Gatwick or London City Airport? which is easier?

temba

Hi, I need to fly from London to Barcelona the morning of 13th August.

I have found two flights that would suit me, one with Easyjet and one with BA. The BA has slightly better timings, but only a bit. It is also £25 more expensive, although I'm guessing by the time I've taken into account getting to Gatwick that will be more like a £10 difference.

My question is which one should I choose from the point of view of airports. My instinct was to go to LCA, but as I will be staying in Gloucester Road, it seems to take exactly the same time to get to Gatwick as to get to LCA.

Anyone have any suggestions/comments? I've never been to LCA, but I believe it has a quicker check in time. I don't know anything about how reliable it is getting there. It will be early on a weekday morning (I'll be aiming to get there at about 8.30/9)

Thanks,

C

Voyager2002

I would choose London City. Everything there is smooth and efficient (geared to business travellers for whom time is money) while Gatwick is geared to tourists, whose time is assumed to be of little value.

London City is easy walking distance from a railway station (Silverton I think) and has its own Docklands Light Railway station, so you can get there for the price of an ordinary travelcard. Transport to Gatwick would cost rather more.

Enjoy Barcelona.

mrtg0525

Another vote for London City, especially if the difference is only a tenner. As Voyager2002 says, it is far more pleasant to fly out of than Gatwick and you'll spend a lot less time waiting for your luggage etc.

cazziebo

I fly in and out of London all the time and London City is my favourite - hardly any queues and you can be off and on planes and out the airport in minutes. There always seems miles to walk in Gatwick - and they've got that weird thing going on at the moment where you have to take your shoes off after you've cleared security.

Have been fog bound twice at City, but apart from that it's great.

richardw

temba wrote: »

I will be staying in Gloucester Road, it seems to take exactly the same time to get to Gatwick as to get to LCA

Perhaps check this further using journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk

temba

Thanks everyone. After reading your replies I knew what i had to do, so I've booked the City flight! There really seemed no comparison, and I'd rather pay extra to have a bit of an easy life :-)

Thanks,

T

angel

cazziebo wrote: »

I fly in and out of London all the time and London City is my favourite - hardly any queues and you can be off and on planes and out the airport in minutes. There always seems miles to walk in Gatwick - and they've got that weird thing going on at the moment where you have to take your shoes off after you've cleared security.
.

I've flown from Gatwick three times in the past few weeks and haven't seen anyone barefoot after security. When are they allowed to put them on again? When theyboard the plane?