Gatwick transportation into London-help me find my options
 

We're arriving at LGW on Tuesday am May 13, around 8:15. We've always taken the Gatwick express train, a couple of times scoring the 1/2 price codes, which I understand are no longer offered. Our destination is near Trafalgar Sq. In reverse, we'll need to go back to Gatwick for our flight out on Weds May 20 on an 11AM flight.

Please help with suggested trains and suggest a time to leave for the return flight. DH would want to be at the airport a minimum of 2 hours before the flight.

I'd also like to know a little more about the 2-fer offers.

Thanks, Barb

Take the First Capital Connect train from Gatwick to London Bridge. Get off and wait at the same platform for a few minutes and take the first train to Charing Cross.

Then walk to your hotel

Don't try to do this though before 9:30am unless you want to fight for space with 3 million commuters

The return trip is the same except that as you are going against the commuter traffic you can travel when you like

For an 11:00am flight, leave about 7:30am because of the additional security checks imposed by the US

Hi Barb,

I dont know about the 1/2 price codes for the Gatwick Express but I used that when I was there in December, nothing else was really running much on 12/26 anyways :)

As far as 2-fer offers, please check http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/ I used a bunch of these and saved a ton of cash. Enjoy!

Barb in Ga,
Why not try National Express Dot2Dot.
Its new, they pick up up at your hotel with enough time to get you to Victoria Station to catch the Train to Gatwick. It only costs a little more, but little walking and they are suppose to make sure that you get on the Gatwick Express and into the correct termial at Gatwick. Look at Dot2Dot.com. Also, it looks like you are in Georgia, if so, Delta now flys to Heathrow. Only if you like getting up for at 4:oo pickup does anyone use auto type transportion to Gatwick anymore.

Since the OP is staying so close to Charing Cross - spending the extra money to get to Victoria/Gatwick Express (w/ or w/o dot2dot) doesn't make that much sense.

Another seconding vote for alanRow - his route is cheaper and quicker.

It would be interesting to know which hotel near Trafalgar Square - if it's anywhere down Northumberland Avenue or in Adelphi, for example, you are only 5 minutes walk from Charing Cross station.

Hi alanrow, thanks for the recommendation for First Capital Connect. We're staying in an apt with the following address:

The street name is York Buildings and zip code is WC2N 6LS, located right in the middle of London next to Trafalgar Square

Is there any need to book or buy tickets in advance, or just get them after we arrive at Gatwick?

That location is nearer to Charing Cross station than it is even to Trafalgar Sq.

You will be VERY close to Charing Cross and Embankment stations . . . . . .

Just buy when you arrive, there's no saving for booking in advance

www.2for1entry.co.uk

The vouchers can be used if you have a train ticket that is valid on that day or a London Travelcard

www.daysoutguide.co.uk/faq.aspx

We'll plan on getting the 7 day travelcard loaded on an Oyster card. That seems to make the most sense for a weeks' stay. Glad to know we can buy the First Capital Connect tix right at the airport. Can we buy the Oyster/travelcard at the airport, or wait 'til we get to Charing Cross?

Last year we did the London Bridge connection between Charing Cross (which was a short walk from our flat) and Gatwick. It was great. Although, despite what several people said about the connection being on the same platform, it wasn't. We had to go up the steps, over the tracks, and down to the next platform over. Although I think after we did that it looked like there were elevators at the end of those platforms.

Think you can now buy Travelcards at Gatwick - but I don't know if they issue them on Oystercards.

But as you and half the world will be trying to do the same, just wait until after you've been to your hotel and had a clean up / sleep.

as others have pointed out, it's only a short walk and buy the travelcard at Charing Cross TUBE station not the train station

Barb-

I did the route that AlanRow suggested last year, as I was staying right at Trafalgar Sq. The only problem I encountered that day was that First Capital Connect decided to cancel a couple of trains. I ended up having to make 2 changes of trains and also (my mistake) took the much slower train which stopped at every station. At any rate, I finally did arrive at Charing Cross and the journey took over an hour. If things work out right, it shouldn't be more than 1/2 hour.

Thanks to AlanRow for the advice. We bought return tickets for the train and also our 7 day travelcards, issued on a paper ticket with the National rail logo.

There was a short line in the ticket office at Gatwick, but it moved very quickly. We went downstairs, found the correct track for the train to London Bridge, and only waited about 5 minutes. Upon arrival at London Bridge, we only had to cross the platform to get the train to Charing Cross. We were just 2 blocks from the Charing Cross station, so even with 1 rolling bag each and 1 carry-on size, it was easy to walk to the flat.

I had printed out several 2-fer and discount offers from the days out website, to use with our paper travelcard. We got 2-fers at Apsley House and The Courtauld , and 20% discount at the the O2 exhibit of King Tut.

The return trip was equally easy, thanks again for the advice.
Barb

I'd arrive at Gatwick more than 2 hours before my flight. Even the fast bag drop at BA had a long wait. It took almost 2 1/2 hours to get thru bag check , passport control and security before we got to the gate area.

Barb- Thanks for reporting back. Glad it went smoothly.

avalon: &quot;<i>I'd arrive at Gatwick more than 2 hours before my flight.</i>&quot;

OK - Get w/ the program :)

Barb posted her question back in Feb, has returned, and just posted her report about how the train to/from Gatwick worked out.

Barb_in_Ga: How was the flat?