Heathrow to Gatwick

[william_wallace 8]

A friend of mine is arriving from Canada next week. She's flying into Heathrow at 630am and has a connected flight from Gatwick at 930am. Does anyone know whats the best and quickest way to get to Gatwick? I know national express do it but that journey is nearly 1 1/2 hrs.

Thanks

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I can't imagine doing it much quicker than that unless she hires a cab and has it waiting when she arrives, and even then it wouldn't be MUCH quicker than that, and maybe even slower depending on traffic... given that she's going to have to process immigration at Heathrow I think she's really going to be pushing it whatever she does

could she contact the airline and see if they have any suggestions?

Edited April 11, 2008 by StillThePrettiest

[T and M 1]

I can't imagine doing it much quicker than that unless she hires a cab and has it waiting when she arrives, and even then it wouldn't be MUCH quicker than that, and maybe even slower depending on traffic... given that she's going to have to process immigration at Heathrow I think she's really going to be pushing it whatever she does

could she contact the airline and see if they have any suggestions?

One idea:

Heathrow Express to Paddington (15 minutes). Bakerloo line to Waterloo (16 minutes). National rail to Gatwick (45 minutes).

Alternatively

Heathrow Express to Paddington (15 minutes). Tube to Victoria (approx 20 minutes...Circle line, District line, or Bakerloo line changing at Oxford Circus to Victoria line...I recommend the latter b/c Circle and District or not always working, especially on weekends). Gatwick Express to Gatwick (30 minutes.)

Either way you are looking at less than 1.5 hours......but at least 1 hour.

I just thought of one another idea. Heathrow Express to Paddington (15 min), Cab to Victoria (13-18 quid....20 minutes), Gatwick Express to Gatwick (30 minutes). That's probably the best idea. Other than changing the flights of course.

London transport is not something you enjoy....it's something you suffer.

[Ian + Anne 0]

Hmmm ! Heathrow to Kings Cross, then get the Gatwick Express from there is another option.

Will be close though, traffic of the human kind in central London is not good on the tube system.

Delays in the airport at Heathrow will be the hurdle to overcome (customs etc), and this could be high due to the number of international flights that arrrive at that time in the morning.

[rebeccajo 14]

Wow.

I've only been to London once in my entire life, but I can't imagine these flights are a good plan. Like Thomas said, travel around London is not easy.

Is there no flight out of Heathrow she could take to her ultimate destination? Or take a different flight out of Canada that lands in Gatwick?

Where is she trying to end up? Somewhere else in the UK or is she going to another country? (You state she is "arriving from Canada next week).

If she's trying to get to another part of the UK, can she not take EasyJet, RyanAir, the train, or some other transport to her end destination?

[Mags 112]

I have to admit that the thought of travelling across London from Heathrow to Gatwick would fill me with dread and terror. I can only suggest the Heathrow Express and the Gatwick Express.

I wish her luck!

[TracyTN 237]

I have to admit that the thought of travelling across London from Heathrow to Gatwick would fill me with dread and terror. I can only suggest the Heathrow Express and the Gatwick Express.

I wish her luck!

[StillThePrettiest 3]

if I'm honest, the thought of travelling across London often fills me with dread and terror even when there are no airports involved...

[william_wallace 8]

Ye it looks likes the easiest way i can find is the national express bus. £35 return. Trip takes 1hr 15 min. Dont think theres much point in getting her to go to Victoria Station. She will get lost lol. Shes never been in London before so the easiest and less hassle route will be better i think. 3 hrs is not along time to land, get through immigration and grab a bus to Gatwick.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

RJ asked some good questions though; is there no way she can do something easier? National Express quotes times valid for off-peak; depending on when she gets out of customs she could be hitting the beginning of peak hour... and what's the expected check-in time at Gatwick? how close to 9.30 can she run it?

[no name 1]

RJ asked some good questions though; is there no way she can do something easier? National Express quotes times valid for off-peak; depending on when she gets out of customs she could be hitting the beginning of peak hour... and what's the expected check-in time at Gatwick? how close to 9.30 can she run it?

I agree....1.5 hours at rush hour might be more.

And customs at LHR can take ages.

[catrocks 0]

Oh God I did this once.... never again.

It seems to be ok going from Gatwick to Heathrow but going the other way sucks because Heathrow is such a *$%@!@# airport. We did the National Express route, we had to walk about 45 mins through heathrow to get to the terminal and then queue for 20 mins to get tickets. By the time we got to Gatwick we were too late to board our flight to Manchester (COME ON!!! it's a 30 minute flight!!!) and we had to wait 5 hours for another. All this on top of jet lag meant two very unhappy bunnies. Needless to say, we hit the bar.

If it's in her budget I'd say get a taxi. The Heathrow express sucks. Or try to reschedule so there is more than 3 hours in between flights. 3 hours is not enough time.

[william_wallace 8]

RJ asked some good questions though; is there no way she can do something easier? National Express quotes times valid for off-peak; depending on when she gets out of customs she could be hitting the beginning of peak hour... and what's the expected check-in time at Gatwick? how close to 9.30 can she run it?

Well i presume she has to check in no later than 830am as her flight leaves at 930. Either that she calls Flybe.com and asks if she could check in a bit later if shes running short for time. I even wondered if there would be a shuttle bus laid on for people who has connecting flights from 1 airport to another.

[T and M 1]

Oh God I did this once.... never again.

It seems to be ok going from Gatwick to Heathrow but going the other way sucks because Heathrow is such a *$%@!@# airport. We did the National Express route, we had to walk about 45 mins through heathrow to get to the terminal and then queue for 20 mins to get tickets. By the time we got to Gatwick we were too late to board our flight to Manchester (COME ON!!! it's a 30 minute flight!!!) and we had to wait 5 hours for another. All this on top of jet lag meant two very unhappy bunnies. Needless to say, we hit the bar.

If it's in her budget I'd say get a taxi. The Heathrow express sucks. Or try to reschedule so there is more than 3 hours in between flights. 3 hours is not enough time.

Now that I think about it, I would tend to agree that National Express is not the way to go. It's the way I travel, but that's b/c I'm on a budget and not in a rush. You always have to walk ages to get to the bus stop at the airport and they are unreliable.

What's wrong with the Heathrow Express? 15min to Paddington seems really really fast.

Trains really are the best/fastest/most reliable way to get around London.

Thought of another train route, in case you want to avoid the Heathrow Express: Piccadilly Line about 30 minutes to South Kensington, Circle/District line (or cab) 2 stops (less than 5 min) to Victoria...and the 30 min Gatwick Express. It's bound to be faster and more reliable. Plus, tube trains run every 3-4 minutes!

Buses (coaches) in England are for students and other travelers with no rush and a tight budget. Trains are the way to go. Faster than taxis in most cases.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I would say the bus is probably the easiest option if she is carrying a lot of luggage. However, she will be doing the journey during RUSH HOUR which will really make it a tight connection in 3 hours!