Post-Cruise Southampton, Windsor and Gatwick or stay in London

[shink113]

We are staying overnight in London post cruise.  Our flight leaves out of Gatwick at 3:00pm.  We originally planned to stay near the Gatwick Airport, but are having difficulty finding a reasonable tour from Southampton to Gatwick with a stop in Windsor.  Our plan was to take the train to Victoria Station from Gatwick anyway to explore the city a bit.  We've never been to the UK.  If you have experience, can you recommend a tour as noted about and would you stay bear Gatwick or in London and take the train back to Gatwick the next day?  Also, what hotels would you recommend? Thanks for your help!

[Luv2cruz1000]

Trains and London tube  are easy in the UK.Google can easily give you directions. I would go into London and see some sights! If you do have a day a train ride to Windsor is also easy,1 stop at the small station in Slough....don't worry....simple! Windsor is so worth the visit for the few dollars the train costs. Not sure on hotels,we used arbnb the last visit to London.

[shink113]

4 minutes ago, Luv2cruz1000 said:

Trains and London tube  are easy in the UK.Google can easily give you directions. I would go into London and see some sights! If you do have a day a train ride to Windsor is also easy,1 stop at the small station in Slough....don't worry....simple! Windsor is so worth the visit for the few dollars the train costs. Not sure on hotels,we used arbnb the last visit to London.

 

My only concern with trains is we will have our luggage from a 14 day cruise to tote around with us.

[Luv2cruz1000]

Gatwick is relatively easy with luggage. You can take the Gatwick express into London. (It is a little more than a regular train but less transfers) We did find that we wanted to use uber from the train to our place for the night to drop luggage. We are early 50's and managed well with luggage up until we had a tube station closed and landed in one that was not wheel chair accessible (and no escalators). Very grateful for the kindness of strangers that assisted with luggage.

 

I noticed you had only one night. Did you want to go to London? I googled Southampton to windsor and there are a few train switches but all are short walks (looks like walking to another platform). You could take a taxi from the cruiseport to the train station in Southampton.

 

Is there a cruiseship transfer into London? That could be another option. Have a plan for your day in London. Either way you go the UK is amazing!

[scottbee]

5 hours ago, shink113 said:

We are staying overnight in London post cruise.  Our flight leaves out of Gatwick at 3:00pm.  We originally planned to stay near the Gatwick Airport, but are having difficulty finding a reasonable tour from Southampton to Gatwick with a stop in Windsor.  Our plan was to take the train to Victoria Station from Gatwick anyway to explore the city a bit.  We've never been to the UK.  If you have experience, can you recommend a tour as noted about and would you stay bear Gatwick or in London and take the train back to Gatwick the next day?  Also, what hotels would you recommend? Thanks for your help!

 

Don't limit yourself to thinking London Victoria/Gatwick Express is the only way to Gatwick.  Gatwick is directly (no changes req) accessible via rail from a number of London railway stations, not just London Victoria. 

 

The Gatwick Express is the most expensive option (non-stop to Victoria).

The services from Victoria (on Southern) and from London Bridge/Blackfriars/St Pancras on Thameslink are all frequent, fast and less expensive.

 

Example; 3 weeks out (Fri 28 Feb); London to Gatwick

Victoria (Gatwick Express): £17.80 (27m journey, 2x/hour)

Victoria (Southern): £17.20 (31m journey, 6x/hour)

London Bridge (Thameslink): £12.40 (29m journey, 6x/hour)

Blackfriars (Thameslink): £12.40 (35m journey, 6x/hour)