London Gateway was built to take the largest container ships and sits next to a large logistics park, with its own rail terminal. Its location makes it a strong choice for cargo going into London and the South East, where it can cut the road leg compared with the east and south coast ports.
More deep sea services now call at London Gateway, so it's worth checking whether your shipping line offers it before you default to another port.
What moves through London Gateway
- Deep sea imports from Asia, the Mediterranean and beyond
- Retail and e-commerce stock for London and the South East
- Exports through the Thames
- Containers for the logistics park next to the port
How we handle containers at London Gateway
- Pre-advice: send us the container number, vessel and ETA at London Gateway, the delivery address and the gross weight.
- Customs clearance: we lodge the import declaration in-house, and duty and VAT are paid or deferred before release.
- Release and holds: we check the shipping line release and any customs, port health or carrier holds before a truck is sent.
- Collection: the container is collected from London Gateway on a booked slot and delivered at the time agreed with your site.
- Empty return: the empty goes back to the terminal or the depot the shipping line nominates, inside free time.
Delivery times from London Gateway
| Destination | Approximate distance | Typical driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Central London | 30 miles | 1–1.5 hours |
| Kent and the M20 | 40–60 miles | 1–1.5 hours |
| Cambridge and East Anglia | 60–80 miles | 1.5–2 hours |
| Birmingham and the West Midlands | 150 miles | 3–3.5 hours |
| Manchester and the North West | 230 miles | 4.5–5 hours |
Approximate. Times depend on traffic on the M25 and the Dartford Crossing, terminal queues and driver hours.
Imports, exports and one point of contact
Whether you're importing through London Gateway or exporting from it, we can handle the sea freight, the customs entry and the haulage together, so you deal with one team rather than three. We're also happy to quote London Gateway haulage or clearance on its own. We'll check the terminal status and holds before we send a truck, so containers aren't left waiting.
Written by the 365 Freight team · Last reviewed . Rates, rules and schedules change, so we'll confirm the details for your shipment when we quote.