Gatwick, ATM and Train to London 2 questions

I wouldn't assume 10 minutes for a trip from Victoria Station to King's Cross Station. Google Maps may be optimistic on that one. If you take the tube, you have a straight shot on the Victoria Line with no transfer required, but the rail stations are seven stops apart, and you may have to do a good bit of walking on both ends of the trip. Most of the inner-city tube stations have flights of stairs to negotiate. If you will be burdened with luggage, that may slow you down some.

There are two sorts of ATM (cashpoints) in the UK: ones operated by banks, which do not charge for withdrawing cash; and independent ones, which do levy a fee. The cashpoints operated by banks are in several locations (especially outside supermarkets) as well as outside banks. Check whether the cashpoint charges a fee before you use it.

Tha actual travel time on the tube train is c 10 minutes, but you need to get to the station, buy a ticket if you don't have an Oystercard, walk down to the platform, which can take 5 minutes then wait for a train and allow 5 minutes at King's Cross to get back up to ground level. I would allow 30 minutes for this journey plus you should be at King's Cross 20 /30 minutes before your train is due out to find a seat and grab a coffee.

If travelling at the weekend, check for engineering work that may affect your route.

You're only allowed 2 questions. You asked for two questions and now you have three?? Wha? ;-)

First - correct. It is easy to find a machine not charging a fee. Just read carefully.

Second - You can do that easily. If you get it in advance and maybe save a couple of pounds you may lose it because you don't know how long it will take to clear the airport nor how late or early your plane will be. Best to just get it on arrival.

So for your third question - I find 10 minutes optimistic. I just looked and TfL is saying 9 at the moment. Still amazed. I always allow 3 minutes per station so 5 stops would be 15 minutes in my plans. Plus you do have the walk from the station to the Underground station and then down to the platform, and then wait for the tube train. Then do it all over again at the other end.

There are two sorts of ATM (cashpoints) in the UK: ones operated by banks, which do not charge for withdrawing cash; and independent ones, which do levy a fee.

This is not really the situation. There are plenty of ATMs owned by 'independents' that levy no fee - over half the ATMs in the UK are operated by independents. Contrariwise there are plenty of bank ATMs that will offer Dynamic Currency Conversion to the unwary visitor (just say no/decline).

Currently it is claimed by the network operator (Link) that over 98% of UK cash withdrawals are free of charge.

If you are okay with paying a fee then get your pounds at the ATM’s at the airport.

If not wait until you are in London and withdraw from a bank ATM. Banks in London include Barclays, Lloyds and HSBC and easily found.

Remember to take more than one CC or debit card just to be safe.

MORE importantly don’t fail to tell your bank and credit union of your travel dates!!!

Agree that you need to allow more time for your journey to Kings Cross. Give yourself a minimum of 20 minutes at least.

Enjoy your stay.

1) Whether you get your cash at the airport or in London won't matter depending on which ATM you use. One bank's ATM will charge the same conversion at either location. Just look for a bank machine over any other.

2) Buying your ticket online for the Gatwick Express saves money. Then you can print out your tickets ahead of time so no waiting to buy tickets at Gatwick. Even though you technically buy your ticket for a specific train, you can take any one that day. Your ticket will be honored. (Off peak fares will only be honored during off peak times.)

3) Delays, engineering works, unexpected issues, walking, going up and down stairs and escalators are all possible for your journey between Victoria and Kings Cross. Give yourself extra time. And check to make sure there are no delays way before you leave your hotel in case there is a problem.

Thank you for all the replies, very helpful to me and my dtr. My takeaways
1- use a bank cashpoint/atm to minimize fees. This may be at Gatwick or in London but find a bank "sponsored" atm. The bank names were helpful, thanks. RS mentions private ones to avoid as well. I'll need cash for donations at museums and little bits here and there.
I have alerted my bank re travel, Cap 1 says no need to let them know. I have multiple accounts between me and my dtr but tbh they are all Cap 1 and my credit union/bank so hopefully nothing goes wonky.
2- Just say no to Dynamic Currency Conversion (read about that in RS book, too).
3- Buying rail tix for Gatwick to VIC. I will be waiting in line to get my Two Together Rail discount card at Gatwick anyway. I have the application printed and completed and passport photos ready to go. Hopefully that is one line and I can get round trip Gatwick to Vic and my Two Together in one queue . I just didn't want to miss out on saving $$. It made a big difference in my Kings Cross to York tix.
4- Nigel is funny guy : D : D

I'm staying at Cherry Court Pimlico and will have one light backpack for York. If we head out by 730 Sat morning to VIC we should be in our train seats by 0830, hopefully with coffee in hand. Thank you again. I can't believe we are leaving tomorrow eve for Thurs arrival!

A few years ago, Travelex set up machines right next to their currency exchange booths in the London airports which worked similarly to standard bank ATMs but were an extension of their exchange booths. When you put your card in and punched in a number amount for the GBP you wanted, it would pop up a screen stating something about the Travelex "offer" for the day, i.e. what the cost of the GBP amount you asked for would be. Those machines charged the same inflated rate that the booths did and were not actually ATMs. I think this is where the warning of not using a Travelex machine started (and at the time it was with good reason).

Now, Travelex ATMs are all you find in the London airports I have been through as they have an exclusive contract. The actual ATMs (the ones not physical right next to the Travelex currency exchange booths) work like any other bank ATM now and as long as you decline DCC you should be charged exactly the same as a bank ATM.

The ATM provider contracted at Gatwick Airport is TTT Moneycorp, not Travelex (which is contracted at Heathrow), although there is a Cardtronics machine in the railway station. Neither have fees.

"The ATM provider contracted at Gatwick Airport is TTT Moneycorp, not Travelex (which is contracted at Heathrow), although there is a Cardtronics machine in the railway station. Neither have fees."

So I should be good to go at Gatwick. According to previous poster, even Travelex should be fine, provided decline DCC. Jody

happy flying....

Have always had left over pounds and my Oyster card so an error in judgement re the airport ATMs as I haven’t used them in years.

Thank you for clarifying and setting the record straight!

the tube coming from Gatwick, and then when going to York later.

There is no tube to/from Gatwick, but thevThameslink to St Pancras is a better option for the journey to York from Kings Cross which is across the street from St Pancras.

what he was saying was that staying near the Thameslink line means using the tube can be avoided when going from the airport and to the train station, much easier with luggage. A good idea.

I'll be honest, I have no idea what the previous two posts mean. : / Nor did I understand the lodging on the Thameslink post.

For clarity: https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/destinations-and-offers/airport-travel/gatwick-airport

This is what the poster was referring to.

Ahhh yes, thank you for clarifying Emma and Claudia. Tom, for what its worth, I agree but I do give budget a higher ranking. I think my Cherry Court near Victoria is going to be a pretty good location for me. Jody PS thanks all again.