Alternate ways into London from Gatwick?
Nov 14th, 2003, 03:38 PM
#1
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Alternate ways into London from Gatwick?
I will arrive in London Gatwick Nov 28 - one of the days a post said the Express drivers will be on strike. What are alternate ways to get to Central London? How much would a taxi cost? is there a bus or shuttle service? Any suggestions? Thanks
Nov 14th, 2003, 05:48 PM
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Vicky, you can try these two websites. The first is the official site for Gatwick and the second is a shared minibus shuttle service whose current rate is 22 pounds from Gatwick to your hotel.
http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/g...ere_frame.html
https://secure.fast.net.uk/hotelink/gatwick.html
http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/g...ere_frame.html
https://secure.fast.net.uk/hotelink/gatwick.html
Nov 14th, 2003, 08:02 PM
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As I interpret this post, the strike only affects the Gatwick Express--the non-stop trains between Gatwick and Victoria Station. Presumably the slower trains from Gatwick into London will still be running.
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Nov 15th, 2003, 06:28 AM
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Just get the regular South Central trains into London Victoria.The Gatwick Express is nothing more than a semi high speed/non stopping rip off (when its running of course !).
WWW.thetrainline.com
WWW.networkrail.co.uk
WWW.thetrainline.com
WWW.networkrail.co.uk
Nov 28th, 2003, 12:36 AM
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As others have said, use the Connex or Thameslink trains to central London. They both leave from the small stations as the Gatwick Express. Thameslink goes to London Bridge, where you can transfer. The Gatwick Express is slightly quicker but twice as expensive. A bus would take forever and a taxi would cost a small fortune.
Nov 28th, 2003, 01:05 PM
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Yes, that is the same Swiss Cottage Cars that I have recommended for years. It seems they now have a website and as a result have done huge increases in cost, so they are about the same now as Ray Skinner and others. Oddly enough though, the other day I was talking with someone who said they just used them two weeks ago, called them and paid only 27 pounds from Heathrow to central London. That's only a bit more than the 25 pounds I've been paying, but a lot less than what their website says. I'm not so sure that if you call you might not get a better rate. That's what I'm going to try my next trip. I know that Swiss Cottage Cars is only one name of a huge car service company. I suspect that maybe their website is charging more for "tourists" using the website, but I can't believe they've raised their regular prices that much for all the locals who use them.
Dec 1st, 2003, 12:42 PM
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I think Patrick is correct about cheaper prices if you call Swiss Cottage vs. booking via the internet.
We used them for our trip to and from Heathrow to pick up our rental car on Nov. 22 and Nov. 28. There were 4 people with 4 suitcases. I called for both reservations.
From central London to Heathrow - 28 pounds. From Heathrow back to central London, I was told 23 pounds over the phone (from the rental car return area, not a terminal). However, our driver explained that the person on the phone had not included the 5 lb "estate car" extra. I wasn't paying more than I did the first time and it was the same locations so I didn't argue.
We had no problems with our drivers. Both we on time (actually one was 20 minutes early and so were we so it worked out great). I'd use them again.
My advice - call instead on book via the internet. Trip report coming soon!
We used them for our trip to and from Heathrow to pick up our rental car on Nov. 22 and Nov. 28. There were 4 people with 4 suitcases. I called for both reservations.
From central London to Heathrow - 28 pounds. From Heathrow back to central London, I was told 23 pounds over the phone (from the rental car return area, not a terminal). However, our driver explained that the person on the phone had not included the 5 lb "estate car" extra. I wasn't paying more than I did the first time and it was the same locations so I didn't argue.
We had no problems with our drivers. Both we on time (actually one was 20 minutes early and so were we so it worked out great). I'd use them again.
My advice - call instead on book via the internet. Trip report coming soon!
