surfingmomma

In September, we are flying into Gatwick. My sister is flying into Heathrow. We need to meet up and stay one night in the London area, and then all of us fly out the next day, to sicily.
Anyone got ideas for us connecting, via train/bus, etc? Also we need a hotel near ONE of these airports. We're trying to do this as cheaply as possible.
thanks.
surfingmomma

ira

Hi surf,

We stayed at this Guest house near Gatwick.

http://www.gatwickbelmont.com/

WillTravel

Which airport are you flying to Sicily from?

I'd recommend you choose a central London location, if your flight isn't too early the next morning.

surfingmomma

We are departing from Stansted Airport, flying to Palermo, Sicily.

WillTravel

What time is that flight? I'd consider a flight where it's easy to get to Liverpool Street station in London for the Stansted Express, if the flight doesn't leave in the early morning. Alternatively, stay at a hotel near Stansted.

surfingmomma

Departure flight from Stansted at 4:00p.m. to Palermo, sicily

mikemo

ira,
We stayed at the gatwickbelmont B&B RT from Oporto on 20 July.
It was pretty "bare bones", but they have a free shuttle van.
There must be a hundred B&Bs in the small vill.
M

yk

surfingmomma-

Since your flight to Sicily doesn't leave until 4p the next day, you all can stay in Central London. You can then enjoy London that night as well as half of the next day before you head on to Sicily.

BigRuss

Forget the Gatwick and Heathrow area hotels. Those will put you too far south or west of London (respectively). Honestly, you should just have said you needed a hotel near Stansted and this board could have given you better recommendations. London has nearly the population of New York and is physically a large city so none of the airports are centrally located.

Stay in London near the Liverpool Street station, or at least in Kings' Cross area (which isn't too far from Liverpool Street and I think it's a bit livelier), so you can catch the train to Stansted.

As for meeting up -- meet at the hotel. You take the Gatwick Express to Victoria station and either grab a cab or take the tube from Victoria to your hotel.

Your sister can take the Heathrow Express to Paddington but probably should not because it is on the west side of the city and you should stay on the east side of the city. If you stay near Kings' Cross she can just take the Piccadilly tube line from Heathrow all the way to the Kings' Cross tube stop. If you stay closer to the Liverpool Street station, she can do the same thing and take a cab from Kings' Cross.

surfingmomma

thanks so much for the wonderful responses.