7.5 hour layover at Gatwick Airport -- Can I leave the airport to visit London?

Once you've landed at Gatwick and passed thru Passport Control, you're free to hang out at the airport (where they'd love it if you shopped at all the stores in the terminal), or leave and visit, as long as you get back in time to check back in for your flight, and that you have all your documents, including your Boarding Passes for your flight to the USA. When landing, instead of following the other 'in-transit" passengers who are following the Transportation Connections signs, you'd be Arriving in the U.K., even if for a very short time, so follow those signs thru the airport to Passport Control. If you're just hanging out at Gatwick, you wouldn't need to fill out a Landing Card, declaring how much cash, food, plants, animals, etc. you're "bringing in to the U.K." If you're planning on setting foot on English soil outside the airport, though, I imagine they'll want you to complete a card, declaring whatever you'll be carrying with you during your time outside Gatwick, even though it may be nothing, and it'll be such a short time. You'll likely be asked why you're coming to the U.K., and how long you're staying.

If you'd been in the U.K. on vacation, you'd normally want arrive at Gatwick 3 hours before your flight departure time, but since they'll already have your bags checked through, you might be able to delay your return just a bit, but I wouldn't push it too much. That essentially leaves you 4.5 hours to get from Gatwick to London proper, do what you're going to do there, and get yourself back to Gatwick. Are you departing from Gatwick in the same terminal where you're landing from Madrid? Make sure, so you get to where you'll need to be.

The Victoria Express train can get you directly from Gatwick to Victoria Station in London (ticket desk inside the airport). Once there, will you be using the Tube, taxis, buses, or walking to get around? What do you want to see, and how much time do you anticipate at the place(s)? Getting back to Gatwick, will you do the Victoria Express, or use some other means? Taxis won't be cheap, and if you used Uber, make certain you and they know exactly where to pick you up.

Years ago I had an extremely long layover at Heathrow Airport, and ventured to a nearby town to catch 2 movies in an air-conditioned theater. You may or may not decide that it's worth the effort to get back to Gatwick, go thru security again, etc. for a few short hours in London - but there's certainly plenty to see and do to keep you occupied during that time!

You haven't got 7.5 hours. It will take you at least an hour to get off the plane and through the lines at passport control. You need to be back at least 3 hours before your flight even with bags checked through. So you have at most 3.5 hours if your flight arrives on time.

Getting into central London will take at least an hour in each direction allowing for waiting for trains so that gives you 1 to 1.5 hours there. Alternatively, you could take the easier train journey to Brighton on the coast, where you would have a couple of hours to have lunch and see the Pavilion.

If you are not in business class you may want to explore buying a day pass to the airline lounge. Maybe take a shower and have nibbles and a beverage or two....

I would prefer that to the 'quicky' visit Jennifer describes. And it being November, the weather may be less than ideal.

Assuming:

1) Your luggage is checked through
2) You already have your boarding pass for the second flight--either you printed it out or it was given to you when you checked in at Madrd;
3) Your flight arrives on time.

Whether you are staying five hours or five months, you go through the same immigration process. I went through Gatwick a couple of months ago and even though I can use the electronic machines, it still took over 20 minutes. For regular arrivals, the line was to another county. Figure in at least an hour for immigration.

Once you get through, you have to get to the Gatwick Express. Luckily for you, it's located in the South Terminal as is Norwegian airlines. Then you have to buy your ticket, then wait for the train. (Every 15 minutes.) The train takes 30 minutes to London. (Assuming no delays.)

Two to two and a half hours have been used up.

For return you will need to get from arriving at Victoria station to Gatwick which will be about 45 minutes to an hour.

That's three and a half hours used up.

You need to be back at Gatwick at least two hours if you have no bags to check and have a boarding pass. (You go right to security or at worse also have your passport quickly checked by airline staff.)

That's five and a half hour assuming everything goes exactly as planned.

That will give you two hours to try to do something in London. It won't get you far with crowds, traffic, etc
And that's assuming, as has been stated previously, that the weather is favorable.

If you wanted to do this you could but I would wait until you arrive to make that decision. Personally, I would try to get access to the lounge, chow down on the free food and drink, use the free wifi and basically just chill out.

You could also look into renting a room at the Gatwick Yotel. Take a nap, shower, whatever. It's also in the South Terminal.

Realistically you would only have 2 hours maximum in central London. Even less, when you consider onward transit from Victoria Station to your chosen sight. Westminster Abbey and a photo stop at the Houses of Parliament would fit that time frame.

Consider spending a few hours (with lunch in the cafe) at Nymans Garden, about 15-20mins cab ride from Gatwick. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nymans

I agree with the others - when all factors are considered, you don't have time for a visit to London. The transportation time could be longer than the time available to see London. Also keep in mind that if there are any disruptions on the trip back to the airport, you could miss your flight. It's your choice of course, but there's no way I'd try something like that.

I just looked at google maps. Gatwick to the British Museum (It's free!!) is a little over an hour. 2 hours 20 min transit. 5 hours in the museum - make it 3.5 to get back on time. That's what I'd do.

I have to question the 3 hours you need to be at the Airport before the flight, that keeps poping up in this thread. The check in opens 3 hours before and closes 1 hour before. I am writing this from a norwegian flight from Gatwick to Copenhagen and I was at the Airport an hour before my flight and that was plenty of time. Granted you have to be there earlier for flights to the States, but 3 hours is pushing it.

I'm not trying to sway you one way or the other. If you decide to go to London, you can maximize the time you have there. Gatwick offers premium passport control for £10 and security screening for £5. It could potentially add 1 to 2 hours to your available free time.

http://www.gatwickairport.com/at-the-airport/upgrade-your-airport-experience/

Thank you for all of the great information, everyone! I was unaware of the airport lounge and hotel options, and Brighton would never have been on my radar if not for your help. I realize now that the logistics of getting out of the airport and to/from London (after having gotten up at 4 a.m. to catch our flight that morning), would make for a less than ideal day. Taking the shorter train to Brighton, enjoying fish and chips and tea by the sea, and seeing the Pavilion sounds much more appealing and doable. That will be our first choice, followed by Nyman Gardens, and defaulting to the lounge if our arriving flight gets in late or something else pops up. Either way, we're much happier now that we know we won't have to sit in the terminal for all those hours.

One last question: Given that our original trip is to Spain, we planned only to have euros and credit/debit cards. If we venture to Brighton, are credit or debit cards generally accepted everywhere now, or should we plan to get some pounds before leaving the airport?

If we venture to Brighton, are credit or debit cards generally accepted everywhere now, or should we plan to get some pounds before leaving the airport?

The UK is not a third world country!

For a quickie trip to Brighton, an American Visa or MasterCard should work fine. Tiny places way out in the country might not welcome (or accept) credit cards, just like some fine places in the USA. As long as you're not needing to tip a cabbie or use a vending machine, no need to visit an ATM.

do we use cards......?

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/jul/12/cash-contactless-payments-uk-stores-cards-british-retail-consortium

and no, we don't eat squirrels as someone once believed........

only grey squirrels - never the red or black.

Lol, oh goodness, I hope I didn't offend anyone. Of course I know that credit cards are generally accepted most places. But I also know many shops and gas stations in small or rural towns still accept only cash (at least that's the case where I'm from in southern Ohio), and when I was in Paris, many of the stalls at the Marche aux Puces only took cash. I had not been prepared for that, and I had to borrow euros from a friend to buy a small painting that day. So I just wanted to be prepared if there were certain places in Brighton, such as the pier perhaps, that are mostly cash only. I've gotten to the point in the city where I live now that I almost never need cash -- shops, restaurants, cabs (Uber) and even street parking meters can be paid for with a credit card or a smartphone app. Thanks for that article, SteveB. Fascinating to read that even the Church of England is jumping on the electronic payment bandwagon!
Also, thanks to Rocket for the tip about the premium passport control and security pass! We may do that to give ourselves a bit of extra time.

I assume you have notified the bank that issued your credit card that you will be in Spain. If you're planning on being in England too, be sure to let them know that. It might not be an issue, but it would suck if they put a hold on your card because you used it in England.

Actually cards are starting to become old fashioned. Payment by smartphone is taking off. The Wetherspoon pub chain has an App where you can order and pay from your phone without leaving your seat! https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/order-and-pay-app

another point on the original question and money. 7.5 hours is almost exactly the wrong amount of time, too much ot be stuck in the airport but not enough to go anywhere. But if you had say 10 or 12 hours and could visit central London or Brighton you might find that some touristy places will accept you left over euros. Railway station ticket counters used to (may still) accept US$ and Euro cash but at a poor exchange rate.

. . . and I bet in an emergency, you can find an ATM in Brighton (or wherever), unless it's a really tiny town.