We will be flying from London to Atlanta in July 2019. Is one airport better than another for doing this??

Nope -- 6 of 1/half dozen of the other. Take whichever gets you the best schedule/fare/whatever

LHR has direct tube connection into central London (or you can pre-book a car service). LGW is farther out has direct/faster train service into the center of town (do NOT use a car service from LGW- it would take forever)

Hello, LGW is the one that is closer to London. Avoid Stansted one, which is very far

>>Hello, LGW is the one that is closer to London<<

Sorry mikey but that is incorrect. LHR is the closest (well, actually LCY is closest but wouldn't have transatlantic flights).

moatenote: I missed that you are flying from London TO the States. My info still applies - which ever one gets you the best fare/schedule. However since you are starting out from the UK -- where you are based could make a big difference. If west of the Capital then LHR would be best. But with rail connections, LGW might be best even if you are north of London.

Fly from the airport with the most connections on Delta, which is the dominant carrier in Atlanta. That's likely LHR.

A bit of a highjack: We are flying from the US to a B&B in Battersea. What would be the better AIRPORT & the THEN the better TRANSPORT to that area ? We will have luggage and not inclined to a difficult transfer, but do not want to make a foolish decision. Any ideas are welcome and appreciated.

>>A bit of a highjack: We are flying from the US to a B&B in Battersea. What would be the better AIRPORT & the THEN the better TRANSPORT to that area ?<<

Again -- pic whichever gets you the best schedule/fare.

Battersea is not the most convenient place to stay for sightseeing though. Where exactly is the B&B -- the post code? Battersea is a large area.

From LHR you'd want a car service for sure. Like justairports.com

From LGW it depends on where the B&B is. You'd take trains (with a change) so not easy if you have a boatload of luggage. But to where exactly depends on the location. Do try to pack light . . .

Thank you, JanisJ. The house is next to The Battersea Park and Prince Albert Bridge to Chelsea. I do think you are correct - it is about 1/2 hour from Central London. My daughter and I are taking her daughter to London (Battersea and London, I guess I should say) to spend the week together before the GD starts her studies at LSE. We will, of course, want to spend time in London, but we have all been there before as tourists. Any further suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

>>(Battersea and London, I guess I should say) <<

Battersea is IN London but it is on the south side of the river and has no tube service. Is the B&B pre-paid non refundable? That area is a long way from anything -- it is a bit over a mile's walk across the park to the Battersea Park train station. And it is a very long bus ride to anywhere.

It is an 'Under The Mat' Rental for a week...I don't believe that it is refundable - but I will certainly check with my daughter who made the arrangements. Too bad, really.

Well, curiosity piqued, I had to verify: (times assume light traffic)

Gatwick airport to London Victoria - by car, 27 miles, 59 minutes.
to 'centre London' per Google (Trafalgar square), 28 miles 1 hour.

LHR to London Paddington - by car 15, 16 or 27 miles, depending on route - 33 to 37 minutes; to 'centre London' per Google, 15.6 miles, 33 minutes.

Things to consider:
airfare; connections if needed; first stop on itinerary (e.g. if Brighton, pick LGW...); ease of connecting (as janisj says, tube serves LHR as well as Heathrow Connect and Heathrow Express (latter I think is being renamed.)

>>Gatwick airport to London Victoria - by car, 27 miles, 59 minutes.
to 'centre London' per Google (Trafalgar square), 28 miles 1 hour.<<

In someone's dreams -- that is usually about a 90 minute drive. And that is at the best of times. Googlemap is notorious for being very VERY optimistic. We usually have to add 25% to almost 100% to the drive times.

<< LHR is the closest (well, actually LCY is closest but wouldn't have transatlantic flights).>> BA have been operating flights from LCY to JFK for at least 13 years, all business class service, very handy for and mainly used by those who work at Canary Wharf. It's direct with one stop in Shannon for refueling and to clear immigration and customs for the US.

>>BA have been operating flights from LCY to JFK for at least 13 years, all business class service, very handy for and mainly used by those who work at Canary Wharf. It's direct with one stop in Shannon for refueling and to clear immigration and customs for the US.<<

That is only convenient if one is in the NYC metropolitan area AND can afford flying in the front of the plane . . . which eliminates more than 99% of Americans.

Google maps are notoriously POOR in just about EVERY case.