Best way from London to Gatwick these days?
 

We'll be at a Parliament ceremony until 2000, staying at Premier Inn N that night for flight in the morning.

Looks as if things remain unsettled with Southern Line. Suggestions for our best bet?

Eastbound tube (or, with light enough cases, walk along South Bank) to Blackfriars, then Thameslink.

Do NOT do what I did about a year or so ago, Stoke, and get an ordinary south bound train from Waterloo, [probably a southern Line now I come to think of it] wait 20 mins to change at Clapham junction, wait for 15 minutes for the train to uncouple at Redhill where it split into two, [thank goodness we were in the right bit!] and then sit outside Gatwick for another 10 minutes while the Gatwick express goes into the station first.

We had to run for the plane, and only made it because the gate was one of the low numbered ones, not no 100+.

What about the Gatwick Express? Is that affected?

Definitely the Thameslink.

thameslink

Wow, thank you, flanner, jamikins and bilboburger.

And, oh my, Ann. How nerve wracking. We will for sure remember not to do that. I credit jamikins with the Premier Inn maneuver to help avoid such a scenario.

"What about the Gatwick Express? Is that affected?"

The dispute that's making life hell for many people south of the Thames is mostly between the ASLEF union and the Go Ahead Company, owmers of Southern Railways - who also own the Gatwick Express. So throughout the dispute, services on the GEX have been intermittently curtailed: partly because the squabbles have spilt over, and partly because the system's in such chaos GEX drivers haven't been able to get to the trains.

In 2015, the Govia Thamelink Railway was formed as a joint venture between the Go Ahead Company and France's SNCF, ultimately controlling all three brands operating between central London and Gatwick. This ought to make Thameslink vulnerable to ASLEF antics.

So far it's merely been occasionally caught out in the odd bit of collateral damage, like trains delayed because other trains are stuck on platforms.

Personally, I think ASLEF is most comfortable dealing with Socialist monopolies, and is ideologically incapable at present of disrupting government-owned businesses. Especially if the government concerned is an incompetent group of failed foreign ex-Marxists.

After Le Pen, Fillon or Macron win in April, of course (the one thing we can be reasonably sure of is we'll not see a Socialist President) Thameslink may well be next in ASLEF's sights.

And, oh my, Ann. How nerve wracking. We will for sure remember not to do that.>>

as it wasn't strictly relevant, Stoke, I missed out the bit where we got to security, saw they were opening a new security belt, put our stuff on it, and then proceeded to stand there for ages because it had broken down!!!!

Noooooooo

When we got on the plane we were laughing so hard that we didn't stop until we landed at Newquay, an hour later.

Good information, flanner. Thanks. Gatwick being in a single group's stranglehold might become interesting. And make airport hotels more popular.

Ann, it's a good thing the Higgs have that good sense of humor.

(BTW Ann, Hannah and I spent yesterday on Boris bikes in and around Putney and Fulham. We finally realized where all those crowds of men were headed and packing the riverfront pubs, and what all the police were doing. Go Spurs! We could hear the roars as we rode home.)

We finally realized where all those crowds of men were headed and packing the riverfront pubs, and what all the police were doing. Go Spurs! We could hear the roars as we rode home>>

and did you see the score, Stoke? 3-0 to Spurs, with a hat trick from Harry Kane. A certain late lamented fodorite would have been very happy.

buy a return ticket on Thameslink or Southern and in between your dates you get 2 for 1 at many London sights.

Thanks, Pal.

Yes, Ann, I watched the highlights on evening news and poor Fulham.

Our late great Spurs fan is missing too much fun entirely, bless him.

Our late great Spurs fan is missing too much fun entirely, bless him.>

Rather ironic? But just maybe there is a supernatural power in the ether world?

Admittedly hi-jacking this thread a bit but need help.

the situation: arriving at London City on a flight from Edinburgh later this year. For a lot of foolish reasons flying from Gatwick (as opposed to from EDI, because I didn't plan well, that's why) to Newquay the next morning.

This means there is no rush to get to Gatwick; we have a hotel room reserved; we arrive at LCY around 1700 as I recall.

WE will have our Oyster cards with us (we simply top them up whenever we are back in London and use them) and originally I had thought about using them to get to Gatwick on the train from ?Victoria; also thought of using the Gatwick Express but am wondering if we could use Thameslink and if so from London Bridge? We would be using the DLR from LCY I believe.

Make me a Transport for London not so stupid/not so newby, please and thanks.

Dukey you will be arriving in rush hour, not ideal. Where is your hotel?

Trains out of London Bridge are limited due to construction works. You will need to change either at east Croydon or Blackfriars in most cases. Plus you would need to take the Northern line from bank during rush hour...most unpleasant.

You may consider the DLR to Bank then changing to the District or Circle line to Blackfriars and catching the train from there as there are more direct trains to Gatwick from there. Bank station will be busy either way but this change is usually easier than fighting the northern line with luggage.

Jamikins,

Thanks for your reply. The hotel is at Gatwick. I just want to GET there </B>with the least amount of hassle</B>. IMO "the least amount of hassle" is worth paying for. Thanks for your info.

Anytime! Least amount of hassle may be a car service but that will be pricey and a long slog at that time of day!

Trains out of London Bridge are limited due to construction works. You will need to change either at east Croydon or Blackfriars in most cases>

take a cab to Blackfriars from London City Airport?

In rush hour traffic public transit is probably faster and much cheaper.

Yes, this is why I was thinking of simply making my way to the Gatwick Express but I'll work on all this. A care service I don't need and I agree in terms of the costs. I'm often extravagant by many people's standards but in this case I realize the trip is going to take time.