Nena

I need your help to figure out the best way to get from Gatwick to the Thistle Bloomsbury. We have decided to take the Gatwick Express from the airport to Victoria Station, and from Victoria Station, I'd like to know the best way to get to the Holborn Station. I entered my request on the "Journey Planner" on the Tube's website, and I was a little confused with the directions. Here are the directions from Victoria Station - Transfer on foot to Trafalgar Square Stop to get to the Holborn Stop. I looked at the Tube map, and could not find Trafalgar Square stop. Obviously, I am missing something. Thanks for your help.

martytravels

You might want to consider taking a taxi from Victoria to the Thistle. I lugged my bag on the Tube from Queensway to Victoria, and throug Victoria (no elevators or ramps) to the Gatwick Express. It was not pleasant.

yk

Nena-

I'm not sure what your journey planner is talking about. But just by looking at the tube map, from Victoria statin take the Victoria line one stop to Green Park, then change for the Piccadilly line for 4 stops to Holborn.

flanneruk

Marty's point apart (and I wouldn't take luggage on the tube unless very strapped for cash). you've probably found yourself on the bus planner, not the tube.

Northbound Victoria Line to Oxford Circus, then Eastbound Central Line to Holborn.

There are steps at Victoria and during the connection at Oxford Circus. You've then got to lug your bags through the streets. Don't do it.

Nena

Flanneruk - Looking at the tube map, your way is also how I thought we should go, if we decide to take the tube. Seeing the responses, we definitely are taking a cab from Victoria Station to our hotel. Thank you for everyone's helpful responses.

janis

OK - just to confuse you more: The cheapest way would be to take Thameslink (not the Gatwick Express) from LGW to Kings Cross and then a short cab ride to the hotel in Bloombury.

A cab ride from Victoria to Bloomsbury will be pretty expensive - it is quite a distance. The Thameslink train is cheaper than the Express and the cab ride from Kings X would be about a 1/3 the cost of one all the way from Victoria station.

janis

just to clarify - incase you didn't know the Gatwick / Victoria Express is not the only train serving Gatwick. For you Thameslink is more convenient.

Nena

I did some search on the forum on the Thameslink, and it appears this may be the best way to go. Thank you for the tips. There are three of us (1 is a child), and I will also look into car service. My concerns with car service is the length of time due to traffic. I understand it is a flat fee, but sitting in traffic does not exactly appeal to me either. I've never been to London before - is my traffic concern from Gatwick to Bloomsbury a valid one? Thank you.

ron

Car services from Heathrow are relatively popular because the distance is shorter and the cost is less, while the alternatives are either outrageously priced and don't go anyplace useful (Heathrow Express) or are seen as being difficult to use with luggage (the Tube). Car services from Gatwick are less popular because the distance is twice as far and the cost is more, while the alternatives are more reasonably priced and go to useful places (choice of 4 train services).

Nena

Yes, I found out very quickly that a car service is quite costly from Gatwick. I would think my best bet is take the Thameslink and grab a cab from King's Cross to the hotel. When I buy our tickets for the Thameslink, could I buy the 7 day travelcard for the Tube at the same place? Just wondering.

flanneruk

Janis:

Where are you suggesting Nena gets a taxi from at Kings Cross Thameslink? And how are you suggesting Nena gets there? Have you ever tried hailing a cab from the Thameslink exit? Or struggling to the rank at the main station with luggage?

The reason taxis are coming into this debate is that we've agreed the 15 steps at Victoria and the 12 steps at Oxford Circus are a pain.

I've tried every which way to get a cab from KX Thameslink with luggage. Last time, I ended up walking home from the station. It was easier

janis

Yep - thats exactly what I've done - walked to the taxi stand or just hailed a cab on Grays Inn Road. It is a bit of a walk, but I only use rollaboard sized wheeled luggage so I don't have to carry anything and I haven't found it a problem.

Nena

This might help out. We have two medium sized luggage with wheels, my husband, son and I are fit and healthy (husband is an extreme hiker). Carrying up two pieces of luggage up a flight of stairs is a non-issue for my husband. Given this information, does Thameslink become doable? If we do decide to grab a taxi from Victoria Station to Thistle Bloomsbury, how much would the taxi cost?

PatrickLondon

The problem with Kings Cross is - at least in part - the inconvenience of the street layout for getting a taxi (narrow, crowded pavements, one-way systems for vehicles: even worse while the main tube station concourse is being rebuilt). Blackfriars or City Thameslink stations (before KX) would offer easier access to taxis (minimal stairs), though the trip would be a bit longer than from KX.

Another option is to take the Piccadilly Line back from KX to Holborn. Say 10 minutes' walk through the pedestrian tunnel and down escalators to the Piccadilly Line and at Holborn up a few stairs and then escalators to the street. But the pavements can be a bit narrow and crowded there too.

carrolldf

I can't speak to how easy it is to catch a taxi from King's Cross but it's very easy at Victoria.

I tried to look to see if I had written down how much it cost me for a Taxi from Thistle Bloomsbury back to Victoria when I was there in October but can't find that I recorded it. I'm thinking it was maybe around 11 GBP? Pretty sure it was not more than 15.

I stayed at a three different hotels during my trip so took the taxi from Victoria to Thistle Kensington Park when I arrived. And stayed at the HI Kensington Forum in between the two Thistles. (I had a change of plans so that's why three hotels during my stay.) I think that was a longer trip and cost a bit more. I didn't pay more than 20 GBP, including tip, for any of the taxi rides between Victoria and hotels or between the different hotels. It was definitely money well spent as opposed to hassling with luggage on the tube which I've done in the past.

Nena

Thanks for everyone's reply. I have emailed Thistle Bloomsbury on the approximate taxi fare from Victoria and have yet to hear from them. Looking at all the options, the easiest, although not the most economical, may be to take a taxi from Victoria Station. I'll let you know what we actually do. Again, a great big thank you.

mlw

We were in London 3years ago and stayed at the Thistle Bloomsbury. Took the Gatwick Express and then a taxi from Victoria Station, I don't remember the exact cost, but I don't think we were "shocked" by it. It was our first trip, and so memorable to be driven through the streets in a London taxi as the driver pointed out the sights;husband and I exclaiming "I can't believe we are really here!" After arriving at the B Thistle, we used the tube and buses until departure day. We loved the hotel,enjoyed a huge buffet breakfast in a charming dining room (included in our air/hotel package)most days we did not stop for lunch, just snacked as did our sightseeing. Enjoy it!!

Nena

Thank you for your post. We have decided to take a taxi from Victoria Station - we opted to go with the most convenient way. That's a good point about the taxi driver pointing out the sights. We can't wait.