Tips for overnighting between Gatwick and Heathrow?

[Glider_]

Hello!

For the first time in 15 years I'm taking a solo trip.. I'm treating myself to a fancy Morocco tour and departure is only a few days away. It's exciting, but a little daunting.

I had enough SQ points to get there but the only seats available were PER-LHR return, with a day's grace either side for me to nest connections to and from Morocco. I'm not sure what the best way to handle this annoying layover. Not very keen on sleeping on the floor in the airport but willing to consider, and I won't have LGW lounge access.

I'll be arriving LHR at about 8pm, and departing LGW with Royal Air Moroc the following day at 3pm.
On the way back, I'll be arriving LGW at about 4pm with Easyjet and departing LHR next morning at 9am.

Plan A is to just bus or train directly from one airport to the other and stay in an airport hotel. But I'm keen to know if anyone has hot tips on the best way to do this.
Are there cheeky better ways to use this time, or pro tips on best transport and somewhere to sleep?

Thanks!

 

[dajop]

for 8pm arrival and 3pm departure I would stay somewhere that fits your budget that is more central or stay at LHR on arrival ... really no need to stay at LGW with a departure mid afternoon.

On the return, probably makes sense to stay near LHR.

 

[Forg]

There's a Hilton directly connected to the Gatwick terminal building, I booked a room there mid 2018 when we had a flight leaving at 11pm or thereabouts & our accommodation in London expired about 10am, I wasn't sure what else to do with the time (and lucky as it was over about 30 degrees C so they had train delays with rails buckling etc). I don't recall it being expensive, nothing special just a hotel. Your preferred timing in both directions may span more than one day's worth of accommodation due to checkin/checkout times; but they let us check in a few hours early no probs.

From memory ('cos I did some research early on) the bus was theoretically quicker between the airports than the train due to connection-times etc, but I also couldn't find a way to get a bus ticket that didn't involve booking an exact time - which was annoying as you don't know if you'll be delayed, if customs/immigration will be fast, etc. Maybe you don't need to book a particular time these days? Train likely more convenient if not, but I guess check the running times also as you're getting there fairly late.

Hopefully someone will pipe-up with a nice place to stay in town not too far from relevant stations, where you can step-out to grab a leisurely brunch on the way there & a nice dinner on the way home. (for example if you stayed somewhere near-ish The Shard on the way there, that's near London Bridge station for a quick run to Gatwick but also near Borough Markets for a tasty brunch purchase of all variety of stuff)

The lounge (can't recall who was running it) used by SkyTeam at Gatwick wasn't quite as nice as the general terminal, you're missing absolutely zero there.

 

[Glider_]

for 8pm arrival and 3pm departure I would stay somewhere that fits your budget that is more central or stay at LHR on arrival ... really no need to stay at LGW with a departure mid afternoon.

On the return, probably makes sense to stay near LHR.

That's a good point, I'd assumed I'd train over to LGW immediately but might be easier on me to just have a rest near LHR after the long haul. Lots of daylight to get to LGW in the morning.

 

[dajop]

Are you doing the redeye from PER, or the departure ~6:30am?

If the 6:30am, you'll probably be in good shape (hopefully). I've done SQ318 (early evening arrival), several times, albeit originating in SIN (but same time zone). I sometimes stay at LHR on arrival sometimes go more central.

In your situation, if you are someone who's physically fit and doesn't mind walking - I'd stay somewhere where you can get out of your hotel for a long walk when you wake up (probably more central than LHR) and return to hotel at around 11am- noon (depending on your threshold) to checkout and head out to LGW. IME, good way to adjust to the jetlag.

 

[Glider_]

Nice one, yes I'm on the 6:40am, in J and not an invalid so I'm expecting to be tired but in pretty good nick on arrival. A nice place for a walk is a good idea.

 

[VPS]

I think the idea of staying somewhere near LHR is better because if the plane is late then you don't have to worry about getting to Gatwick. You can have a leisurely breakfast and head over to LGW

 

[Forg]

I think the idea of staying somewhere near LHR is better because if the plane is late then you don't have to worry about getting to Gatwick. You can have a leisurely breakfast and head over to LGW

In BOTH directions, the timing works out best near LHR, IMHO.
On the way over you're arriving late, so it's good not to need to travel far after arrival.
On the way back you need to get up early, so again it's good to not have to get outta bed to leave an extra hour to get to the airport.

But ... it does mean you're spending an extra day each way just traveling. There's nothing to actually do at an airport. If anyone can come up with good places to stay in the city with something to do near them (if it were me I'd honestly do the Borough Markets thing I mentioned on the way but no idea for the way back) I think it'd extend your "holiday" rather than extending your "transit".
But I wouldn't give myself any tight connections or anything slightly stressful to achieve that.

 

[VPS]

Sorry I just looked at the arrival. Yes definitely LHR for arrival and departure. You'll need to check in by 1pm so really not a lot of spare time.

For departure I'd go to LHR and drop off your bags at a walkable hotel to your terminal for the next day and have an evening in London and come home late and drag yourself over to the terminal in the morning.

 

[dajop]

TBH, upon reflection I'd actually suggest central London for arrival, gives you a headstart the next morning. SQ arrives at 19:10. Out by 20:00 at the latest - whether it takes you 10 mins to walk, 15 mins on a Hotel Hoppa or Uber, to nearby hotel, or to central London - 30 mins on HEX, 45 mins on the Elizabeth Line or uber or 1 hr on the Piccadily line, you'll probably be at you hotel somewhere between 8:15pm and 9pm, or 3:15am and 4am just in time for bed. And it is slightly easier from PER time zone than from MEL/SYD.

 

[torks]

On the way over I'd definitely stay in central London. I'd look at somewhere around London Bridge. Taking the Elizabeth line & then a short tube connection it'll take about an hour from Heathrow. This puts you in the centre of the city, can have a walk to Tower Bridge, have a look through Borough Market and gives you some activities to get out and about the next day to beat the jetlag. From London Bridge its about a 30 minute train to Gatwick. If you leave London Bridge about 12:30 it'll get you to Gatwick at 1pm which is more then enough time for a 3pm departure. This essentially gives you the morning to do a bit of exploring, grab a casual breakfast, maybe around Borough Market and just get in the zone.

On the way back with a 9am departure I'd probably just head straight to Heathrow and spend the night at one of the hotels there. If you are feeling a bit adventurous you could stop off in central London (since the train will take you through there anyways) for dinner before heading to the Heathrow hotel, but really depends on your preference.