The answerHeathrow wins for most travellers from Milan once total journey time and cost are compared.
Strong confidence·Reviewed July 2026·Methodology verified
Travelvus verdict
Heathrow wins.
Total journey time
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Flight duration
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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~4h 50m~5h 40mHeathrow is ~50 min faster
Total journey cost~€164~€130Heathrow saves ~€34
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 ~50 minutes door-to-door — Milan's airport choice amplifies the London transfer difference.
02
Linate is only 7km from Milan centre (Metro M4, 25 min) versus Bergamo at 55km (bus, 60 min).
03
Full-service BA/ITA flights include baggage — Ryanair from Bergamo adds €40–60.
04
Heathrow trains every 10–15 min vs Stansted Express every 15–30 min.
05
Both the Milan-side and London-side airport choices favour the LHR route.
When Bergamo + Stansted is actually the better choice
Ryanair fares from Bergamo can be as low as €20–35 — the saving is dramatic.
If travelling with hand luggage only, the baggage fee difference disappears.
Bergamo is a small, efficient airport — security and walking time are often shorter.
The combined saving (cheaper ticket + no baggage) can exceed €100.
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~€35 (Ryanair)~€130 (full-service/BA/ITA)
Checked bagBudget airlines typically charge extra+€40–60 (typically)Often included
Airport transfer — MilanMalpensa Express — ~50 min from Cadorna, ~€13. Linate — Metro M4, ~25 min, ~€2. Bergamo — bus ~60 min, ~€10Malpensa Express — ~50 min from Cadorna, ~€13. Linate — Metro M4, ~25 min, ~€2. Bergamo — bus ~60 min, ~€10
Airport transfer — LondonOff-peak single fares~£20 (Gatwick Express)~£12 (Elizabeth Line)
Schedule waitingRisk: 20–40 min gapMinimal: frequent service
Estimated total~€164~€130
Door-to-door journey timeline
Milan city → Airport
Malpensa Express — ~50 min from Cadorna, ~€13. Linate — Metro M4, ~25 min, ~€2. Bergamo — bus ~60 min, ~€10vsMalpensa Express — ~50 min from Cadorna, ~€13. Linate — Metro M4, ~25 min, ~€2. Bergamo — bus ~60 min, ~€10
Check-in + security
2h before departurevs2h before departure
Flight Milan → London
~2h 00m (from BGY)vs~2h 00m (from LIN or MXP)
Baggage + terminal
~25 minvs~20 min
Airport → Central London
~45 min (Gatwick Express)vs~35 min (Elizabeth Line)
Total door-to-door
~4h 50mvs~5h 40m
Which option fits your trip?
Business traveller→ Linate + Heathrow
Linate is closest to Milan centre. Heathrow has the fastest London transfer. Best at both ends.
Family with children→ Malpensa + Heathrow
Malpensa Express is comfortable. Heathrow transfer is simpler than Stansted coach.
Budget traveller→ Bergamo + Stansted
Ryanair at €20–35 one-way is hard to beat. The longer transfers are worth the saving.
Weekend trip→ Linate + Heathrow
Fastest door-to-door. Maximises a short trip between two great cities.
Milan city centre dweller→ Linate + Heathrow
Metro M4 to Linate in 25 min. The most seamless city-to-city journey.
Lake Como bound→ Bergamo + Stansted
Bergamo is closer to Lake Como and the eastern lakes than Malpensa.
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 Milan airport access
Malpensa Express — 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 Milan. 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
Milan airport access and fares — Trenord, ATM Milano, SACBO (Bergamo)
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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