Gatwick Express service disrupted in Dec - options to Central London?
Dec 20th, 2012, 01:56 PM
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Gatwick Express service disrupted in Dec - options to Central London?
I am planning a short trip to London with my 15 year old daughter at the end of December. I just read that the Gatwick Express schedule will be modified during that time period, only operating every half hour and the journey to Victoria Station will take 45-60 minutes. The hotel has offered to arrange a car service for 95 GBP.
Because our trip is so short and I don't want to spend a lot of time in transit (ie if we just miss a train and have to wait a half hour - then an hour to Victoria - then cab or tube to South Kensington tube station) I am willing to consider a car service or other transportation.
Does this price seem reasonable? How long can I expect the car ride to take in traffic (arriving on a Thursday morning around 7:30, departing mid-morning on a Monday morning)? Also what gratuity would be expected for the driver?
I also read that there are other trains besides the Gatwick Express. One option seems to be through London Blackfriars. What are the pros/cons of this itinerary? Also - it seems that the underground schedule may be modified by engineering work during this time period also so I am not sure how that might affect the journey.
We hope to carry on our luggage so it shouldn't be too difficult to manage (though navigating a lot of stairs would certainly be a bummer)
Sorry for all of the questions. I have not traveled to London in many years - any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Because our trip is so short and I don't want to spend a lot of time in transit (ie if we just miss a train and have to wait a half hour - then an hour to Victoria - then cab or tube to South Kensington tube station) I am willing to consider a car service or other transportation.
Does this price seem reasonable? How long can I expect the car ride to take in traffic (arriving on a Thursday morning around 7:30, departing mid-morning on a Monday morning)? Also what gratuity would be expected for the driver?
I also read that there are other trains besides the Gatwick Express. One option seems to be through London Blackfriars. What are the pros/cons of this itinerary? Also - it seems that the underground schedule may be modified by engineering work during this time period also so I am not sure how that might affect the journey.
We hope to carry on our luggage so it shouldn't be too difficult to manage (though navigating a lot of stairs would certainly be a bummer)
Sorry for all of the questions. I have not traveled to London in many years - any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Dec 20th, 2012, 03:21 PM
#2
"<i>The hotel has offered to arrange a car service for 95 GBP. </i>"
Of course they would(!) Not only is that expensive -but it would take longer than the train.
Just take the train to Victoria - it doesn't have to be the Express. Other (cheaper) trains also go to Victoria. I haven't checked - but I'd guess several rail and tube lines will be interrupted by maintenance work that week.
But in any case -the (delayed) train would still be faster than a car transfer. After all, LGW is 30 miles south of London and the drive can easily take 90 plus minutes.
Of course they would(!) Not only is that expensive -but it would take longer than the train.
Just take the train to Victoria - it doesn't have to be the Express. Other (cheaper) trains also go to Victoria. I haven't checked - but I'd guess several rail and tube lines will be interrupted by maintenance work that week.
But in any case -the (delayed) train would still be faster than a car transfer. After all, LGW is 30 miles south of London and the drive can easily take 90 plus minutes.
Dec 20th, 2012, 09:36 PM
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I checked for the 28th. There is engineering work between Battersea Park and Streatham, affecting all services into Victoria between 23 Dec and 1 Jan.
This doesn't affect the First Capital Connect services via Blackfriars, so that's the obvioua answer. It's further east than Victoria, but it's on the same tube line to South Kensington (Circle or District westbound). Might add about 15-20 minutes to the normal journey, but Blackfriars is a much quieter interchange to navigate, having only recently been redeveloped - and it's cheaper than the Gatwick Express.
This doesn't affect the First Capital Connect services via Blackfriars, so that's the obvioua answer. It's further east than Victoria, but it's on the same tube line to South Kensington (Circle or District westbound). Might add about 15-20 minutes to the normal journey, but Blackfriars is a much quieter interchange to navigate, having only recently been redeveloped - and it's cheaper than the Gatwick Express.
Dec 20th, 2012, 09:37 PM
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Forgot to say: you can play with the options at
www.nationalrail.co.uk
And for tube info www.tfl.gov.uk
www.nationalrail.co.uk
And for tube info www.tfl.gov.uk
Dec 21st, 2012, 01:28 AM
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Good options here and best suggestion given is to do some comparisons.
We bought round trips on First Capital Connect, great service going in but stupidly didn't check the Sunday return schedule which was very limited service. No stops at London Bridge, if I remember correctly.
One thing in favor of a car service is if you're coming in between Christmas and the New Year, traffic into London MIGHT be lighter.
We bought round trips on First Capital Connect, great service going in but stupidly didn't check the Sunday return schedule which was very limited service. No stops at London Bridge, if I remember correctly.
One thing in favor of a car service is if you're coming in between Christmas and the New Year, traffic into London MIGHT be lighter.
Dec 21st, 2012, 02:11 AM
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"if you're coming in between Christmas and the New Year, traffic into London MIGHT be lighter."
It will be different. On Dec 27 and Dec 31, that means lighter in parts and awful in other parts (weather permitting), and tough to predict with accuracy. Shopping at Sales, visiting relatives and all the other disruptions that go on during our collective two week break makes it very unwise to assume (especially going back to Gatwick) that road journeys will be any faster than their usual crawl.
Disruption to the trains, OTOH, increases road traffic - to an airport not designed for road access - at a time of heavy holiday departures (under similar circs, we've queued for an hour on the 800 yd bit from the M23 to the South Terminal)
It's not over-reacting to assume the road journey from South Ken could easily take two hours. Or being absurdly optimistic to suggest you might manage it in 45 mins.
It will be different. On Dec 27 and Dec 31, that means lighter in parts and awful in other parts (weather permitting), and tough to predict with accuracy. Shopping at Sales, visiting relatives and all the other disruptions that go on during our collective two week break makes it very unwise to assume (especially going back to Gatwick) that road journeys will be any faster than their usual crawl.
Disruption to the trains, OTOH, increases road traffic - to an airport not designed for road access - at a time of heavy holiday departures (under similar circs, we've queued for an hour on the 800 yd bit from the M23 to the South Terminal)
It's not over-reacting to assume the road journey from South Ken could easily take two hours. Or being absurdly optimistic to suggest you might manage it in 45 mins.
