One Night in London: Stay to Gatwick or City Hotel?
Aug 3rd, 2007, 07:08 AM
#1
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One Night in London: Stay to Gatwick or City Hotel?
I finally booked at flights and rooms for my upcoming Scandinavia trip, EXCEPT one. Due to connections, I fly into Heathrow on Aug 30, 5pm, then out the next day from Gatwick at 3 pm.
Is it feasible to stay at a hotel in London just to show my kids a quick glimpse while driving to the airport in the morning? Or am a crazy to even consider it?
By the way, to those who've been so helpful with my many other questions about this Scandinavia trip, here's what I've booked:
Stockholm, Hotel Zinkensdamm, 5 nights @ US$323/ni for 5 of us.
Ferry Stockholm->Helsinki->Stockholm, 2 nights @ US$289 for 5 pers
Copenhagen, Cab Inn - City, 4 nights @ US$259/ni
Now once I book the London hotel I'm done!!!
Is it feasible to stay at a hotel in London just to show my kids a quick glimpse while driving to the airport in the morning? Or am a crazy to even consider it?
By the way, to those who've been so helpful with my many other questions about this Scandinavia trip, here's what I've booked:
Stockholm, Hotel Zinkensdamm, 5 nights @ US$323/ni for 5 of us.
Ferry Stockholm->Helsinki->Stockholm, 2 nights @ US$289 for 5 pers
Copenhagen, Cab Inn - City, 4 nights @ US$259/ni
Now once I book the London hotel I'm done!!!
Aug 3rd, 2007, 07:16 AM
#2
w/ a 3:00 flight it does make sense to stay in London.
I'd get a hotel near Victoria Station (there are other stations w/ links to LGW but the area around Victoria has a LOT of hotels in all price ranges) There is even a hotel right at the station - which would be the most convenient of all.
Take a car service into London and then the Gatwick Express train from Victoria to LGW. You won't get to your hotel until about 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. The next day the train takes approx 30 minutes so you'd want to leave Victoria by about noon. That would give you a full morning to explore - not a lot of course - but better than hanging out at a Gatwick hotel for 19-20 hours.
I'd get a hotel near Victoria Station (there are other stations w/ links to LGW but the area around Victoria has a LOT of hotels in all price ranges) There is even a hotel right at the station - which would be the most convenient of all.
Take a car service into London and then the Gatwick Express train from Victoria to LGW. You won't get to your hotel until about 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. The next day the train takes approx 30 minutes so you'd want to leave Victoria by about noon. That would give you a full morning to explore - not a lot of course - but better than hanging out at a Gatwick hotel for 19-20 hours.
Aug 3rd, 2007, 07:16 AM
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With the possibility of an evening and morning in London, you'd be crazy to stay at Gatwick.
What do you mean by "driving to the airport in the morning"? Car service? How many of you are there? If you're packing relatively light, taking a train may be a better option. It certainly will be cheaper.
What do you mean by "driving to the airport in the morning"? Car service? How many of you are there? If you're packing relatively light, taking a train may be a better option. It certainly will be cheaper.
Aug 3rd, 2007, 07:26 AM
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Oops! If I'd read your post more closely, I would have seen that there are five of you.
IMO, the best way for you to get to Gatwick is to take a Southern train from Victoria Station. You can book Southern's DaySave tickets online (minimum of 14 days in advance for non-UK residents). It will cost £10 for you and £1 for each of your children. See this link for details: http://tinyurl.com/36s2dz.
IMO, the best way for you to get to Gatwick is to take a Southern train from Victoria Station. You can book Southern's DaySave tickets online (minimum of 14 days in advance for non-UK residents). It will cost £10 for you and £1 for each of your children. See this link for details: http://tinyurl.com/36s2dz.
Aug 3rd, 2007, 07:32 AM
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I agree - the Gatwick Express train is economical, runs every 30 minutes, and is so easy to catch - we stayed at the Sanctuary House Hotel, one block away from Westminister Abbey and it was great, check it out on Tripadvisor - have a great trip - Godspeed
Leslie
Leslie
Aug 3rd, 2007, 08:47 AM
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Just to add
Heathrow Express (27.06 miles for £10)
Gatwick Express (37.18 miles for £10) and Hull Trains (49.44 miles for £10).
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_ne...132127,00.html
Heathrow Express (27.06 miles for £10)
Gatwick Express (37.18 miles for £10) and Hull Trains (49.44 miles for £10).
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_ne...132127,00.html
Aug 3rd, 2007, 09:03 AM
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Wow, you guys are all awesome. You've sold me on the Victoria Stn to LGW express train. It sounds much wiser than trying to take a cab (although a cab could tour us and our bags around London in the a.m. then straight to the airport. On the other hand, the cab could tour us then drop us at Victoria stn, even better.
I still can't believe I was able to receive such up to the minute and good advice in just 3 hours (3 cheers for Fodors.com!!)
I still can't believe I was able to receive such up to the minute and good advice in just 3 hours (3 cheers for Fodors.com!!)
Aug 3rd, 2007, 09:07 AM
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I'm going to have to agree with TimS on this one. Having just made the trip between Victoria Station and Gatwick several times on our trip this June, I agree that it is VERY easy to take the Southern Train to Gatwick, only takes about 5 minutes more than the scheduled runs for the Gatwick Express and it is MUCH cheaper. I too have a family of five and found that we saved about $60.00 (2 adults, 1 teen over 15 - so adult ticket, 2 children). Also, in case you are wondering, there was plenty of room for luggage in the luggage holders on each car.
Aug 3rd, 2007, 11:47 AM
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I only have information on the hotel where we stayed and that was the Elizabeth Hotel near Eccleston square. I posted a review about the hotel on Tripadvisor.com.
I can't give all the details now - very busy at work.
Our basic feel was that it was OK for what we needed but I think that we probably could've done better for comparable prices.
Check out the reviews on tripadvisor. Also search here for threads on hotels near Victoria Station or London hotels. Many people say that they get great prices on London hotels on Priceline too.
For our group - my family of 2 adults, 3 teen boys, and my mother, we went with 1 single, 1 double, and 1 triple. They weren't really close together which was OK for us.
I'll try to check back later if you have more specific questions.
I can't give all the details now - very busy at work.
Our basic feel was that it was OK for what we needed but I think that we probably could've done better for comparable prices.
Check out the reviews on tripadvisor. Also search here for threads on hotels near Victoria Station or London hotels. Many people say that they get great prices on London hotels on Priceline too.
For our group - my family of 2 adults, 3 teen boys, and my mother, we went with 1 single, 1 double, and 1 triple. They weren't really close together which was OK for us.
I'll try to check back later if you have more specific questions.
Aug 3rd, 2007, 05:56 PM
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Momof--Thanks and sorry to bother you at work. It's Cup Match holiday here in Bermuda so I have the day off.
I need to be near Victoria station since I only have 1 night and need to get to Gatwick 3 pm the next day. I've posted here and checked threads for places nearby and checked out some of the references. I really hate having to get 2 rooms when the 5 of us sleep fine in one room with 2 double beds, but I may have to (such is Europe). Checking on Victoria Thistle now, not the cheapest but maybe ok.
Thanks again for your input.
I need to be near Victoria station since I only have 1 night and need to get to Gatwick 3 pm the next day. I've posted here and checked threads for places nearby and checked out some of the references. I really hate having to get 2 rooms when the 5 of us sleep fine in one room with 2 double beds, but I may have to (such is Europe). Checking on Victoria Thistle now, not the cheapest but maybe ok.
Thanks again for your input.
Aug 6th, 2007, 09:13 AM
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One thought that I did have over the weekend was the Luna and Simone Hotel. It is ranked #6 on trip advisor and has excellent reviews. It is very near to Victoria Station also. Unfortunately they were booked when we visited.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Sep 14th, 2007, 10:47 AM
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Found a GREAT hotel right next to Victoria Station, named HESPERIA HOTEL. If you book using their 800 number, it is just 89 GBP per night (if you book there, the same room is 245 GBP!)
I highly recommend it. Easy if you just have one night in London; a few doors from the Apollo Victoria Theatre where WICKED is playing -- a lovely play! Cheers,
I highly recommend it. Easy if you just have one night in London; a few doors from the Apollo Victoria Theatre where WICKED is playing -- a lovely play! Cheers,
Sep 14th, 2007, 02:21 PM
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My son and I just did a similar thing. We arrived in Gatwick around 5 PM from Italy and were flying back to the US from Heathrow at 3 PM the next day. We did opt to stay in London. We stayed at a little bed and breakfast called the Victoria Inn. It was decent, small, and the bathroom very small. BUT...it was walking distance to V. Station and only 100 GBP per night for two. Lite breakfast included...24 hours reservation desk...
We enjoyed the evening in London, and in the morning we even saw the Changing of the Guard. Then we took the National Express Coach which leaves from Victoria Station to Hthrow (for only 4 GBP each). IT was wonderful..
We enjoyed the evening in London, and in the morning we even saw the Changing of the Guard. Then we took the National Express Coach which leaves from Victoria Station to Hthrow (for only 4 GBP each). IT was wonderful..
