Do you have to prebook trains from Gatewick Airport to Victoria Station, London?

No. But going to Victoria may not be your best option. Depends where in London you are going.

Regardless avoid the Gatwick Express as it adds extra cost for little (a few minutes) gain.

FWe are staying a block away from Victoria Station.

both Southern trains and the Gatwick Express go from LGW to Victoria Station, which is the obvious choice for you given the location of your hotel.

Which you take depends on how quickly you want to get there - most southern trains will make a few intermediate stops before you get to Victoria so they take a bit longer. If you are flying out of LGW you may want to get the Express as some of the Southern trains divide at Redhill as I know to my cost.

Don't forget that you can get your 2 for 1 travel cards at Victoria [they may even be available at LGW] which you can use for travel around London plus 2 for 1 entry into many attractions:

https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london

>> [they may even be available at LGW] <<

They are -- so if you are flying out of Gatwick as well, buy a return (round trip) ticket LGW/London/LGW and you will be covered for the 2for 1' the entire time you are in London.

Then you can just get regular Oystercards for your day-to-day travel in London.

thanks JJ for filling in the gaps in my post. I've never used the 2for1 scheme so I had forgotten that you just need one rail ticket to access it.

The 2for'1 can be a bee-atch to figure out

Oh -- and IF perhaps you are not flying out of Gatwick -- I'd consider buying a return ticket anyway. The extra cost will be minimal and it will cover the 2for1's for the full time you are in London without having to faff about with paper travelcards.

Gatwick Express yes costs more but is an airport mainly train with lots of room for luggage, etc. Southern trains are commuter trains and depending on time of day and day of week could be really crowded by time it gets to Gatwick.

Cheapest is not always best.

<i>is an airport mainly train</i>

Not these days

Yeh I guess they no longer start at Gatwick -so they can be just as crowded as Southern trains -if so I wonder who would pay more to ride them. Is there no difference?

What is the best way to get to Covent Garden area from Gatwick? Our BA flight lands around 9am. Thank you.

Is there no difference?>

BTW I was not questioning your expertise on that just wondering why anyone would take Gatwick Express at about twice the cost. Respectfully.

<<What is the best way to get to Covent Garden area from Gatwick? Our BA flight lands around 9am. Thank you.>>

Train to St Pancras then Picadilly Line to Covent Garden

or train to Victoria then tube (change at Green Park) to Covent Garden

But the change at Green Park is a bee-atch

You probably should start a thread of your own. But if it is long haul and you have luggage I'd take the train to st pancras and a taxi to covent garden.