with light luggage that can be fine, but it is a long way round for a 40 mile trip. Most people with cases, children or a meeting to get to find the direct car journey easier, and for two or three passengers the fixed fare starts to compare well.
Local pickups across Slough
Slough covers a wide area: the town centre around the High Street and Queensmere, Upton, Langley and Cippenham, plus the villages around Burnham, Stoke Poges and Farnham Royal. Most streets are easy for a driver to reach. If you are in a newer apartment block near the station, tell us which entrance faces the road and whether there is somewhere the car can stop briefly.
The same fixed fare works in reverse for your trip out. For early Gatwick departures, we usually suggest leaving Slough about three hours before your flight, which allows for the M25 plus bag drop and security.
Meet and greet and flight delays
Every Gatwick pickup includes meet and greet. Your driver waits in the arrivals hall with a name board and helps with the trolley. We track your flight number and adjust the pickup if you land early or late, and there is no charge for delays. Confirm whether you are landing at North or South Terminal when you book, since the meeting points are different.
The right car for your group
A saloon takes up to four passengers with two large cases. Estates suit families with more luggage. Six and eight seat MPVs and the Mercedes V-Class suit larger families and business teams of up to eight.
Gatwick drop-off charges
Since January 2026, Gatwick has charged £10 for ten minutes in the drop-off zones outside North and South Terminal, then £1 a minute up to a thirty-minute limit. Number plates are read automatically and payment is due online by midnight the next day. If someone is driving you rather than booking a car, the free Long Stay car park gives two hours free with a shuttle bus to the terminals. With a pre-booked taxi, the driver uses the short-stay car park and the cost is covered by the fixed fare.
Slough, Windsor and Eton
Slough's neighbours are some of the most visited places in the country. Windsor Castle and Eton College are only a few miles away across the M4, and Legoland Windsor is just beyond. If you are staying in Slough to visit them, we can take you straight to the hotel from Gatwick and, on another day, run you to the attractions at fixed prices. We have a separate guide for Gatwick to Legoland Windsor.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from Gatwick to Slough?
From £99 for a saloon carrying up to four passengers, fixed at booking. Larger vehicles are quoted at their own fixed price.
How long does it take?
Usually 45 to 55 minutes for around 40 miles via the M25 and M4. Allow longer in the late afternoon rush.
Is there a direct train from Gatwick to Slough?
No. You will need at least one change, usually at Reading or in central London, and the journey generally takes close to two hours.
Can you drop me at a building on the Slough Trading Estate?
Yes. Give us the company name and building number, and mention which reception or gate you need.
Do you charge extra if my flight is delayed?
No. We track the flight and move the pickup to match your actual landing time.
Can I book a return to Gatwick from Slough?
Yes. The same fixed fare applies in both directions, and return bookings get five per cent off the way back.
Is the Gatwick drop-off charge on top of my fare?
No. The fixed fare covers it.
Can you take us to Windsor or Legoland instead?
Yes. Enter the address and you will get a fixed price for that journey.
