Bag drop closes 40–60 min before departure on most airlines — check your airline. Journey times come from our route pages; airport advice, Fast Track and drop-off prices from the airports’ own sites, checked October 2026. Our drivers use the terminal forecourt, so the drop-off charge is included in your fixed fare.
Dates, prices and menus are as published by each venue (checked October 2026); entries marked “2025 dates” are last season’s and will be updated when 2026 dates are announced. Check the linked site before booking. We can take you door to door to any of these – Christmas fares.
Getting around East Grinstead: parking, car hire, public transport & accessibility
Car parks in Tunbridge Wells – prices & opening hours (nearest researched hub to East Grinstead: Tunbridge Wells)
- Tunbridge Wells Station car parks (APCOA/Southeastern)
Mount Pleasant Road / station TN1
Premium car park £9.50 per day (£10.00 Tue–Thu); £4.50 evening after 18:00; £38.00 weekly; main 75-space car park season-ticket holders only; Blue Badge free (register)
75 (+214 Southeastern-listed) spaces, 3–4 Blue Badge bays · prices & booking - Crescent Road multi-storey (TWBC)
Crescent Road TN1 2LU, by Assembly Hall
£2.30/1h; £3.50/2h; £4.60/3h; £5.70/4h; £6.80/5h; £8.00 up to 24h; night £2.40 (18:00–08:00); free outside charging hours; 1.98m · 24h; charges Mon–Sat 08:00–18:00, Sun 10:00–17:00; lifts 08:00–20:00
1071 spaces, 26 Blue Badge bays · prices & booking - Great Hall multi-storey (TWBC)
Mount Pleasant TN1 1QQ, by Calverley Grounds
£2.30/1h; £3.50/2h; £4.60/3h; £5.70/4h; £6.80/5h; £8.00/6h; £11.00 up to 24h; night £2.40 (18:00–08:00); 1.98m · 24h; charges Mon–Sat 08:00–18:00, Sun 10:00–17:00
200 spaces, 6 Blue Badge bays · prices & booking - Torrington car park (TWBC)
Torrington Road TN1
See council page · —
— spaces, — Blue Badge bays · prices & booking
All car parks near East Grinstead on Google Maps. Parking vs taxi: Long Stay (official) at Gatwick is 0-2h free; 2-24h £38; each further day £32 roll-up (Oct 2026); cheaper pre-booked; our fixed fare from East Grinstead to Gatwick is from £85 for the whole car, door to door, with no shuttle bus and no drop-off charge to pay. Driving a friend to Gatwick? The terminal drop-off charge is £10 minimum (from 6 Jan 2026) (included in our fare).
Car hire in Tunbridge Wells (nearest researched hub to East Grinstead: Tunbridge Wells)
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tunbridge Wells
Units 4–5 Lamberts Park, Lamberts Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3YA
Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00; Sat 08:00–13:00; Sun closed · 01732 756185 · book
More car hire near East Grinstead on Google Maps. Typical 2026 rates: economy car from about £35–£60 a day. Hiring just to reach the airport? Count the fuel, the airport car-park fee and the return of the car before comparing with a one-way fixed fare.
Public transport vs taxi from East Grinstead to the airports
| Airport | Train / tube / bus | Our taxi |
|---|
| Heathrow | Southeastern to London Bridge, Jubilee line to Bond Street, Elizabeth line to Heathrow
110–125 min · 2 changes · Tunbridge Wells–London walk-up via journey planner + Elizabeth line Z1–Heathrow £15.50 (2026, reported)
first arrival approx 07:00, last departure approx 21:45 · timetable | – |
| Gatwick | Southeastern to Tonbridge, Southern to Redhill, change for Gatwick (or via London Bridge/Thameslink)
61 fastest, ~90–150 typical · 1–2 changes · Advance from £17.80 (Trainline)
first arrival approx 06:00 (first dep 04:14), last departure 01:00 · timetable | door to door, 20 min–35 min
from £85 fixed, whole car
24/7, meet & greet, no drop-off charge |
| Stansted | Southeastern to London Bridge, to Tottenham Hale/Liverpool Street, Stansted Express
137 fastest · 2 changes · Advance from £26 (Trainline)
first arrival approx 07:00 (first dep 04:17), last departure 00:20 · timetable | – |
| Luton | Southeastern to London Bridge, Thameslink to Luton Airport Parkway, DART
96 fastest, ~150 average · 1 change · Not published on Trainline; DART £4.90 if separate
first arrival approx 06:15 (first dep 04:14), last departure 00:20 · timetable | – |
| London City | Southeastern to London Bridge, Jubilee line to Canning Town, DLR to London City Airport
85–95 min · 2 changes · Walk-up to London + TfL PAYG
first arrival approx 06:45, last departure approx 22:30 · timetable | – |
How to choose. Public transport wins on price for one traveller with hand luggage at 10am. A taxi usually wins when there are two or more of you (one fare for the car, not per person), when you have hold bags or a pushchair, for flights before the first train arrives or landings after the last one leaves, and when a change of train or a station without lifts would be a problem. Rail fares above are per adult; add £4–£6 per person for the DART/shuttle where shown, and remember engineering work most weekends.
Accessibility in East Grinstead: step-free travel, assistance dogs & pets
| Station | Step-free access | Lifts | Assistance | Accessible toilets | Source |
|---|
Tunbridge Wells
Southeastern | Category B2 — platform 1 step-free from main entrance; platform 2 step-free by lift from Mount Pleasant Road entrance, but platform 2 lifts currently out of use (Oct 2026); interchange via steep 200m path; nearest step-free alternatives High Brooms, Tonbridge | Yes (platform 2 lifts out of use) | Passenger Assist: book up to 2h ahead or turn-up-and-go (20 min); staffed Mon–Sat 05:00–01:45, Sun 07:20–00:30 | Yes, both platforms (stoma-friendly) during staffing hours | station page |
Step-free: Tunbridge Wells platform 2 lifts out of use (Oct 2026); High Brooms and Tonbridge step-free alternatives (Southeastern). Buses: Arriva Kent & Surrey (Tunbridge Wells town services, 7, 277 etc.); low-floor accessible. Blue Badge parking: Free at station (APCOA registration); TWBC: Blue Badge free, no time limit, in Crescent Road (26 bays) and Great Hall (6 bays). Guide & assistance dogs: Assistance dogs accepted on all services on local public transport. Pets on public transport: Southeastern: up to 2 small dogs free, leashed; Arriva: driver's discretion, assistance dogs always free.
Travelling with us: assistance dogs always travel free in every car, no notice needed (Equality Act 2010). Other dogs and pets are welcome by prior arrangement – tell us when you book so we send a suitable car and a driver who is happy to carry them. Folding wheelchairs, walkers and mobility scooters that fold go in the boot at no extra charge; if you need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle or extra time at pick-up, say so when booking and we will confirm availability before you pay. Rail step-free status changes when lifts are out of service – check the station page or book Passenger Assist (ideally 2 hours ahead); on TfL you can turn up and go.
Child-friendly Tunbridge Wells: places for children & family dining (nearest researched hub to East Grinstead: Tunbridge Wells)
- Dunorlan Park
Free park, playground, boating lake, café · more - Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre
Swimming pool, family sessions (Fusion)
free entry · more - Assembly Hall Theatre
Family shows, pantomime
tickets about £12–£35 · more - The Amelia Scott
Free museum/library with family activities · more - Spa Valley Railway
Heritage steam trains from Tunbridge Wells West
adult about £18, approx · more
Family restaurants: wagamama Tunbridge Wells; PizzaExpress Tunbridge Wells High Street.
Baby changing & feeding: Tunbridge Wells station: baby changing when staff present (Southeastern). Royal Victoria Place publishes facilities on its site.
Child seats: licensed private hire cars are exempt from the child-seat law when a seat is not available, but we would rather fit one – give us the children’s ages when you book and we will bring the right seat where we can (free, subject to availability), or you are welcome to bring your own. Pushchairs and travel cots go in the boot at no charge.
At Gatwick Airport: parking, car hire, getting into London & assistance
Gatwick Airport car parks – official prices
| Car park | Price | Hours | |
|---|
| Short Stay North/South (official) | Up to 30 min £8; 31-60 min £14; 1-2h £18; 2-3h £21.50; 6-12h £60; 12-24h £70 (Oct 2026) | 24/7 | book |
| Long Stay (official) | 0-2h free; 2-24h £38; each further day £32 roll-up (Oct 2026); cheaper pre-booked | 24/7, free shuttle | book |
| Valet / Meet & Greet (official) | Pre-book only (at least 24h ahead) | 24/7 | book |
| Drop-off charge | £10 minimum (from 6 Jan 2026) | 24/7 | book |
Car hire at Gatwick Airport
- Car rental desks (Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Europcar, Sixt)
South Terminal arrivals; vehicles at the car rental centre · book
Gatwick Airport to London: public transport vs taxi
| Option | Time & fare | Hours | |
|---|
| Gatwick Express to Victoria | 30 min · Contactless about £18.40 peak / £10.10 off-peak; online single from £24.10 | | timetable |
| Thameslink to London Bridge/St Pancras; Southern to Victoria | 30-45 min · Contactless peak/off-peak | last Thameslink runs through the night on some nights | timetable |
| National Express coach to Victoria | ~90 min | | timetable |
| Our fixed-fare taxi to East Grinstead | 20 min–35 min door to door · from £85 whole car | 24/7, meet & greet in arrivals, flight tracked | |
Assistance, step-free access, assistance dogs & pets at Gatwick Airport
Special assistance: Book via airline at least 48h ahead; Assisted Travel receptions at drop-off points, help points at bus stops, entrances, Short Stay car parks, check-in, pre-security and departure lounge; Eagle Hoist with 24h notice. Step-free: Most gates via airbridges; Ambulift where stairs; lifts to station platforms; Premium car parks same-level access. Accessible toilets & Changing Places: Two Changing Places (one per terminal, on arrivals routes), free, no booking. Assistance dogs: Only assistance dogs allowed in terminals; notify airline 48h; Service Animal Spend Area via the Assisted Travel team. Pets: Dogs flying must meet the PETS scheme. Blue Badge parking: Blue Badge bays in all car parks; Blue Badge holders may use Premium Short Stay at standard rate up to 4h; pre-register plate for free drop-off. Airport accessibility page
Families at Gatwick Airport
Family facilities: Baby change in both terminals before and after security; family lanes at security; play areas for young children in both terminals.
- Tulleys Farm
Crawley, ~15 min
see site · more - Gatwick Aviation Museum
Charlwood
free (donations) · more - Brighton seafront
30 min by train
free · more
Car park, car hire, rail and accessibility details are as published by the operators and airports (seen October 2026) and from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors) – check before you rely on them; TfL Journey Planner times are for a weekday 10:00 departure. Our fares are the fixed saloon price on the linked route page.
