Heathrow to Gatwick
 

I am arriving at Gatwick at 10am and departing Heathrow to Paris at 2pm. Would it be possible to take the Gatwick express into London, taxi to Paddington and take Heathrow express? Would the shuttle service mentioned here be better?

4 hours is cutting it very close. Are you on one ticket or did you book the flights sepatately??

The best way to get from LGW to LHR is the National Express direct coach.

Going into London, across London, and out to LHR doesn't make any sense - even IF everything went like clockwork it would still take longer than just taking the direct coach.

REBOOK your flight to Paris, 4 hours does not allow any margin for error even taking the fastest way between airports.

I am sure someone will tell you this can be done ... and maybe it can ... but no way in hell would I want to try it. If you like living on the edge, can afford to miss a flight then do it, otherwise re-book and get a longer connection time. I agree with Janis that the best was between the two airports is teh National Express Direct Coach.

when I said &quot;very close&quot; I really meant &quot;very <b>VERY</b> close&quot;. I personally would not attempt this unless it was booked on one ticket so they would put me on the next flight. If it is two different bookings - you are on your own . . . .

I wouldn’t do it myself, as I like to build in time for unforeseen disasters.

Barring traffic problems, and there can be some awful congestion, the trip takes between 70-80 minutes.

If you land at 10am, you should be through customs and baggage in time to take the 1125 bus, which gets to Heathrow at 1235 at the earliest. Its about a 10 minute walk from the station to Terminals 1 and 2 (1245). Check-in will take 20 minutes (1305) and that gives you just enough time to get to the gate for a 2pm flight.

As you can see, you don’t have any spare time. If your flight is delayed or there is congestion on the motorway, you will probably miss your connecting flight. I suggest a 3pm or 4pm flight makes more sense.

However, if your Paris ticket is booked and non-refundable, it is theoretically possible to do the connection. My nerves couldn't stand it :(

If it isn't booked then consider going into London and getting the Eurostar - the wine as your nerves stop jangling is better on the train

Thanks for your help. I will move my Paris flight up a bit. I am also considering taking the Eurostar. What is the timing on Gatwick to Waterloo, check in and departure. There is a 1:41 to Paris and my flight into Gatwick arrives at 9:55.

Would 4 hours be enough time to take Gatwick express to Victoria Station and then taxi to Waterloo to catch Eurorail to Paris? Arrive 10am depart 2pm.

Gatwick to Waterloo rail is about an hour's journey, with one change. Alternate is Gatwick to Ashford (another stop for the Eurostar): about 1.5 hours, with one change.

Info available at www.transportdirect.info

By the way, British Airways website lists the minimum connection time between Heathrow and Gatwick as 3 hours. That's by the connecting bus/coach service. The travel time is between 50 minutes and 1hr20 min. I've done it in about that amount of time, but 4 hours is still a bit too close for comfort when you add all the airport logistics and the chance of traffic tie-ups.

I wouldn't try the Heathrow Express-taxi-Gatwick express routing because that multiplies the possible number of things that could go wrong (two train companies, downtown London traffic, etc).

Here is the best way to get from Gatwick to Waterloo International. Take a First Capital Connect train from Gatwick to London Bridge. Walk across the platform and take a Southeastern train to Waterloo East. Take the connecting walkway to Waterloo International. The fare for the whole trip is only 10.60 GBP, less than the Gatwick Express alone.