gatwick-heathrow transfer with overnight stay

[coolumbla]

Myself, mrs c and the 3 delinquents c, are arriving at gatwick from venice late on a saturday night and need to leave heathrow for paris early next morning (7am) (BA changed the venice london flight so we couldn't do it in one day after id booked the YONE, making any change to going on the venice paris train ridiculously expensive))

I'm thinking of a cab and the ibis hotel at heathrow

any other suggestions or lateral ideas?

C

 

[Mal]

Going to be pretty expensive for a cab - starting around 80 or 90 pounds for a mini-cab and over 150 pounds for a 'black' cab. Being 5 pax in total, I'm not sure if that will increase the cost.

However, at that sort of time at night, and with family in tow - the other options aren't that appealing price and time wise I think.

The other easy option I can think of is a National Express bus transfer from Gatwick to Heathrow, followed by the Hoppa bus or taxi, but again you'd be looking around 100 pounds for the 2 journeys - and wouldn't really save any time.

Trains for this type of journey is pretty inconvenient (although you could do Gatwick - Victoria St Station, Piccadilly Tube line to Heathrow, Hoppa Bus) - this would probably cost around 60-70 pounds all up and take up to 3 hours.

 

[Bundy Bear]

National Express run from Gatwick to Heathrow about 100 times a day according to the website,

British Airways use the North terminal at Gatwick.

Don't take the cab too expensive from Gatwick to Heathrow.

National Express - Booking form - Step 2

Pick accommodation within the 1.5 mile zone at Heathrow then you get free transport on any of the local buses that run out of the Central Bus Station at Heathrow 1/2/3

It may be easier to take a taxi from the hotel at 5:00-5:30am to T5.

Others may have some suggestions.

 

[Dave Noble]

With 5 people I would consider hiring a car at Gatwick and just driving to a hotel by heathrow and then drop car at Heathrow. The major rental companies actually have their cars at the North Terminal so just get in car and go

Dave

 

[obrienja]

I agree with Dave Noble about hiring a car. Having done basically the same trip but using my own car as I have the misfortune to live in London and also having intimate experience with the late night cabs, buses and trains the self-drive option is definitely preferable.

The National Express buses are likely to be late, crowded and slow and it's a generally unpleasant experience straight off a flight to be herded onto one of them. The trains from Gatwick to central London and then back out to Heathrow are also similarly painful and you'll still have to get from Heathrow to the hotel.

Cabs are going to be very expensive as Mal stated and with 5 people and luggage you won't fit in a black cab but will need a Private Hire / Minicab which while cheaper would need to be booked in advance.

Having done the overnight transfer between Gatwick & Heathrow a few times last year I can also recommend the Hilton at Heathrow (the one that's not at the terminal) for good service and great rooms. The staff also took pity on me a couple of times and upgraded me to a nicer room.

Good luck & let us know what you decide.

 

[coolumbla]

To complete this thread

I booked a minivan pickup from Gatwick which took us directly to the hotel at Heathrow(the ibis but don't start me on it!)

It cost 90 pounds which was well worth it and not too much more than 5 bus or train fares
(and it was belting down!)

We then booked a cab to teh airport at OMG oclock for teh same cost as 5 hoppa tickets

Most important comment from Mrs C was along teh lines of "are we being picked up or do i have to fight another subway?"

5 people 6 bags minivan was teh only option really

c