Check-in arrangements
 

We have an early arrival flight getting into Gatick around 7am. We have booked an apartment but the greeter will not be there til 12 noon (since they have to clean the apartment from the previous guests). Any suggestions on what to do with 5 hours and all our luggage? There are 4 of us traveling. We reserved car service for our trip to the apartment, but how would you handle the logisitics? Thanks in advance.

Is this an individual apartment or is it in a block of flats with a front desk/concierege? if there is a staffed front desk -- like at Chelsea Cloisters or Dolphin Square -- you can leave your bags there and head our for some fresh air and sightseeing.

If that isn't a possibility because there isn't a doorman/desk staff, have the car service drop you at Victoria Station (or whichever rail station is nearest your flat). Leave the bags at left luggage while you go out and about. Then take a cab from the station to your flat later in the day.

This is an individual apartment, so I really cannot leave the luggage in the apartment until we meet the greeter at 12. We are near the Green Park tube stop.

In that case just go with plan B - have the car service drop you at Victoria station and leave your bags there.

You might even be able to negotiate w/ the driver to return to collect you at a set time later in the day.

But if not - it would be a short cab ride or a very short tube ride (which you use depends on how much luggage you have) after you retrieve your bags mid day.

As an alternative, check into the Gatwick Hilton, get a few hours kip, have a shower, get the car to meet you at 11.45am and hit the town once you've dropped the bags, refreshed and ready to go