Travel time between Gatwick and Heathrow
 

This coming September 2010, we are flying from Atlanta to Venice. The itinerary has us changing airports: Gatwick to Heathrow. It allows approximately 5 hours. What is the best way for us to travel between airports (avoiding buses)? Is there a train that runs between both airports?

Why do you want to avoid a bus? A coach the only practical transport between LGW and LHR

There are no trains --= unless you go via central London and change stations which is daft.

You get on the National Express coach at the terminal at LGW and get off at LHR.

janisj. Maybe she thinks the bus will be too time consuming.

Maybe - who knows. But she asked for the best way and specifically said she wants to avoid a bus. Didn't say anything about "We don't want a bus because it would be too slow" - just that they don't want a bus.

Well - the best, and for most situations, the only practical way to get from one to the other is by bus.

Mamagumu. You could also arrange for a private transfer. Google Gatwick to Heathrow transfer.

Good Luck

Yes, a car service is an option. But it would take approx. the same time as a coach and cost about £120 plus tip.

The coach is the quickest way between airports and is how I'd suggest doing it in 99.99% of cases (the other 0.01% covers people who have several hours spare.

But if you really want to avoid coaches and then kame your way to Gatwick South Terminal, take the the Gatwick Express (before 9:30am weekdays) or Southern Trains train (any other time) to Victoria, make your way to the Tube, take the District Line to Hammersmith, walk across the Platform, wait for a Picadilly Line Tube to your terminal as not all Picadilly Line trains serve Heathrow and the ones that go to Heathrow serve T1234 or T1235.

Cost is similar but it takes at least an hour longer

And just to add - increases your chances of missing your onward flight

Thanks so much for the advice. I was confused and thought there was a direct train between both airports. The coach sounds fine. Do we need to make reservations or just pick it up when we get there? We're flying in from Atlanta and arrive around 7:30am.

The bus is fine--we did it last year. You don't need advance reservations. Just go to the dedicated coach stop for the Gatwick bus and they'll put you on the next available one. It's direct and comfortable and fairly quick.