The answerHeathrow wins for most travellers from Lisbon once total journey time and cost are compared.
Strong confidence·Reviewed July 2026·Methodology verified
Travelvus verdict
Heathrow wins.
Total journey time
0 min
Time saved
0 min
Flight duration
0 h 50m
At a glance
Illustrative comparison based on typical fares and public transport costs. Ticket prices vary by airline, season and booking date.
GatwickHeathrow
Total journey time~5h 30m~5h 50mHeathrow is ~20 min faster
Total journey cost~€188~€145Heathrow saves ~€43
Transfer convenienceTrain, 30–50 min~35 min (Elizabeth Line)Heathrow has more options
Arrival reliabilityFewer, less frequent connectionsTrains every 10–15 minHeathrow is more predictable
Overall winner——Heathrow wins on 4 of 4 factors
Why Heathrow wins.
01
Heathrow saves ~20 minutes door-to-door versus Gatwick on this longer route.
02
TAP Air Portugal and BA flights include baggage — budget Gatwick fares add €35–50.
03
Lisbon's airport is well-connected by Metro — the London side is where the difference matters.
04
Elizabeth Line frequency (10–15 min) beats Gatwick Express (15 min) for total reliability.
05
For a ~3-hour flight, the transfer difference matters less — but Heathrow still edges it.
When Gatwick or Stansted is better
easyJet and Ryanair offer competitive LIS–LGW/STN fares — often €70 or less.
Hand luggage only? The baggage cost gap on budget airlines disappears.
Gatwick is better for south London and connections to Brighton.
Stansted is better for northeast London, Cambridge and East Anglia.
How the real cost compares
Illustrative breakdown. Actual costs depend on your specific flight, baggage and chosen transfer option.
Cost factorGatwickHeathrow
Flight ticketBudget vs full-service airline — illustrative fares~€70 (budget/easyJet)~€160 (full-service/TAP/BA)
Checked bagBudget airlines typically charge extra+€35–50 (typically)Often included
Airport transfer — LisbonMetro Vermelha — ~25 min from central Lisbon, ~€2Metro Vermelha — ~25 min from central Lisbon, ~€2
Airport transfer — LondonOff-peak single fares~£20 (Gatwick Express)~£12 (Elizabeth Line)
Schedule waitingRisk: 20–40 min gapMinimal: frequent service
Estimated total~€188~€145
Door-to-door journey timeline
Lisbon city → Airport
Metro Vermelha — ~25 min from central Lisbon, ~€2vsMetro Vermelha — ~25 min from central Lisbon, ~€2
Check-in + security
2h before departurevs2h before departure
Flight Lisbon → London
~2h 50mvs~2h 50m
Baggage + terminal
~25 minvs~20 min
Airport → Central London
~45 min (Gatwick Express)vs~35 min (Elizabeth Line)
Total door-to-door
~5h 30mvs~5h 50m
Which option fits your trip?
Business traveller→ Heathrow
TAP/BA full-service flights. Faster, more reliable London transfer.
Family with children→ Heathrow
Baggage included on TAP/BA. Easier transfer with children.
Budget traveller→ Gatwick or Stansted
easyJet/Ryanair fares can be very low from Lisbon — worth the extra transfer.
Weekend trip→ Heathrow
Faster door-to-door means more time in London on a short trip.
Surf trip return→ Gatwick
If combining with south coast, Gatwick is convenient for Brighton and the Channel.
Long stay→ Either
The transfer difference matters less. Choose by total cost and preferred airline.
Common mistakes on this route
Choosing by ticket price only
Add baggage fees, airport transfer cost and schedule waiting time. A €50 saving on the ticket can disappear after one checked bag and a coach transfer.
Ignoring the airport transfer
Gatwick is 45km from central London. The transfer costs time and money — factor it in.
Forgetting baggage costs
Budget airlines into Gatwick often charge €35–60 for a checked bag. Full-service airlines into Heathrow frequently include it.
Not comparing Lisbon airport access
Metro Vermelha — factor this into the total journey before comparing London airports.
Quick answers
Gatwick and other budget-airline airports often have cheaper advertised ticket prices from Lisbon. However, once you add baggage fees (€35–60 on budget airlines) and the longer, more expensive airport transfer, Heathrow is frequently cheaper overall. Always compare the complete door-to-door cost.
Gatwick Express — ~30 min, ~£20 off-peak.
Elizabeth Line — ~35 min, ~£12 off-peak.
Yes. Late-night arrivals at Gatwick mean fewer transport options. Late-night arrivals at Heathrow still have the Piccadilly Line (24-hour on Fri/Sat) and night buses. Early morning departures may require arriving at the airport the night before.
The Piccadilly Line costs £5–6 and takes 50–60 minutes. The Elizabeth Line costs ~£12 and takes ~35 minutes. Both run frequently throughout the day. The Piccadilly Line is the budget option; the Elizabeth Line is faster and more comfortable.
How we sourced this page
Public sources
Heathrow and Gatwick distances and terminal information — Heathrow Airport Ltd, Stansted Airport Ltd, Gatwick Airport Ltd
London transfer times and off-peak fares — Transport for London (TfL), National Rail
Lisbon airport access and fares — Metro de Lisboa, ANA Aeroportos
Flight durations — Typical scheduled times for direct flights
Illustrative assumptions
Ticket prices are illustrative — actual fares vary by airline, season and booking date.
Baggage costs are typical for European budget vs full-service airlines.
Total journey cost and time are estimates based on typical conditions.
The Verdict is illustrative — use the Comparison Engine with your real flight data.
Transfer times assume off-peak, no major disruption.
Last reviewed: July 2026 · Next factual review: January 2027
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