Advice on getting to Gatwick airport

duchy

mgdavid wrote: »

unless they happen to be on the rail route between Manchester and Gatwick, that's hardly relevant or useful to the OP

What on earth are you talking about ?......Did you entirely miss the part of the thread discussing how much time the OP needed to build in to allow for any possible delays and whether three hours at Gatwick was such a terrible fate if there are no delays and the OP has some time to kill ?

If you have to be rude - Try and least be coherent with it !!

See the OP#s comment below

Sheesh !!

SavingPennies wrote: »

To the people who mentioned how much time to allow, I think I'm okay with 3 hours as I have to get 3 trains in total (incl. a train to Manchester Picadilly) and I get a bit stressed about delays, missing my train etc, so I'd be happy to arrive earlier and just have a wander round the airport. If I was going from Manchester airport I wouldn't be so concerned about being early as it's nearby and familiar but having never flown from Gatwick I want to allow plenty of time.

duchy

SavingPennies wrote: »

I was planning on buying direct at the train station, (prices same as trainline.com) I didn't know tickets could be bought cheaper than that! It's currently £21.00 cheapest single which seems pretty good, will check out Virgin Money train site though thanks.

Some of the cheap singles have to be bought in advance plus you don't want to be stuck in a queue at the station on the day .

NiftyDigits

SavingPennies wrote: »

Thanks so much for the advice everyone! I think I'm going to go for the train combo of Manchester - Euston, then St Pancras - Gatwick. I think the coach will take too long and as no-one has mentioned taxis I'm thinking it's not a good idea and probably really expensive. I'm also familiar with the walk between stations as I think it's the same route as when I traveled on the Eurostar a few years back. I'm just glad I checked on here because when I looked on trainline.com I didn't come up with this combo, I guess because there's a bit of a walk between stations.

To answer a few questions, I'm travelling on a week day and I don't have an oyster card. I plan to book tickets in advance as I assume the prices will go up nearer the time.

To the people who mentioned how much time to allow, I think I'm okay with 3 hours as I have to get 3 trains in total (incl. a train to Manchester Picadilly) and I get a bit stressed about delays, missing my train etc, so I'd be happy to arrive earlier and just have a wander round the airport. If I was going from Manchester airport I wouldn't be so concerned about being early as it's nearby and familiar but having never flown from Gatwick I want to allow plenty of time.

Contactless?

Westin

NiftyDigits, the station at Gatwick Airport had Oyster points installed last week and it is now possible to use your Oyster card to travel down from London.

Not sure of the relevance to the OP and she has I think received good advice about her journey in this thread. Perhaps a previous visit to London had put the thought of the Oyster card in her mind.

For those who do consider using the Oyster in the future for a journey to Gatwick, cheaper tickets, especially return tickets, are available on line and bought as traditional paper style ones.

Southern Rail and Thameslink Trains services are cheaper than the overpriced Gatwick Express (all the same parent rail company by the way).

xHannahx

The gatwick express is only around 1-2 minutes quicker than the normal train now, yet the prices don't reflect that and gatwick express is around £10 more for a return ticket. Not worth the money but attracts less clued up people with the branding. Don't fall for it.

duchy

xHannahx wrote: »

The gatwick express is only around 1-2 minutes quicker than the normal train now, yet the prices don't reflect that and gatwick express is around £10 more for a return ticket. Not worth the money but attracts less clued up people with the branding. Don't fall for it.

Agreed
I used to live on this line and the semifast was around 4 stops and took between five and ten minutes longer but was substantially cheaper.

Obviously_the_best

Just to say OP, the reason nobody has even really mentioned bus/taxi, is that the roads from central London to Gatwick are referred to by several different religions as the place you'll end up if you do bad things

SavingPennies_2

Sorry I haven't got time to thank individuals but loads of great advice thanks everyone. I've booked the train as advised from Manc - Euston then St Panc - Gatwick, won't bother with the underground between stations, just going to walk it, got a good price too :T

With regards to the return which a few people mentioned, the return flight arrives late evening, by the time I get through passport control and baggage will be around midnight, so my plan is to stay at a hotel in Gatwick, the Hilton right next to the S terminal is looking like the best option.

pelirocco

mgdavid wrote: »

- that leaves you 3 hours to kill in Gatwick, not a pleasant prospect. If it were me I'd go 30 to 45 minutes later.

I would plan to be there earlier , in case of delays .

These days I find after checking in / baggage drop , security and having a drink something to eat they are calling you for your flight , years ago you used to be hanging around for ages it seems.

I personally would go down the night before and stay at an airport hotel have a good meal and relax , but then I cant remember that last time I flew so late in the day

duchy

SavingPennies wrote: »

Sorry I haven't got time to thank individuals but loads of great advice thanks everyone. I've booked the train as advised from Manc - Euston then St Panc - Gatwick, won't bother with the underground between stations, just going to walk it, got a good price too :T

With regards to the return which a few people mentioned, the return flight arrives late evening, by the time I get through passport control and baggage will be around midnight, so my plan is to stay at a hotel in Gatwick, the Hilton right next to the S terminal is looking like the best option.

Have a look at Yotel (capsule hotel in the South Terminal) or the Bloc hotel built onto the North Terminal - both are likely to be cheaper than the Hilton.