Gatwick to London in time for 7.30 show? Help!
 

Our flight is due to arrive at Gatwick at 2.15pm. We are wanting to go and see Lion King in the Lyceum theatre but need advice on whether we'd have enough time to go to our hotel and then back to the theatre in time to see that nights 7.30pm show, or whether we'd need to stay 2 nights.
The details are as follows:

Flight arrives at 2.15pm
Would take the Gatwick Express to Victoria
Take tube to hotel near Notting Hill Gate Underground to drop our bags and freshen up
Then need to take tube back to Temple in time for 7.30pm performance.

Is this doable or am I pushing it?

If flight is on time - say bags and customs one hour - 3:15

Gatwick Express one hour about say 5:00 in Victoria

Tube to Notting Hill Gate - 30 mins tops 5:30pm

Tube to Piccadilly Circus - 30 mins 6:00 pm

You'll have about an hour to freshen up if all goes well - plane arrival time is obviosuly the key - and Gatwick IME can have long lines at Customs exit - try to walk as fast as possible to them - especially if several charter flights land at time your plane does.

You have enough time for a 3 course meal and a quick game of football

But don't take the Gatwick Express, just use the ordinary Southern Trains service

What's the difference between Gatwick Express and Southern trains. We'll be coming back into the country from our holiday so would that mean less time at immigration?

The difference is price - Gat Ex much more expensive and has a modicum of more room IME - as an airport train usually does. Southern trains run same route to Victoria and it not being rush hour when IME those trains can be chock full you'll find little difference save price.

That said look at the official Gatwick Express and Southern trains web sites for discounts of potential 2 for 1 offers if going return.

Take Uber to the theatre. We keep being lectured about how great it is.

The biggest mistake for this scenario is staying over in Notting Hill. It is a long way from Victoria and an even longer way from the Lyceum. But yes, it is quite doable.

Plan on arriving at your hotel about 4:00 or 4:30. Then from Notting Hill Gate to Embankment or Covent Garden stations will take about 20-ish mins and then a 5 minute walk to the theatre.

Meant to add - the in-London trips are best by tube -- at that time of day a car (uber or a taxi) will take longer than the tube . . .

What area would you suggest? I'm just going on hotel prices. Hotels close to the theatres seem expensive

>>I'm just going on hotel prices. Hotels close to the theatres seem expensive<<

That really makes no sense -- there are hotels of every price range in just about every part of the city (well maybe except for Knightsbridge and Mayfair which tend to be mostly high end)

There are budget hotels in Victoria, Covent Garden, Russell Square and many other neighborhoods that would be more convenient to Gatwick, the theatre, or both.

What is your budget?

but then add transport back and forth and it suddenly does not seem so expensive.

Just noticed:

>>Gatwick Express one hour about say 5:00 in Victoria<<

The GEX takes 30 mins

>>Tube to Notting Hill Gate - 30 mins tops 5:30pm<<

The tube to Notting Hill Gate - 15-20 mins

>>Tube to Piccadilly Circus - 30 mins 6:00 pm<

It would be shorter -- but WHY Piccadilly Circus? It is nowhere near the Lyceum theatre.

>>Gatwick Express one hour about say 5:00 in Victoria<<

The GEX takes 30 mins>

Yes once the train starts rolling but assuming the worst possible scenario - they have to wait 20 minutes or so for the next GEX. Kind of nitpicking it seems - I try to give the maximum time inlcuding waiting for trains and getting to them. Over estimate perhaps to show how easy that whole scenario is.

I did error in say going to P Circus because I thought the theatre was in the heart of the West End Theatre district like Leicester Square - just a short stroll from P Circus but that I should not have said, I agree. Now I know the theatre is near the old YHA store I used to go to so often.

I would agree that a more central hotel to the theatre would be a good move in such a rush just for one hight. I'd suggest a hotel indeed at Gatwick or vicinity - stash bags there and willy-nilly in on trains to say Charing Cross station, really close to that theatre - use Southern trains and perhaps change once.

An alternative from Gatwick is to take Thameslink trains directly to central London, about 45 minutes, and choose a hotel near Blackfriars, City Thameslink, or Farrington stations. From Blackfriars area you could even walk to the Lyceum (about 20 minutes).

Thank you everyone for your replies. We decided that it would be too much of a rush to do it on the day we came back so we're going up to London a day earlier to go and see it, then catch the plane the day after. Also booked a different hotel in Victoria area :)

Great idea! I think you'll be much more relaxed and will enjoy your stay more if you're not worried about any delays. Have a great time!