Southwater is a large village just south of Horsham, built mostly since the 1980s on the site of the old brickworks, with its country park, lake and lively village centre. It sits right beside the A24, which makes the trip to Gatwick quick and straightforward. A taxi from Southwater RH13 to Gatwick Airport costs from £59 for a saloon, fixed at booking, and takes around 25 to 30 minutes.
The drive to Gatwick
From Southwater, the driver joins the A24 north and follows it round the Horsham bypass to the Great Daux roundabout, then heads east on the A264 past Faygate and around Crawley to the M23 and Gatwick. It is about 17 miles.
On a clear road, the trip takes 25 to 30 minutes. The roundabouts around Horsham and Crawley are the usual slow spots in the morning and evening rush hours. For early-morning departures, the roads are quiet and the drive is often quicker.
Around RH13
RH13 covers Southwater and the southern and eastern side of Horsham, including Christ's Hospital, Mannings Heath, Nuthurst, Cowfold, Partridge Green, West Grinstead and Barns Green. Southwater itself has a mix of estates, with many cul-de-sacs, and some newer streets on the edges of the village that may not yet be on every satnav. Add a landmark if your home is new.
In the rural villages, properties often have names instead of numbers; a what3words reference or directions from the main road help the driver find you first time.
No station in Southwater
Southwater lost its railway in the 1960s; the old line is now the Downs Link, a popular walking and cycling path. The nearest stations are Christ's Hospital and Horsham, both on the Arun Valley line, with direct Southern trains to Gatwick. The train itself is quick, around 20 to 25 minutes, but getting to the station with luggage means a bus, a lift or a taxi first.
For a solo traveller with a small bag and a lift to the station, the train works. For most families, the car from the door is easier, and the fixed fare is competitive for two or more people.
What the fixed fare covers
The £59 fare is for a saloon carrying up to four passengers, with two large cases and two smaller bags, from your RH13 address to North or South Terminal. It is agreed when you book and does not change on the day. Larger vehicles are available at their own fixed prices.
Gatwick's drop-off charges
If you are getting a lift to Gatwick, it helps to know the rules. Since January 2026, Gatwick has charged £10 for the first ten minutes in the forecourt drop-off zones outside North and South Terminal, then £1 a minute up to thirty minutes. Cameras log the plate, and the charge is paid online by midnight the next day, with a £100 penalty for missing it.
The free alternative is the Long Stay car park, which allows up to two hours with a shuttle bus to the terminals. Blue Badge holders are exempt. With a pre-booked taxi, our fixed fare covers it.
Timing your pickup
As a guide, leave Southwater about two hours before a short-haul flight and two and a half hours before long-haul. In the school holidays, add half an hour for queues at the airport. We will confirm a pickup time when you book.
Coming home
The same fixed fare applies from Gatwick to Southwater. Your driver tracks your flight, waits in arrivals with a name board and helps with your luggage. If your flight is delayed, there is no extra charge.
Christ's Hospital School
Christ's Hospital, the historic boarding school with its distinctive Tudor uniform, is on the edge of RH13, a couple of miles from Southwater. Many pupils fly in and out of Gatwick at the start and end of term. Give us the pupil's name, mobile number and boarding house, and the driver will take them to the right place.
Southwater Country Park and the Downs Link
The village is built around Southwater Country Park, with its lake, beach and woodland on the site of the old brickworks, and the Downs Link path running past on the old railway line. If you are visiting family in the village or staying nearby, the park is a good landmark to give the driver. For homes on the newer estates around the edge of the village, a house number and the estate name help.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from Southwater to Gatwick?
From £59 for a saloon carrying up to four passengers, fixed at booking.
How long does it take?
Around 25 to 30 minutes for 17 miles.
Is there a station in Southwater?
No. The nearest stations are Christ's Hospital and Horsham, both with direct trains to Gatwick.
Do you cover Cowfold, Partridge Green and Barns Green?
Yes. Any address in RH13 can be booked at a fixed price.
Can you take pupils to Christ's Hospital?
Yes. Give us the pupil's name, mobile number and boarding house.
Will the driver wait if my flight is delayed?
Yes. The flight is tracked, so the pickup moves with it and the price stays the same.
Can I book a return trip?
Yes. Book both directions together and the second leg is five per cent cheaper.
