Getting Around London
 

Hello,
I need some advice regarding my stay in London. We'll be getting into town via London Gatwick (@ 10:00 AM) and leaving the next day via London Stansted (@ 7:10 AM).
1. What is the cheapest way to get to and from these airports?
2. Where should we stay? It would be nice to be downtown for a night.

The same ordeal will go on in July, although vice versa. Arriving in Stansted at 10:25 PM, and leaving from Gatwick the next day at 12:10 PM.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

-Charla

We're doing the same this summer... I take the Gatwick Express from the airport to downtown... you can buy tickets on the train - and use a credit card. We're staying at the Marriott County Hall. I find it to be well located for a short visit (though expensive - we got a fairly good deal). I haven't solutioned the Stansted thing yet... Our flight is around 4PM.... I assume there is a bus - but I'm not sure. Hopefully someone will answer.

Thanks!

Here's a good site for transport info in London. The Gatwick Express is one option for getting into the city, but if you want something less expensive try Southern trains. The ride is only 10 minutes longer, but it's about 4-5 GBP cheaper. I think you have to buy your ticket before getting on the train.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/

Any ideas on Stansted?

Sorry, I've never been to Stansted. If you don't get an answer tonight, I recommend topping this thread tomorrow morning. By then our London posters will be awake and hopefully on the board.

Very helpful. Thanks!

There are trains to Stansted. Schedules and fares are on www.nationalrail.co.uk.

For Stansted try http://www.stanstedexpress.com/
The first train should be early enough for you.

Whilst the Stansted Express will deliver you to Stansted in time (and at great expense), you do have the problem of how to get to Liverpool Street station in order to get the Stansted Express in the first place.

Travelling at night within London is either expensive (taxi) or longwinded (bus) so realistically you'd have to stay near Liverpool Street Station in order to catch an early morning train.

However there are cheaper ways (which is what you asked) of getting to Stansted for an early flight. And that is to use either the Terravision or National Express coaches from Victoria bus & coach stations respectively. Victoria is also an area where there are lots of low cost hotels so finding accomodation isn't a problem

Have a look at www.stanstedairport.co.uk which has links to them.

For Gatwick DON'T take the Gatwick Express unless you are carrying everything including the kitchen sink.

Take the Southern Trains service instead which also goes to Victoria and is a few minutes slower than the Gatwick Express.

BTW if you are carrying the kitchen sink reconsider luggage limits on Low cost flights are tightly controlled and excess baggage costs will make you weep. Check the website of your airline

Thanks!

Any Londoners with ideas for hotels?

Most Londoners don't stay in hotels in London. But the Great Eastern Hotel sits right next door to Liverpool St station and I believe it's considered quite swish.

This side of London is mainly a business area, but public transport will get you easily from there to what I think you would think of as downtown -10-15 minutes on the Underground to the West End, for example.