gatwick express to waterloo - will we make it?
 

another question - we arrive at gatwick at 7:40 am. we are wondering if we will be able to make a eurostar to paris leaving at 10:40am. seems as if that is cutting it pretty close. is the gatwick express the fastest way to go. in understand it does not arrive in waterloo station.... plan carry on only. please help as believe it or not the eurostar seats are fast disappearing!!!

No - you don't want the Gatwick Express since that goes to Victoria Station, which is not at all convenient to Waterloo Station..

From LGW, you can catch the First Capitol Connect to London Bridge and then the tube one stop to Waterloo. 3 hours "should" be long enough - just don't daudle. You'll have plenty of time to relax after you are on the Eurostar.

just noticed your other post -- there is no "France section". All threads are lumped together under "Europe".

I think cutting it fine is an understatement - 10:40 means being checked in for the Eurostar by 10:10.

Landing at 7:40 means it's extremely unlikely you'll be out of Gatwick before 8:40.

Going via London Bridge would mean having to wait until 9:16 on a weekday which means you wouldn't get to Waterloo until after 10:00

You could take a train to Clapham Junction then another to Waterloo which would get you there before 10:00am but as I recall the transfer between trains isn't very nice with luggage.

So I think in this case it's probably GEX to Victoria, taxi to Waterloo

You can do the whole transfer above ground. As janisj says, take a First Capital Connect train to London Bridge. Walk to the other side of the same platform and take a Southeastern train to Waterloo East. Take the connecting walkway to Waterloo International. The fare is £10.50. Don't forget that you must check in at least 30 minutes in advance for the Eurostar.

yeah, the train from London Bridge to Waterloo does make more sense than the tube.

As for the timing - as you can see you are cutting it quite close. A train isn't just waiting for you to board before it leaves the station - so even on the frequent lines like the GEX count on 15 mins til the next train.

Don't try the change at Clapham Junction - alanRow's warning about it not being "very nice" is a definite understatment. Clapham Junction is huge, busy, and every transfer I've ever had there involved a long walk and/or lots of stairs.

Carry on only helps, which is why I said you <i>should</i> be OK - but if immigration is backed up at LGW, you will be out of luck.

With your tight connection, alanRow's suggestion to take the Gatwick Express to Victoria and a taxi from there is a good one. You can save a little more time by buying your ticket onboard (only possible on the GEX, not regular trains).

Since this connection will be tight under even the best of circumstances, if you arrive late at Gatwick you have no chance whatsoever. So book the next Eurostar. When you get to Waterloo, you'll have time to buy the fixings for a picnic lunch to eat on the train.