London Gatwick to Malta

Why Gatwick works for Malta

For many travellers in Sussex, Surrey, Kent and south London, Gatwick is simply the easier airport. There is no need to join the M25 queues towards Heathrow, and the railway station is part of the airport, so you can arrive by train without arranging a lift or a long-stay car park. That matters most on the early start that a morning flight to the Mediterranean usually demands.

Malta is a small island with a long list of things to do, which is why a weekend or a week from Gatwick is such an easy sell. If you are still deciding whether it is the right trip, our guide to the best time to visit Malta explains how the seasons feel, and our Malta holidays page shows the kinds of trip people build around a direct flight. This page sticks to the practical business of the journey itself.

The other London option is Heathrow. If you are comparing the two, we have written a separate page for flying London Heathrow to Malta, because the terminal, the train links and the sensible time to leave home are all different.

Flying KM Malta Airlines from Gatwick South Terminal

We are KM Malta Airlines, the national carrier of Malta, and at Gatwick we check you in at South Terminal. That is the terminal to head for, though it is sensible to look at your booking confirmation and our emails a few days before you travel in case anything has changed. Our flights to Malta page sets out the route options from the UK.

Our check-in process is straightforward. Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure and is available at Gatwick. If you check in online and have luggage for the hold, you then go to the Bag Drop aisle on arrival. For all passengers we ask you to arrive at the airport at least 2.5 hours before departure and no later than 60 minutes before it. In practice, a time towards the earlier end of that range is far more relaxing in peak holiday periods, when queues for security can grow quickly.

Baggage and cabin allowances depend on the fare you buy, and we do not publish weights or prices here because they change. Check the fare conditions when you book, and weigh your bag before you leave home. If you are connecting with another airline, you are entitled to the baggage allowance of the airline operating the longest flight.

How easy is Gatwick to reach from London?

Very easy, which is a large part of why so many of our passengers choose it. Gatwick’s own website describes central London as “just 30 minutes” away by train and says the airport is connected directly to more than 120 stations. It also states that a train leaves the airport on average every four minutes, so you rarely wait long, and that you can pay with Oyster and contactless between Gatwick and London.

The railway station is at the South Terminal, where we check you in. Gatwick describes it as a five-minute walk from departures and arrivals, so there is no shuttle to catch and no second journey once you step off the train. Passengers whose flights use the North Terminal take a free shuttle of about two minutes, but our flights use South, so you will not need it.

Trains to Gatwick: Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink

Gatwick Express is the quickest option from the capital. Gatwick’s website states that the trains run non-stop to London Victoria, depart twice an hour from South Terminal and take 30 minutes. If you are starting from Victoria, or can reach it easily, this is the simplest way to arrive with time in hand.

Southern serves London Victoria and Clapham Junction, and also Brighton, Horsham, Eastbourne, Portsmouth and Southampton, so it is often the better choice if you are coming from the south coast rather than from central London. Thameslink serves London Bridge, London Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras International, and carries on to Bedford, Peterborough and Cambridge. That makes it useful if you are heading to the City, King’s Cross and St Pancras, or if you are travelling from the east of England without wanting to cross London first. Gatwick gives 30 to 45 minutes as the average direct journey to London on Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express.

Beyond London, Gatwick’s website gives these average direct journey times: Brighton 30 minutes, Reigate and Redhill 15 minutes, Guildford 1 hour, Eastbourne 1 hour, Reading 1 hour 30 minutes, Portsmouth 1 hour 45 minutes, and Bedford and Cambridge about 2 hours. Great Western Railway runs the Reading service every half hour. Timetables and engineering works change, so check the operator’s journey planner for the date you travel.

Coaches, taxis and driving

If you prefer to avoid trains, coaches are an alternative. Gatwick’s website lists National Express, Airline and FlixBus, with regular services to London Victoria and direct coaches to Heathrow taking about one hour. Tickets are available from National Express desks in both terminals or online. Gatwick also lists a taxi provider at the airport and seven on-airport car hire companies.

If you are driving, journey times depend on traffic, so leave generous time for the M23 and for finding a parking space, and book parking in advance where you can. Drop-off and pick-up arrangements at airports change from time to time, so check the airport’s current guidance rather than relying on a general guide such as this one. For an early flight, many travellers choose to stay near the airport the night before, which takes the stress out of the first leg.

Working out when to leave home

A worked example helps. Suppose your flight departs at 10:00. We ask you to be at the airport at least 2.5 hours before, which means by 07:30. The Gatwick Express takes 30 minutes and the station is about five minutes’ walk from the departure hall, so you would want a train that reaches Gatwick by roughly 07:15 and leaves Victoria around 06:40, allowing a little slack for the walk and for a late train. If you are coming from Brighton, add the 30 minutes the journey takes to your own departure time and work backwards in the same way.

In peak holiday periods we would aim for the earlier end of our range, because security queues can grow quickly. If you are checking in online and travelling without hold luggage, you can usually move more quickly through the terminal, but we still recommend leaving yourself a margin.

Gatwick or Heathrow: which suits you?

Gatwick suits travellers from Sussex, Surrey and Kent and anyone for whom Victoria, London Bridge or St Pancras is the natural starting point. Heathrow is the better fit for west and north-west London and the Thames Valley, with its own terminal arrangements and rail links, which we explain on our page for flying London Heathrow to Malta. Gatwick’s website notes that it is possible to travel between the two airports by rail, and suggests allowing about 1 hour 30 minutes by Gatwick Express, the Circle line and Heathrow Express, or by Thameslink to Farringdon and then the Elizabeth line. If you are unsure which airport is best, our London to Malta flights pagecompares the options.

Arriving in Malta: from the airport to your hotel

Malta International Airport is on the south-east side of the island, and nowhere on Malta is far away. Our Malta airport guide covers the terminal, arrivals and the services you can use after you land. Your onward choice depends on where you are staying and how much luggage you have.

A taxi is the easiest option with a family or heavy bags, and our Malta taxi guide explains how fares and booking work so you are not caught out. If you are travelling light and are happy to take your time, the island’s buses are the cheapest way to move around, and our Malta public transport guide sets out how they work. Drivers who want freedom to explore beyond the resorts may prefer a hire car.

Wherever you are heading, remember that Malta is one hour ahead of the UK all year round, that driving is on the left as in Britain, and that the currency is the euro. If you want a short overview of cash, cards and tipping before you land, our Malta currency and money guide is the quickest read.

Where to stay after you land

The best base is the one that fits your plans. Our where to stay in Malta guide compares the main areas and explains who each suits. Our hotels in Malta collection lists places to stay across the island, and many Gatwick passengers choose Sliema for its promenade, shops and sea views. If you prefer a quieter place to unwind, the guide will point you towards alternatives.

Wherever you stay, check the transfer arrangements before you fly. Some hotels can arrange a pick-up, which is worth considering after an evening arrival when you may not want to work out a bus route. Keep your hotel’s address and phone number somewhere easy to find on your phone.

Flying home: Malta to London Gatwick

The same rules apply when you fly home. Online check-in for our flights from Malta International Airport opens 24 hours before departure, and we ask you to be at the airport at least 2.5 hours before departure and no later than 60 minutes before. If you have checked in online and have a bag for the hold, go to our Bag Drop aisle when you arrive. Our terminal list shows Malta as a single-terminal airport, so there is only one building to find. Our Malta airport guide covers the airport itself, and the taxi and bus options in this guide work in reverse for the journey out to it.

The flight takes around 3 hours 20 minutes and you land at Gatwick South Terminal. Remember the clock: Malta is one hour ahead of the UK, so the time on your ticket for landing is UK time. As an example only, a flight that leaves Malta at 08:00 would be airborne for around 3 hours 20 minutes, reaching Gatwick at about 10:20 UK time. Check your own booking for the real schedule.

Once you are through the terminal, the railway station is the five-minute walk described above, with Gatwick Express to Victoria in 30 minutes, Thameslink to London Bridge and St Pancras, and Southern to Brighton. Gatwick says a train leaves on average every four minutes. If you are being collected, agree a meeting point before you land, and check the airport’s current pick-up arrangements.

Before you pack, check what you can bring home. For goods bought in the EU, GOV.UK currently states allowances of 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of wine, 4 litres of spirits over 22% ABV or 9 litres of drinks up to 22% ABV, one choice of tobacco such as 200 cigarettes, 50 millilitres of vaping liquid, and other goods up to £390 in value. If you go over an allowance you pay tax and duty on the whole amount in that category, not just the excess. Use the green channel if you are within your allowances and have nothing to declare, and the red channel or red point phone if you have goods or cash to declare, and cash of £10,000 or more must be declared. Allowances can change, so check GOV.UK before you travel.

Documents and entry rules

Entry rules for UK passport holders can change, so check the latest requirements before you book and again before you fly. Our visa pages summarise the position, but the official Maltese and UK government guidance always takes priority over any summary. Carry your passport on the day, keep it with your boarding pass, and check that it has enough validity for the dates of your trip.

Practical tips for a smooth Gatwick departure

• Check in online as soon as it opens, 24 hours before departure, and save your boarding pass to your phone.
• If you have hold luggage, plan for the Bag Drop aisle and arrive towards the earlier end of our recommended timing.
• Leave the plug adaptor at home: Malta uses the same three-pin sockets as Britain.
• Carry your passport and check the latest entry guidance before you leave.
• Keep medication and valuables in your cabin bag, and put the hotel address where you can reach it easily.

Last checked 15 October 2026. Sources checked: KM Malta Airlines check-in and flight information, the Gatwick Airport website (rail and coach pages) and GOV.UK guidance on bringing goods into the UK. Train and coach timings are taken from the operators’ own websites and can change, so check them for the day you travel.