Where should I go in London during a layover?

Question

I have about a 10 hour layover at the Gatwick Airport. Where should I go and how do I get there. I'd like to see as many things as I can. I don't know how far everything is from the Gatwick airport. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I have a full day layover in London, at Heathrow. So I would like to hear answers to this question, as well!

Answer 2

by the time you get to central london you will need to think about getting back to the airport after a coupleof hours maybe three at most

Answer 3

Let me see:

30-60 minutes from the time you land till you have your luggage with you and have gone through all check points.

1 hour to get to central London

1 hour to get back to the airport

2 hours for checking in before next flight

So providing your flight isn't delayed much, that leaves you a good 5 hours for sightseeing. That's enough time to see a few things in London!

This is what I'd do:

- Leave my luggage in 'Left Luggage' (located at North Terminal - Departures, Opposite British Airways check-in. Open 06:00 - 22:00, £5.50 per item up to 24 hours, £6 for each extra 24hours.)

- Get on the free shuttle that goes to the South Terminal. Once there, follow the signs to the Rail concourse.

- Buy a "one-day travelcard zones 1 to 6 plus a return Southern ticket from Gatwick to East Croydon" from the ticket office. (Gatwick is outside the Travelcard zones, hence why you need the 'Southern' (Southern is the name of the train operating company) train ticket to cover the journey between Gatwick and the edge of travelcard boundary zone 6, East Croydon in this case)

- Board a 'Southern' train (not the Gatwick Express) towards Victoria. The journey will take some 35-40 minutes. There's no need for you to actually get off at East Croydon when the train stops there. You have a valid ticket (your travelcard) so you just stay on the train and ride on it for a couple more stops till it reaches Victoria Station (last stop).

I'd go for the following sightseeing route:

[from Victoria Station] (walk to) Buckingham Palace - (148 bus to) Houses of Parliament - (159 bus or 3 bus to) Trafalgar Square - (walk to) Piccadilly Circus - (tube, Bakerloo line, to Oxford Circus) Oxford Street.

All those London landmarks are within a relatively small radius and there's little travelling involved, so you'll be able to see them all in the time you have. You go back to Gatwick Airport the same way you came. Just get on the tube, travel to Victoria and from Victoria Station you take a 'Southern' train that stops at Gatwick.