Heathrow versus Gatwick

[Bruin Steve]

We're spending a few nights in Madrid before our Constellation cruise next July and will fly into London from Madrid for two nights before the cruise...

 

American Airlines--and their various travel partners, ie Iberia and British Airways, hhave flights to both Heathrow and Gatwick from Madrid (although the times into Gatwick seem to be more convenient)...I've flown into Heathrow several times before, but never into Gatwick...

 

I was wondering if anyone can share some thoughts on the pluses and minuses of using Gatwick...Assume we're staying in London those two nights, possibly at the Hilton Metropole...and will be on our own for transportation from the Airport to the hotel...

 

Thanks...

[sweep]

Heathrow is nearer London but Gatwick is nearer Dover

[Globaliser]

Which airport is better is very much dependent on exactly where you are going and what you are doing. Both airports have their pros and cons, which are really too many to list here in the abstract.

 

If you are flying in to London to spend two nights at the Hilton Metropole before a cruise, and you can manage to carry your own luggage a few yards and onto and off a train, then I think that Heathrow would be better than Gatwick. This is because the most efficient way of getting to the hotel from any London airport would be to get the Heathrow Express to Paddington, from where it's a short taxi ride to the Metropole.

 

If you can, opt for a flight operated by British Airways rather than Iberia if you are flying economy. Apart from anything else, you will get fed and watered on BA but not on IB. The deep codeshare partnership between the two airlines is ludicrous given the huge disparity between them in service levels.

[Paulmj]

I have preferred Gatwick on the many trips we have made in the past because they have excellent train service to Victoria Station in central London. From there, you can take a taxi anywhere.

[suekay]

I prefer Gatwick due to the horrendous immigration queues at Heathrow.

We almost missed our connecting flight in April despite having allowed plenty of time :(

[Mike Andrews]

Steve,

 

If the flights into Gatwick are more convenient then I would use it.Gatwick has a North & South Terminal with a monorail service connecting the two, the Gatwick Express Rail Station being located at the South Terminal.The Gatwick Express Rail Service is a 30 minute direct service into London Victoria Station and from there you are just a short Black Cab ride via the Wellington Arch,Hyde Park Corner,Marble Arch and Edgware road to the Metropole.

 

Mike

[Globaliser]

If the flights into Gatwick are more convenient

This is always one of the key issues, though. The OP seems to be flying from Madrid to London with a choice of BA or IB.

 

There are three flights a day to Gatwick, all operated by BA.

 

But there are 12 flights a day to Heathrow, 7 operated by IB and 5 by BA.

 

Another (smaller) issue is transit time. Gatwick to Victoria is 30 minutes, as opposed to 15 from Heathrow to Paddington. And the taxi from Victoria to the Metropole would be 20-30 minutes, as opposed to 5 from Paddington to the Metropole. I have ignored gate to train times, and taxi wait times, as they are too similar and similarly unpredictable to differentiate between them.

[Mike Andrews]

Good information from Globaliser however the journey time from London Victoria Station to the Metropole on Edgware Road should only take around 10 minutes as the Metropole is only a short way down the Edgware Road from Marble Arch near the Edgware Road Undergound Station. http://WWW.streetmap.co.uk

[pamkev]

I just posted on another message but I have another question if we do stay at the Ruben's which airport should we fly into? Pam

[Ms. B]

If you stay at Rubens you should fly into Gatwick and then take the Gatwick express to Victoria station. Rubens is about three blocks away fro Voiictoria station right next to buckingham palace.

[Globaliser]

I just posted on another message but I have another question if we do stay at the Ruben's which airport should we fly into? Pam

I've given you an answer on the other thread. Hope it's OK with you just to link to it like that.

[hobo1937]

We flew into Gatwick via Virgin Airlines and stayed at the Hilton Metropole in May prior to our Jewel of the Seas Baltic Cruise.

 

Didn't have any problems taking the train from Gatwick to London and then a cab to the hotel. Costs in US dollars for 2 people were $44 Gatwick Express and $18.00 cab fare to the hotel.