Any suggestions on the quickest &/or most economical way to transfer from Heathrow to Gatwick? We'll be arriving at 11:45am on a Thursday and our flight doesn't leave Gatwick until 6:40pm. Anything we can see in between the two to pass the time? Any info is appreciated.
Thanks!
Posted by
Portland, OR, USA
389 posts
Amy,
There are bus transfers directly from airport to airport (www.baa.com) at 17.50 GBP or you can take the express train from Heathrow into London (14.90 GBP). You would have about 2 hours which is really hardly enough time to begin to see anything. If you go into Victoria Station you could eat (in the station there are a nice variety of restaurants McD's to Pub food) and go up to Buckingham palace. Then take the express to Gatwick (14.50 GBP). It is a shame to miss London, but you will probably be very tired, so either keep moving or just go down to Gatwick and chill.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
By the time you get off the plane, go through imigraition and customs you may only have just enough time to get to gatwick and check in. Especially if your first flight runs late. Gatwick is a large airport with plenty of shops to walk around in if you do have to pass a few hours there.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
IF you arrive at Heathrow on time and IF you get through passport control/immigration without delays, and IF you have packed light so you can easily schlepp your own bags, you would have time for a QUICK peek at some of central London's major sites. And you can do this for less money than taking the direct Heathrow-Gatwick bus.
At Heathrow buy a one-day, off-peak zone 1-6 travelcard. Take the tube (Piccadilly Line) to Hammersmith and walk a few steps to the other side of the platform. Take the District Line to Victoria and store your bags there. Take either the District Line or the Circle Line to Westminster. When you emerge, you'll be right across the street from Big Ben and Parliament. Walk around a bit. Return to Victoria and take a Southern train to Gatwick (8.90 GBP). Trains run every 15 minutes and the trip takes 40 minutes.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
One more thing. Go to www.tfl.gov.uk to download and print a tube map.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Yet one more thing. Allow one hour to get from Heathrow to Victoria on the tube.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
I guess I'm still not done. The Heathrow-Gatwick coach (bus) is run by National Express. Its Web site, www.nationalexpress.com, gives the fare as 19.00 GBP, not 17.50 GBP. Apparently the information on the Heathrow site is out of date.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Oops! I forgot to give the price of a one-day, off-peak zone 1-6 travelcard. It's 6.70 GBP.