Gatwick to Heathrow Transfer with sightseeing?

=Ignore driving, it will be much much slower than public transport.

You can get from Gatwick to Victoria station, which is close to both sites, but particularly Buckingham Palace, in as little as 30 minutes. There are 10 trains per hour during the day so assuming no inbound flight delays then your chances are reasonable. Every minute will matter though so you'll need to try and get 9 people to move with some determination straight through immigration towards the train station.

It's a 15 minute walk from Buckingham Palace to the HoP.

From there there are a myriad of ways to combine tube/rail to get to Heathrow T5 - needless to say you can't dawdle or linger about, it's a tight connection.

Personally I wouldn't bother at all, London is simply sensational and warrants a properly planned trip of its own. If your inbound flight is delayed, or it is raining, then I would also not attempt this. But, if none of the above applies, then you can probably just about do it.

No.
The time sounds like a lot, but with two busy airports and nine people to corral I wouldn’t even think about it.
How are you traveling between the two airports?

I would be a bit concerned that the "group dynamics" of trying to herd 9 people around
after (assumption) an overnight flight could be an issue, but I suppose it depends on
how experienced everyone is at traveling, handling jet lag, and not wandering off
on a whim.

If you think you can give it a try, I would take Gatwick Express into Victoria, then catch
cabs and have them give you a drive-by tour (if you're there late morning, Buckingham
Palace is probably out due to the changing of the guards), and drop you off at Paddington
where you can jump on Heathrow Express or Elizabeth Line out to Heathrow. It's 20-25
minutes on the train, and if you want to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight, you
have perhaps an hour in London, but it depends on immigration queues and such. If you're
checking bags, your margin is further reduced and unless your flight gets in early, it's
probably not worth the hassle, or the risk of missing your connecting flight.

There's no need to be at LHR 3 hours before a domestic flight with no checked luggage, an hour is fine

Please stop chopping time off. Two hours is what the airline and the airport say for a domestic flight.The
Added to which you allow 1 hour, then the train has a problem you are goosed.

Don’t forget to allow for the time it takes to get through the Border at Gatwick…even when I used to use a British Passport it could take an hour easily. Depends on how many flights come in at the same time and Gatwick is a busy airport at any time. Also depends on which terminal you land at. The north terminal involves waiting for a shuttle train to take you to the rail station; the south terminal is a a shorter walk. But still time consuming and don’t forget buying tickets…..

The recommended time to be at LHR for Domestic flights is 2 hours. Will you need to check in again, or is it all one journey? Check in and especially security lines at Heathrow can be big time-eaters.

There’s no way I’d want to contemplate this! A group of 9 people will be harder to herd and therefore slower than travelling solo. It sounds very stressful. I’d focus on just getting to Heathrow as quickly as possible.

I wouldn't try it. Just too many variables to go wrong and when you are pressed for time, Murphy's Law always seems to rear its ugly head.

I would save the visit to central London for another time.

It could take upwards of two hours to travel between the two airports depending on timing, traffic (If you take the bus), delays, breakdowns, etc.

You want to arrive at Heathrow two hours ahead of time according to the airline.

How long it will take you to get through immigration is anyone's guess.

And then there's the stress of travel, jet lag, corraling nine people, etc.

Just go direct to Heathrow.

One last thing, with nine people, you might want to price out a private transfer between the two airports. Terminal to terminal service with no changes.

I'm guessing this is a through ticket on BA. If not, you could have flown from Gatwick to Inverness on Easyjet.

I personally would not try this- I would just get the bus that goes directly from Gatwick to Heathrow. It may be technically possible but I think the stress involved would not make it worth it, and you will still have some luggage even if it's carry-on sized.

If you really want to see London (briefly), I might suggest getting the Thameslink (train) from Gatwick to Farringdon, and then the Elizabeth Line from Farringdon to Heathrow. When you take the Thameslink one of the stops is Blackfriars Bridge and you get a wonderful view of Tower Bridge out the right side of the train carriage (when heading north, as you would be doing).

Hi Amy,

Frank has talked about much of this, but it bears repeating: I would not try this. Ever. Especially with a group.

Airlines and the airport are recommending being at the airport 2 hrs ahead of time for domestic departures to allow for queues, security, etc. You would do well to heed that recommendation if you can, especially with a group like you have.

That leaves 2hrs 40 minutes of your transfer time. Transit between LGW and LHR using surface (non-rail) transport can take up to 2 hrs depending on traffic. While it can/should take about 1 hr 10 min to 1 hr 20 min normally (National Express, Flexibus, etc), traffic will be what it will be. The M25 is rather notorious for its traffic. Even using rail you can still be looking at approximately 1 hr 45 min, with at least one change involved regardless of which route you take. Remember - nine people in tow.

That leaves 40 minutes. Even assuming a good 1 hr 10 minute transfer that is still leaving only a 90 minute buffer. Crossing the border at LGW can either be quick or a slog. Again, consider you have nine people to wrangle together.

That 40-90 minute buffer will quickly evaporate if you are delayed by more than a few minutes anywhere along the way, whether its flight delays, immigration, or the transfer.

As Frank mentioned - you might consider looking at a private transfer with that many people.

Just my thoughts. Wishing you an amazing trip!

Amy,
I am “not seeing” how this is feasible for the following reasons:

1. You are using the time the plane lands as the clock starting point. Our preferred airport is Gatwick since we have a flat in Pimlico, adjacent to Victoria Station, and we typically spend an hour from time of Gatwick arrival to arriving at VS.
2. From VS station platform to the palace is minimum 20 minutes if you know exactly what you are doing and do not encounter crowds or parade interruptions on the path. Such interruptions are common for the palace area is one of the most congested pedestrian sites.
3. You arrive and stare through the fence, then step back for a broader view then strive to get a group photo with a backdrop of tourists. Hmmm? 15 or 30 minutes? Does not matter for all you can count accomplished was “seeing” a building and a mass of humanity.
4. Now you are a minimum of an hour from arriving at Heathrow, not your gate. So you have burnt two hours and 30 minutes minimum and still need to enter the airport, clear security and get to your gate; say 45 minutes on a good day. Total 3 hours and 15 minutes on a good day.
5. What is the value of adding travel stress to your journey? What is the travel benefit of potentially missing your flight “to see a building”? Most important, what do your travel mates think of this plan?

I offer an alternative………..
Rent a private transfer bus and drive to Windsor where you will get off near the long walk close to the castle. There is a wonderful pub at the end of the road next to the long walk where you can refresh yourselves via food and drink. Stretch your legs and view the castle while also enjoying the parkland. Fresh air, wonderful views and the benefits of a pub. From Windsor to Heathrow is less than 30 minutes.

With a 4hr 40min transfer time you also don’t really have time to visit Windsor.

Just because the plane is supposed to land at 840 doesn’t mean it will and then you have to factor in how long it can sometimes take together out of the airport.Don’t underestimate how long it can take to travel between the airports and how apparently minor delays can add up.

Just get yourself to Heathrow. London isn't going anywhere and will be waiting for a future trip.

I fully understand the desire to "sneak a peek", but having done the Gatwick/Heathrow transfer before I completely agree with those who said simply transfer from one airport to the other. I took the National Express Coach transfer. It was easy to find at the terminals and went directly to the other airport. The traffic between the two airports is certainly a factor in how quickly this transfer is made. It can go smoothly or it can go slowly depending on traffic.

So many variables to contend with. Plane arrival time, passport control, transfer, security, and finally in the terminal. Delays can happen at any point. There is a reason for that amount of time between flights.

This is all so helpful. Is there a private transfer company you would recommend? Is it likely that they might be able to take a route where we could see things along the way and adjust the route to drive by more or less depending on the arrival time/customs/traffic/etc. ? So I mean, not making any stops, but having a drive with a view? I don't want to risk the departure, but the group was very disappointed not to be able to fit in a proper visit to London and will not be able to return soon.

To answer a few things, both flights are British Airways. Since we aren't checking bags I don't think that helps us. We'll still need to go through security again etc. Traveling with 9 will be more complicated but it is a pretty focused group with great desire to get the most out of the trip. None are children, all young adults except my husband and I. Only a few of us have traveled internationally.

I haven’t used them myself, but BlackBerryCars is often recommended on this forum.

https://www.blackberrycars.com/

As mentioned previously, Blackberry Cars is popular on this forum as is Just Airports.

The fastest route between the two airports will skirt London and not go into the center of the city at all. Trying to do that will only add lots of time as it will be the start of the morning rush hour into the city and London is a traffic mess any time of day.

If you took the train, you would go through London but the only sight you might see is Tower Bridge. No Parliament, No Buckingham Palace. But, if there are any delays with your flight or on the train lines, you could be in real trouble. At that time of day, the trains will also be very busy and packed. Not easy to manage with a large group and luggage.

If I was doing this, and I travel a great deal, I would take the least stressful option which is either a private transfer or the coach directly between the two.

If you miss your connection due to unforeseen circumstances, BA would put you on the next available flight free of charge. But with a large group that doesn't mean you'd all get on the next flight. However, if you insist on sightseeing and miss your flight, BA has the right to make you buy new tickets at the same day price which is not cheap.

It wouldn't surprise me if a car service may be reluctant to 'take the scenic route' for fear of some unforeseeable delay that results in not getting to LHR in time for your flight and having to deal with your potential claims for compensation.

In any event everything has to be on time and work like the proverbial Swiss watch, to have a chance of pulling it off.

.

I am pretty laid back on airport timings but I would go straight to LHR.

Have you all got your ETAs linked to your passports?

One thing you could do is to contact BA and see if they can switch you from BA1424 to BA1426- arriving Inverness at 2135.
With 9 people that may be easier said than done.

But that should have been offered as an option originally. Irrespective of any sightseeing that may have originally been the better option anyway, as this was always a transfer time with little wriggle room. Having 9 people makes it harder (if you miss the flight due to a late arrival at Gatwick) for BA to put you on the later flight at short notice. They can only do that subject to capacity.

The other basic issue is quite simply that any road journey from Gatwick to central London takes a lot longer than the train.

So any such scenic route transfer would have to start at Victoria, but then the timing is uncertain.

Oh and the way to avoid packed trains and luggage issues is to use the Gatwick Express, not the busier Southern Rail trains. As 9 people you get 1/3 off using Groupsave. (no railcard needed)/

As previously mentioned a car won't help you, it is slower than public transport in Central London. As I speak Google maps suggests 1hr53 from Gatwick to Victoria - it takes 30 mins on the train.

the reason that driving on roads takes so long from Gatwick into Parliament Square is that there is no motorway or fast road between the M25 near Gatwick (regular road from Gatwick to the M23 for a few miles to the M25, then regular roads all the rest of the way in) and traffic in London is horrendous. The roads are full of traffic lights, much of the roads have 30 mph speeds (don't worry about speed, you'll never get that fast) and mile after mile of 20 mph and zebras and toucans and traffic lights. Then once you get to the River, you have to get across it. The joke 40 years ago on the Good Life was how long it took to cross London Bridge, and it is worse now. There are bridges now closed to vehicles (Albert Bridge for one) because of structural faults and all that traffic has to go elsewhere.

You're really asking for disappointment --- sorry