How Do I get from Gatwick Airport to London?

1- By Train
2- By Airport Transfer directly to your hotel
3- By bus
4- By taxi

Where are you going in London - trains are the quickest but they go to several places - the Gatwick Expense - oops Fraudulent Slip there because it is about twice as expensive as Southern Trains which run the same route to Victoria Station or First Capital Connect (formerly Thames Link) trains that go to places like London Bridge, St Pauls City and St Pancras/Kings Cross.

Gatwick Express is designed for folks with lots of luggage - other trains are regular commuter trains that typically are much more crowded since they are much cheaper. Trains leave every 20 minutes or so on either option. Buy tickets at Garwick Airport train station up top - right in the main arrivals hall - Gatwick Express ducats can be bought on the train as well - not other lines.

Buses are cheapest but can take forever due to traffic congestion - not a great option

Airport transfers are mini-buses and for a group may be as cheap or cheaper than the train.

How many of you are there? How much luggage do you have? Can you schlep it yourself easily? How much do you value convenience over cost?

We always get a car from Heathrow into London - much easier than coping with public transit after an all night flight? (And while I take subway here all the time and tube/metro in London or Paris - I won't do it with luggage - I'm 30 years too old to be pack mule woman.)

nytraveler raises good points - and transferring say to the Tube at Victoria can be a real nightmare in this IME often very mobbed Tube station.

I am sure I have seen this question before but do you book the car service on-line? Which one would you recommend - nytraveler....I like your train of thought!

This thread needs a bit of direction from you.

First, where are you staying? If it's not near Victoria, then the concerns about getting to Victoria station are negated. The fastest train to London from Gatwick is not the Express, it's the Southern train to London Bridge that stops at East Croydon. That takes 29 minutes and is far less expensive than the Express. If you're closer to that station than to Victoria, if you're staying in the South Bank area, or you're staying near the Tower, you're advised to book that train in advance on nationalrail.co.uk.

Similarly, if you're staying near St. Pancras or near Leicester Square/Covent Garden, the First Capital Connect to St. Pancras and a short ride in a cab to your abode may be far better than a trip from Victoria through the most congested parts of central London.

Second, the car from Gatwick is WAY more expensive than from Heathrow and car hires from Heathrow are more than 30 quid (45-48 dollars, depending upon which currency decides to tank before your trip). Gatwick is a much longer trip to London -- thus, the Gatwick Express gets to Victoria in 30 minutes, the Heathrow Express gets to Paddington in 15. We didn't even consider a car from Gatwick back in the day, but did from Heathrow. Plus isn't the main road from Gatwick to central London is one of the most heavily trafficked in Europe?

There is NO way to answer your question w/o more info.

• Where are you headed in London? This makes a HUGE difference.
• What time of day/day of week do you land? This makes a bit of difference -- commute hours on a Monday vs a Sunday morning could get you different answers.
• How many of you? This makes a big difference. A car service for a single is mad. A car service for 6 <i>might</i> make sense . . .

The fastest train to London from Gatwick is not the Express, it's the Southern train to London Bridge that stops at East Croydon. That takes 29 minutes and is far less expensive than the Express>

Well there may be one Southern Train that does it in 29 minutes but i could not find one - typically Southern takes between 32 and 37 minutes whilst Gatwick Express is always 30 minutes - but the difference between the two is not time but comfort and lots of room for luggage, etc - Southern is a typical commuter train - you may have to wedge yourself on and then try to find a place for your bags, etc. There is a reason Gatwick Express charges more and that people are willing to pay more. During slack periods Southern would be just dandy but during busy periods it could be a nightmare.

None of this matters until we know <u>where</u> the OP needs to get to in London (and the other info)

arriving Gatwick Saturday, April 17th 5.25am, 2 of us.
Staying near Marble Arch.Big suitcases. thanks all.

arriving Gatwick Saturday, April 17th 5.25am, 2 of us.
Staying near Marble Arch.Big suitcases. thanks all.

Big suitcases I'd bite the bullet and take Justairports!

How "Big"??

Marble Arch makes things a bit difficult since any train/tube route would require more than one transfer.

If it was me, I'd just take the train (either the Gatwick Express, or the cheaper Southern) to Victoria station and then a cab to your hotel.

This would be cheaper and faster than a car service and a lot easier than the train/tube options. There will be little traffic around 7:00-7:30-ish AM when you'd be catching the cab, so the fare shouldn't be too bad.

Didn't see avalon's post. I wouldn't use a car service myself - even Just Airports, which is a good one. It would take a long time and cost more. The GEX/cab would be pretty painless.

The car service is a good deal from LHR but not from LGW. I agree with the advice to take the train to Victoria Station then a cab to the hotel.

thanks all! looks like Express to victoria then cab