4 of us are going to Gatwick from downtown London. It's more practical (number of people, luggage, etc.) to take a limo. Any suggestions for a relatively affordable one?

Really can't recommend a limo/car service from LGW. A car will will easily take twice as long - possibly 3 times longer depending on the traffic in south London. And since LGW is 30+ miles out of town, any car service will be pretty expensive - count on £50 or £60 minimum when you factor in the tip.

The Gatwick Express offers all sorts of specials - 4 for 2 is the most common one. So the Express can cost a good deal less even for four.

Where is your final destination? If it is near Victoria the Gatwick Express is a no brainer. If it is elsewhere getting there from Victoria needs to be consdiered in the calculation. But very likely the Gatwick Express would still pencil out as cheaper and much faster.

Some of the car services frequently recommended here are Ray's London Transfers (www.london-transfers.com) and Just Airports (www.justairports.com). We've used Ray's in the past and can recommend them, but Just Airports has cheaper rates.

kay has provided info about 2 very good car services (Swiss Cottage is another good one) - maybe I should explain a bit further about my comments.

I am definitely not anti-car service - I use car services and mini cabs a lot in London. And coming in from LHR they make a lot of sense for many travelers. I'd usuually much prefer a car service over the Paddington Express because - well - who wants to end up at Paddington?

But IMHO, from LGW a car service is a real pain. it takes a loooong time to drive in from LGW

Janis is talking nonsense.

Yes, of course a car will cost at least twice the price of a train. Indeed if you insist on a limo (which in English means a posh car, like a Daimler or Merc, rather than a minibus) it'll probably cost three times as much.

But you'll be in it for more than twice as long. Choose your timing right, and you'll be wallowing in automotive luxury four or five times longer.

So, minute for minute, cars represent much better value.

And, while the poor train passengers are whizzing through the countryside, you'll be seeing Croydon and the world-famous shopping along Purley Way. Judge the traffic right and you can get out of your car, saunter gently through the IKEA, the Carpetright and the MFI ("Tacky R Us&quot and get to the end of the street before your driver. If you're lucky, you'll even leave London through Balham - immortalised by Peter Sellers as The Gateway to the South.

And just think what you'll be doing for the planet.

Before you all go off on a tangent - Rhardy is actually talking about getting TO Gatwick rather than from!

prue -- really makes no difference - driving north into London -- or south to gatwick -- the same traffic, distance, and costs would apply.

Thanks for all your replies. Taking auto transport is longer, I know but it's a matter of convenience for 4 not-so-young-anymore people finishing up a fairly long trip with all the concommitant baggage! I've done the Gatwick express before and know both its advantages and limitations!