london to gatwick
 

am getting a bit worried about our timing from london to gatwick. staying at luna and simone hotel on belgrave road wednesday night with a flight out of gatwick on thursday morning at 10am. assuming we should be at the airport 2 hours ahead of flight. what is the best way to get there at that hour? have been reading about gatwick express vs southern train. just confusing me!!!! help!!

Luna & Simone is near Victoria station. The GEX takes 30 minutes - the Southern train takes 5-10 minutes longer. Either one will work for you. I would plan on being at LGW closer to 3 hours ahead of your flight - but check w/ your airline and see what they recommend.

But if you are on either train by 6:30-7:00 you will be fine.

Agree with Janis, and just to make you feel even better, I know the GEX runs at least by 5:15. I believe the Southern train is cheaper, but even if it doesn't run that early (which is unlikely), you'll have no issues getting to Gatwick via public transport.

Southern trains DO run through the night so there's no problem getting one at 6:30am

thanks for the reassurance! is there any advantage to the gatwick express or southern train as far as logistics in the morning. i am assuming we can walk to victoria station from luna and simone. do both trains leave from victoria station? we will be doing the same route arriving so can pick up

oops! meant to say can pick up a schedule but am glad to hear there will be early trains.

Gatwick Express uses dedicated platforms at Victoria with huge signs. You won't miss them. And they usually have a train sitting there so you can board early.

Southern trains may use one of many platforms, so you have to check the boards; and often you have to wait on the platform, not sitting on the train, before departure.

There are no luggage racks on Southern.

My guess is that morning time, the trains out of London shouldn't be too crowded.

Luna and Simone is definitely walking distance from Victoria - but it depends on how much luggage/how far you want to schlepp it. It would be about a 10 minute walk.

But the #24 bus stops right outside the hotel so that is another option.

oh - to clarify - the 24 bus would be another option to get to Victoria, not to get to LGW . . . . .

(or a very short cab ride to Victoria - probably £5)

I would agree with janisj that you should definitely be there closer to 3 hours before your flight departs. We were shocked at how early they were closing checkin to flights at Gatwick this summer. We arrived at least 3 hours prior to our flight and waited a long time in line to check in. By the time we got to check in - they were rushing to close check in for that flight and there were still at least 100 people behind us in line.

Also we took the Southern train this summer and on all of our trips to and from Gatwick (we broke our trip up starting and ending in London) the Southern trains that we rode on most definitely DID have luggage racks. Perhaps not all of the trains do, but the three that we rode between Gatwick and Victoria Station did.