Getting from Bath Spa (Somerset) England to London Luton Airport or Gatwick Airport

Posted by Mari (Columbus) on 04/04/15 03:22 PM

Hello - I've been researching efficient ways to travel from Bath to London's Luton Airport or Gatwick Airport for a flight to Barcelona, and both airports seem to have multiple stops/changes. Has anyone made this trip from Bath to either airport that could offer suggestions? It would be much appreciated.

Also, when the train's website has a schedule that has you arriving at a station (for example, Paddington) at one time (in this case 13:39) and leaving at the exact same time, does this mean you stay on the train? Also, they have you arriving at St. Pancras station at 14:29 and then leaving on the tube at exactly 14:29 for Luton Airport Parkway. I'm just confused how this is possible, and appreciate any advice. Thank you!

(Also, if anyone knows a affordable option to get between Barcelona and Dublin, I would appreciate knowing that as well. It's much cheaper to get to Barcelona than it is to return.) Thanks!

Posted by Bob

Bristol, UK

04/04/15 04:23 PM

619 posts

If I was going from Bath to Barcelona, I would fly from Bristol. You can fly Easyjet to Barcelona itself, or Ryanair to Girona and then get the connecting bus or train. You can check flight details at www.bristolairport.co.uk/, where you can also find details of the direct bus service from Bath to Bristol airport.

It would probably take less time to get to Barcelona via Bristol Airport than it would take to get just from Bath to Luton or Gatwick. Luton, in particular, would be a difficult journey by public transport.

Posted by Chris F

Basel, Switzerland

04/04/15 04:36 PM

8889 posts

Mari,
The train websites usually clearly show which are the individual trains, and you can click on the train to show its stops.
"arriving at .... Paddington at one time and leaving at the exact same time, does this mean you stay on the train?" - I doubt it, Paddington is a terminus station. The answer is there is no timetable for the tube, the trains run continuously. The computer knows it will take xx minutes from Paddington to St Pancras by tube, allowing for walking to the tube platform, and from the tube to the main part of St Pancras, so it just says you are leaving Paddington on the tube at the same time as you arrive, and get to St Pancras xx minutes later. It does the same thing if a 10 minute walk is needed. It shows that as a leg of the journey taking 10 minutes starting the moment you step off the train.

If you do go from St Pancras to Luton, this is not the tube, but it does not stop at the same surface part of the station as Eurostar and the other main line trains; it uses a third part of the station underneath the main station! It is all signposted.

But, I agree with Bob, flying from Bristol to Barcelona is probably the easiest option.
The next easiest station to get to from Bath is Heathrow: train to Reading then connecting shuttle bus.
Then Gatwick: train to Reading then hourly local train to Gatwick
Luton and Stansted are the most difficult as they involve going via London.

Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Vueling all fly Barcelona to Dublin. You can't get cheaper than Ryanair.

Posted by Mari OP

Columbus

04/04/15 07:05 PM

98 posts

Thank you very much for the advice! We never even considered flying to Barcelona from Bristol after leaving Bath. Thank you for the link. It shows a direct bus from Bath to the Bristol Airport. The EasyJet flight is slightly more expensive, but we'll easily make that up in the cost of getting to the airport and time/frustration saved. Thank you! I'm still not having a lot of luck finding a super good deal from Barcelona to Dublin, but super good deals might not be a possibility on that route. We may just have to settle for good. Also, if you can recommend a nice, safe hotel in London for just one night, I would gladly take the suggestion. Also, if anyone has any ideas about apartments close to the city center of Bath, those would be most welcome as well. Thanks!