Gatwick Express is the fastest train but also the dearest train, you can buy the ticket at the ticket desk at the station before going down to the platform, another cheaper option is just buying a ticket to London Victoria via the Surburban train, you can ususally get a fast train but the indication board may only say Clapham Junction but it does go to Victoria (it encourages tourist’s to use the expensive train) or there is also the Thames Link train that passes through London Bridge and Kings Cross Station, again a cheaper train

Avoid the express and take the fast train as the last poster suggested.Where in london are you planning on staying?
-howie

Thanks for the info.

Right now I think I am planning to stay at Piccadilly Backpackers. If you know of somewhere that is pretty central and maybe better, feel free to post the name of it. I have also heard that the Globtrotter Inn is a pretty good place.

Just another question. Can I buy a ticket for those cheaper but fast trains in Gatwick airport?

Sorry for the stupid questions. Last time I was in London I flew from Heathrow and just used the tube as transport.

I forgot to post something else. Of the other available trains, which is the fastest one?

At Gatwick Airport, just before you go down to the train platform you will see the ticket desk to buy train tickets DO NOT wait until you get on the train to buy them. There is also a Train Indicator board telling you where the train is going. Try and get a fast train, stopping only at East Croydon and Clapham Junction, but even if it a stopping train, it only adds another 10 minutes to the journey

Thanks,

Jennifer&Chester, you seem to have all the answers to my questions on any of the forums.

I was a Hotel Receptionist for 13 years in London and I loved it, I do miss it though

Jennifer&Chester,

I haven’t been able to find a website on the cheaper suburban trains that you were talking about. I just want to know what the hours of operation are. My flight leaves gatwick at 6AM so I just wanted to make sure that I will be able to use it either late at night or very early in the morning. Thanks

One though that came to mind was why dont you just stay by gatwick your last night?If you booked a hotel via www.priceline.com you could get a hotel for around $50+tx at lgw.If you goto http://reiseauskunft…
you can look up the train times.Train service does run all night from london-victoria station.However the tube doesnt run all night so you would have to grab a nightbus to victoria.How early were you planning on leaving for gatwick anyhow??The fastest train from victoria to gatwick is the gatwick express which is the more expensive one.The slower ones are the regular commuter trains that take only 12min longer and make stops at east croydon and clampham junction and sometimes one or 2 others depending on the train…
-howie
turok46368@aol.com

We are planning on spending the first night in London and the second night I think we are just going to go to Gatwick late at night and stay there. I think that we have to be at the airport for check in at 3Am so its not worth staying at some place for the night, especially in London.

I think that I can spare the 12 extra minutes on the train and spend less money. I can’t seem to get train times on the duetche bahn website. They say that no route was found.

Im just wondering if you know of any hostels that are within walking distance of Victoria station?

Thanks.

Try typing in just london for the orgin city and just gatwick for the dest it should work then.I’ll get back to you about the places to stay around victoria station.I havent personally stayed around there but I’ll ask a friend if they have..
-howie

Thanks howie,

I’ll try typing that in and see it if works. Thanks for the help.

I’m still not able to get a list of train times from tha D bahn site but I don’t really need to see it. As long as the train runs between Victoria station and Gatwick Airport, that is all I need to know. I think we will probably head out on that train at around midnight just to gives us lots of time. Thanks anyway.

for train time
www.thetrainline.co….

Thanks for that link to that site. Very appreciated.

Heathrow —-> National Express —-> Gatwick

I plan to take the National Express from Heathrow to Gatwick on Wed. Dec.14. (It’s my first time ever to London, I’m very excited!!). My plane will land at 6:25am (hopefuly on schedule!), and my connecting flight leaves Gatwick at 1:45pm. (That’s a span of 7 hours, 20 mins).

Now, my question…. Would it be best to reserve and book ahead a space on the Express? I doubt it will fill up…but is there a chance? I’d rather wait anyway and see what time I’m done going through customs etc. rather than try to pinpoint an exact time.

Thanks for your help!

I’m lost here…Are you planning on going into town during your stopover?If you are the gatwick express may not be best because another train station in london (charing cross/london bridge) maybe closer to where you are and can provide a slightly longer ride to gatwick at a much cheaper price than the express…If your talking about the bus from heathrow to gatwick I dont think you would have to book in advance?If you are talking about the heathrow express.It is alot cheaper to grab the tube into town but with your time constrants I can understand taking the heathrow express
-howie
turok46368@aol.com

Thanks stockmanjr…

No, I’m not planning to go into London. I have the 7 hours total to go through customs, transfer airports, and check in (plus any flight delays). I’ve never been to London yet. If I were more familiar with the city, to get to Gatwick, I would certainly go through town! It would be an exciting adventure! But since it’s my first time through I’d rather pay the extra just to be sure I get to the other airport in plenty of time.

I was planning to take the National Express.
http://www.nationale…
They have a bus leaving about every 15 minutes.

I don’t think I’d have to book in advance…I’ll wait till I arrive and buy a ticket then.

Thanks for your advice!

(on my way back to Canada, I’ll be stopping in London for a few days, and transferring airports then as well)

Enjoy your trip drop me an email if you have any questions
-howie

Wow, didn’t expect to see this thread back. That was almost a year ago that I posted that question.

Just for anyone’s interest, I did end up using the Gatwick Express both ways (to and from Victoria station and Gatiwck airport). I flew into London Gatwick on Easyjet, and they were selling the train tickets on the flight as part of duty free. I think I saved a pound or 2 by buying the tickets from the airline, and it was great cause I didn’t have to bother buying them when I got off the flight and into the airport.

The Gatwick Express is a great train though. A little expensive, but it runs often and it’s nice to have direct link to Victoria Station. If i’m ever in London again i’d use it, but i’d much prefer to fly into Heathrow again, and just use the Tube to get to Central London. It’s just as easy or easier and much cheaper.

Welligton Hall on Vincent Square is a cool, cheap place to stay. I’ve used it 3 times and i have no complaints whatsoever. It’s only 10 minutes walk from London Victoria and it overlooks a beautiful park and the Houses of Parliment, it’s located just behing Westminster Cathedral! Enjoy!