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!
On the Heathrow airport website (www.heathrowairport.com), there is information for a bus that connects the two airports for 17.50 (Pounds). That's what we are planning to take in September. If anyone else has other suggestions, please let us know.
You don't have as much free time as you think! The general rule of thumb is to allow five hours--or longer--between scheduled arrival at one London airport and scheduled departure from another. However, people report that when all goes perfectly, they've made the Heathrow-Gatwick transfer in around four hours.
But you MIGHT have time for a very quick stop in central London. Buy a one-day travelcard for zones 1-6, take the tube to Victoria rail station, stow your luggage there, and take the tube to Westminister, emerging across the street from the Parliament building. Take a short walk and then take the tube back to Victoria. Take a Southern train (cheaper than the Gatwick Express and only ten minutes slower) to the airport. Allow one hour for your tube ride from Heathrow to Victoria and 40 minutes for the Southern train to Gatwick. Go to www.tfl.gov.uk to download and print a tube map.
Tim...thanks for the info. I looked on www.tfl.gov.uk, but couldn't find much info on the Southern line to get to Gatwick. I assume it runs from Victoria south? Will we have to switch trains at any point or is it a straight shot?
You're welcome, Amy.
For information on train timetables and fares, including Southern trains, use the Journey Planner at www.nationalrail.co.uk. You'll see that direct trains run about every 15 minutes and the cost is 8.90 GBP. In reference to my earlier post, a one-day, off-peak (after 09:30), zone 1-6 travelcard costs 6.70 GBP.
Just wanted to add that the hop on/hop off bus tour leaves from just outside the victoria station, I would recommend taking the tube from heathrow to Victoria and taking the bus tour, also I found the Gatwick express the easy and fastest way to Gatwich, you can buy a ticket right on the train and it was only like 10 pounds. Taking the gatwick express will leave you a little more time to see London, and just so easy to take form Victoria station,
Don't underestimate the amount of time it will take to make the plane to plane connection. When we arrived at Heathrow last September it took nearly an hour to get through Immigration and that was after we got into the line. At Gatwick the check-in security process took almost 1-1/2 hours, not counting a LONG walk to the departure gate. I would be nervous about spending much time sightseeing.
If you decide you have time for a quick stop in central London and choose to follow my route suggestions, here's one more little detail. Hammersmith is the best station for transferring from the Piccadilly Line to the District Line. All you do is cross from one side of the platform to the other.
I'm with Jeff - don't underestimate the time depending on the season and time of day. I have flown in and out of Heathrow and Gatwick several times and ride the busses and tubes on an almost daily bases. Always expect the unexpected.
