I am going to London this summer with a few friends, and we are landing in Gatwick for 2 days before heading to Venice. Is this the best place to land if we want to see Buckingham Palace and the main attractions?

Gatwick is one of several London-area airports. If you want to stay near the airport, you can ride the train into central London fairly easily, but of course you'd need to come back by train in the evening. (The trains connect easily to buses or the Underground for moving around central London.)

Or, you could find accommodation in central London for a couple of nights, then just return (again, on the train) to Gatwick for your flight to Venice. There are pros and cons to each approach. If you're coming from North America, don't discount that you may be pretty tired for the first couple of days owing to time change, so don't over-plan your sightseeing.

"</is this the best place to land if we want to see Buckingham Palace and the main attractions?" Well, the airport is not a good base for seeing things in the city center. But usually one doesn't choose an airport for how close it is to B'ham Palace - LHR or LGW rally makes very little difference.

LGW is convenient to getting in to London and when you step off the train at Victoria Station you are a few blocks from the Palace.

If you have 2 days you will do better to stay in London -- you can do some sightseeing and the next day hop on a train at Victoria and be at the terminal 30 mins later.

heathrow is more central but london gatwick is also convenient. From the airport take a train to Victoria station and youre there.

Heathrow may be more "central" - but Gatwick is easily 30 minutes closer to Buckingham Palace.

im not sure which is closer but from heathrow is connected to the underground soyou can go to buckingham palace or werhever you want really quickly. mind you gatwick is still a good choice.

julia68: not to nit pick - (well heck, why not ) Gatwick is farther, but the Gatwick Express train from LGW is faster than the tube in from LHR.

Oh - thought I had added this but must have deleted it . .

LHR Terminal to tube station 10+ minute walk, tube to Victoria w/ a change at Hammersmith approx 50 mins.

LGW Terminal to train approx 2 mins, train to Victoria 30 mins.

It all depends on when you're landing.

If early enough, take the Gatwick express into London and find a hotel around Victoria Station. (book ahead)

I'm sure folks will want to tell you to go to another neighborhood, but it's only for 2 days, and you can't learn London neighborhoods in 2 days.

There's a Tube station at Victoria. Have at it.

Does anyone have the new discount code for the Gatwick Express the other codes have expired and don't work