If you live in SE9 or SE12, you have something most of south-east London does not: a fast road out. The A20 runs straight from Eltham to the M25 at junction 3, and from there the motorway takes you anticlockwise to Gatwick or clockwise towards the Dartford Crossing and the east. No tunnels, no South Circular, no crossing central London.
That makes this corridor one of the easier parts of SE London to run an airport transfer from — particularly for Gatwick, which from here is a genuinely straightforward motorway journey rather than a crawl through Brixton and Streatham.
This guide covers Eltham, Mottingham, Lee, Grove Park and Chinbrook. Fares on our site are estimates confirmed when we accept your booking.
The A20 advantage
- Eltham to M25 J3 is a short run on dual carriageway for most of it, via the Sidcup bypass.
- From J3 it is anticlockwise to J7 for the M23 and Gatwick — about as clean a Gatwick approach as exists from London.
- Clockwise from J3 takes you to the Dartford Crossing for Southend, Stansted and the Essex airports.
- The catch is the Eltham end of the A20 at peak, where the Sidcup Road and the Well Hall roundabout back up. Early-morning departures avoid all of it, which is another reason pre-dawn airport runs from here tend to run to time.
Local pickup notes
- Eltham High Street is busy with buses and has restricted stopping along the shopping stretch. A side road works better.
- Well Hall Roundabout and the Eltham Palace approach are fine for a pickup on the residential roads off them, less so on the roundabout itself.
- Mottingham is quiet and residential — generally the easiest pickups in this cluster.
- Grove Park is where the Bromley North branch leaves the main line, and the station approach is narrow. Give a house number.
- Chinbrook has no station of its own. It is a residential pocket around Chinbrook Meadows, and the nearest stations are Grove Park and Mottingham. If you tell a driver "Chinbrook station" they will be looking for something that does not exist — give your street.
- Lee and Lee Green sit where the A20 crosses the South Circular, a junction that is slow at peak and worth avoiding if you can time around it.
Airport by airport
Gatwick — the standout. A20 to M25 J3, anticlockwise to J7, then the M23. Around 32 miles but almost entirely motorway and dual carriageway, which makes it more predictable than the mileage suggests.
London City — around 8 miles north via Eltham and the A102 or Woolwich. The nearest airport in distance.
Southend — around 33 miles, out on the A20 to the M25 and over the Dartford Crossing to the A13 and A127. A Dart Charge applies and is accounted for in your fare.
Stansted — around 35 miles, M25 clockwise over the Dartford Crossing then the M11.
Heathrow — around 27 miles. Either M25 anticlockwise the long way round, or across London on the A2 and out west. The driver's choice depends on the hour, and the M25 route often wins outside rush hour despite being further.
Luton — around 42 miles north, M25 clockwise then the M1, or across town. The longest run from SE9.
Why the M25 route is sometimes the long way round and still faster
It surprises people that a driver leaving Eltham for Heathrow might head east and north on the M25 rather than west through London. The distance is greater — sometimes by ten miles. But the London route means the South Circular or the A2 into town, the river, and west London traffic, none of which is predictable. Motorway miles at a steady speed frequently beat urban miles at a crawl.
If your driver takes what looks like the wrong direction out of Eltham, that is usually why. Our guide on how early to arrive at the airport covers how to build the right buffer into your timing.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the best route from Eltham to Gatwick? A: The A20 to M25 junction 3, anticlockwise round to junction 7, then the M23 south. It is around 32 miles and almost all motorway or dual carriageway, which makes it one of the more predictable Gatwick runs from London.
Q: Is there a station at Chinbrook? A: No. Chinbrook is a residential area around Chinbrook Meadows with no station of its own. The nearest are Grove Park and Mottingham, so give your street address when booking rather than a station name.
Q: Why would a driver go towards the M25 to reach Heathrow from SE9? A: Because motorway miles are more predictable than urban ones. The M25 route is longer in distance but often faster in practice than crossing London on the A2 and heading west through city traffic, particularly outside rush hour.
Q: How far is Eltham from London City Airport? A: Around 8 miles north via the A102 or through Woolwich. It is the closest airport to SE9 and SE12 by distance.
Q: Does the Dartford Crossing charge apply to my transfer? A: If your route uses it — typically for Southend or Stansted — then yes, a Dart Charge applies, but it is accounted for in your quoted fare rather than billed to you separately.
Q: When is the A20 worst for airport journeys? A: Weekday morning and evening peaks, particularly around Sidcup Road and the Well Hall roundabout. Early-morning departures miss it entirely, which is one reason pre-dawn runs from this area are reliable.
Q: Can a car collect me on Eltham High Street? A: Stopping is restricted along the main shopping stretch and it is busy with buses. A side road just off the High Street is the practical option, and your driver will normally suggest one.
Get an estimated fare for your transfer from Eltham, Mottingham, Lee, Grove Park or Chinbrook.