There is no Underground station anywhere in this part of south-east London. Not in Deptford, not in New Cross, not in Brockley, Crofton Park or Honor Oak Park. The area runs on the Overground, Southeastern and Thameslink, and while that is perfectly good for getting into town, it makes an airport journey a sequence of changes.
This guide covers Deptford, New Cross, New Cross Gate, Brockley, Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park across SE8, SE14, SE4 and SE23. Fares shown are estimates confirmed when we accept your booking.
New Cross and New Cross Gate are two different stations
Worth being precise about, because it causes real problems.
New Cross and New Cross Gate are roughly 500 metres apart on New Cross Road, and they are not the same station. New Cross is on the Southeastern line and one branch of the Overground; New Cross Gate is on the other Overground branch and the Southern line. If you tell a driver "New Cross station" and mean the Gate, you have added a walk at the wrong end of the day.
The same applies when you are being collected. Give a street address, not a station name. It is the simplest way to avoid the problem entirely.
Getting out of SE8 and SE14
- The A2 (New Cross Road and Deptford Broadway) is the main artery and the route to almost everything. It is also consistently busy, and the Deptford Broadway junction is a known pinch point.
- Evelyn Street (the A200) runs north-west through Deptford towards Rotherhithe and the river — the usual way towards London City and the tunnels.
- Brockley, Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park sit up the hill south of the A2, on a grid of Victorian terraced streets with heavy resident parking. Stopping directly outside is often not possible, so your driver may pull up a few doors along.
- Deptford High Street has a street market and is closed or heavily restricted to traffic on market days. Check before you set a pickup point there.
Which airport works from here
London City — around 6 miles north-east through Deptford and the tunnels. Comfortably the nearest airport, and from Deptford in particular it is a short, cheap run.
Gatwick — south-west. A driver will normally head for the A2 west then down through Peckham and Brixton to the A23, or across towards Croydon and the M23. Around 28 miles.
Heathrow — the long one westwards, around 22 miles, usually via the A2 into town and out on the A4, or the South Circular west in lighter traffic.
Stansted — north-east through the Blackwall Tunnel and onto the A12 and M11. Around 35 miles.
Luton — north through central London or round on the M25. Around 38 miles and the longest of the four majors from SE4.
Southend — through the Blackwall or Silvertown tunnel and out on the A13 and A127, around 40 miles.
The Overground is not an airport line
Brockley, Honor Oak Park and New Cross Gate are all on the Windrush line, which is genuinely useful — it runs north to Shoreditch, Dalston and Highbury. What it does not do is go anywhere near an airport. Every rail route from here to a terminal involves changing at least once, usually twice, and usually somewhere with stairs.
That is the honest case for a pre-booked car from this area: not that the trains are bad, but that they are pointed the wrong way for this particular journey. For a single traveller with a rucksack the train is fine. For a family, or anyone with checked bags, the door-to-door run removes three interchanges.
If your travel coincides with engineering work or a strike, our transfers when the Tube is down guide covers what changes.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is New Cross the same station as New Cross Gate? A: No. They are about 500 metres apart on New Cross Road and serve different lines — New Cross is on Southeastern and one Overground branch, New Cross Gate on the other Overground branch and Southern. When booking a car, give a street address rather than a station name.
Q: Is there an Underground station in Deptford, New Cross or Brockley? A: No. There is no Tube anywhere in this area. It is served by the Overground, Southeastern and Thameslink, so every rail journey to an airport involves at least one interchange.
Q: Which airport is closest to Deptford? A: London City, at roughly 6 miles north-east through the Rotherhithe or Blackwall crossing. It is the shortest and usually the cheapest airport transfer from SE8.
Q: Can a car stop outside my house in Brockley or Crofton Park? A: Often not directly. These are Victorian terraced streets with heavy resident parking, so your driver may need to stop a few doors along. It helps to be ready and watching for the car rather than waiting indoors.
Q: How far is New Cross from Gatwick? A: Around 28 miles. The usual routes are west along the A2 then south on the A23 through Brixton and Streatham, or across towards Croydon and onto the M23.
Q: Does Deptford High Street market affect pickups? A: Yes. The street market closes or heavily restricts the High Street on market days, so set your pickup point on an adjoining road if you are travelling then.
Q: Can I get to Heathrow by train from Honor Oak Park? A: Only with multiple changes — typically into London Bridge or via the Overground, then across to the Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line. It is doable but involves two or three interchanges with luggage, which is why most people here book a car.
Get an estimated fare for your transfer from Deptford, New Cross, Brockley, Crofton Park or Honor Oak Park.