YHMYYZspotter From Canada, joined Sep 2006, 197 posts, RR: 1 Posted (5 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 1596 times:
Hello A.net people...
I have a quick question about the airports in London. On July 2nd I fly from Toulouse into London Gatwick. I land at around 6:00PM. Then I have a flight leaving London Stansted airport back to Canada leaving at 12:00 lunch time on July 3rd (the next day). What do you think my best options are for accommodations? Should I immediately try and get to Stansted then find a place to sleep there for the night or should I stay near Gatwick and stay there then try to make my way to Stansted in the AM? I figure the best way to get between the airports is the train right?
Anyways any suggestions or help as to what I could possibly do, cheap nice safe hotels etc... would be greatly appreciated. Just to add i dont know the area well at all.
FlyTUITravel From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 723 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (5 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1522 times:
Personally I would go to STN when I arrive in LGW just to be on the safe side i.e. you can't trust public transport - there could be delays etc and to check in early, you need to get to the airport by 10am so not leaving yourself much time if you want to leave in the morning from LGW.
Trintocan From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2000, 3191 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (5 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1507 times:
You are probably best travelling to the vicinity of STN after arriving at LGW and staying overnight. Try to book a hotel early there though as compared to say LHR, there are fewer hotels around STN. There is no direct train between the 2 airports - it is perhaps best to take the First Capital Connect train to Farringdon then take the Tube (either Circle, Hammersmith and City or Metropolitan lines) to Liverpool Street, from where the Stansted Express operates. Do you have lots of luggage though?
Peterinlisbon From Portugal, joined Jan 2006, 229 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (5 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1507 times:
You could probably look for something in Central London in the area around Victoria station as you will have to pass through there anyway if you go by train. You might find something cheap on easyhotel.com. If you want to go directly from Gatwick to Stansted, I think there are buses. There are also buses direct from Victoria Coach Station to Stansted airport.
Rivet42 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 817 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (5 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1482 times:
Hi,
there's a coach service from Gatwick to Stansted, leaving Gatwick South at 18:20, 19:10 and 20:10.Takes around 3 hours, with no changes, but I suspect it goes via Heathrow... Nevertheless, a lot less hastle than changing onto and off of the tube in central London!
Definitely advance booking a hotel at STN, in my experience the Hilton is cheapest, but still not cheap by Heathrow standards. You have a choice of Hilton, Radisson SAS, and Holiday Inn Express... Or the terminal floor, along with several hundred budget travellers!!
BCAL From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2004, 3384 posts, RR: 18 Reply 5, posted (5 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1464 times:
Personally I would opt to get to Stansted after arriving at LGW, as roads between the airports are congested and prone to delays/roadworks and all other obstacles. At least if you are already at STN and your flight departs at 12:00 midday, chances are you would have to check in by 10:00 so you could get up at a decent hour and have time for a leisurely breakfast before leaving the hotel for the airport. If you stayed near LGW, you would have to start your journey to STN no later than 07:00, maybe even 06:00 to allow for delays.
Getting between the airports is relatively easy. The simplest way would be to take a direct coach service. National Express runs a coach every hour between Gatwick and Stansted, with a journey time of approxiamately 2 hours 45 minutes. The last service of the day departs Gatwick at 22:00. By rail there would be two options. First, you could take any train to London Victoria. From Victoria you could take the tube (or taxi) to either Liverpool Street for the non-stop Stansted Express service, or to Tottenham Hale for the local service to Stansted. Total journey time on either would be approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.
Although there are hotels near STN, the choice is not as wide as LGW/LHR. The Radisson SAS is within the airport and only 2 minutes walk from the terminals. Rooms costs from GBP 95 to GBP 215 per night. Other hotels nearby are the Best Western Stansted Manor (approx 1 mile), Express by Holiday Inn (approx 5 miles), Hilton Stansted Airport (approx 10 miles), and Days Inn (about 8 miles I think). I believe that only the Hilton provides a courtesy bus to the airport, so any savings on rooms when compared with the Radisson would be absorbed by taxi fares.
Staying at hotels in Central London will probably not save you money, unless you take advantage of the early booking discounts. Avoid the easyhotel in Earls Court - most rooms are no bigger than a broom cupboard, all painted in ghastly orange, everything (including a remote control for the TV) carries an optional supplement, and can end up costing as much as some central London hotels. In any event, Earls Court would be a bit off course.
MOL on SRB's latest attack at BA: "It's like a little Chihuahua barking at a dying Labrador. Nobody cares."
YHMYYZspotter From Canada, joined Sep 2006, 197 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (5 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1368 times:
Thank you to everyone for their advice. I was thinking that the best way would be to head over to Stansted right away. You are right about trusting public transit so early on a Monday morning. I can't believe the hotels around Stansted are so expensive! I may end up sleeping on the floor like you said. Is this even allowed??
Quoting FlyTUITravel (Reply 1): I take it you're flying with Zoom to Canada?
No I am flying back to Hamilton, Ontario with Flyglobespan.
808TWA From Canada, joined Jan 2006, 701 posts, RR: 22 Reply 8, posted (5 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1342 times:
Quoting YHMYYZspotter (Reply 7): No I am flying back to Hamilton, Ontario with Flyglobespan
This being the case, you could take a leisurely walk to STN from LGW and still get there on time for your flight, since the likelyhood of the Globespan flight departing on time is slim
But seriously, enjoy your trip and have a safe flight.
Sam1987 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2005, 939 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (5 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 1298 times:
It is quite easy to get the train from Gatwick to London Victoria (use Southern - it's a similar service standard to the Gatwick Express and is far cheaper; it just takes a couple of minutes longer), the Victoria line tube from Victoria to Tottenham Hale, then the Stansted Express from Tottenham Hale to Stansted.
You can buy a through ticket at Gatwick, which includes the tube. A Standard Open Single is GBP28.00.
As everyone else have been saying, travel up to Stansted on the day you arrive, and find a cheap hotel near Stansted.
Next flights: LGW-LBA-LGW, LHR-SIN-SYD, SYD-BKK-LHR, LGW-GRO, GRO-CIA, CIA-MAD, MAD-LGW
Rdwootty From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2005, 900 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (5 years 11 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 1196 times:
best way for a cheap hotel at Stansted would be to look at the following websites>
Holidayextras.com
Superbreak.com
Activehotels.com.
You will be suprised at the rate differences and it is worth looking at them all to see.
In addition with some you can get an included rail ticket, via London. I am suprised that a night on the town does not appeal.. There are many buses and coaches from london through the day and night to get you to Stansted and it will not be as boring and expensive to eat out as by the airport.
Rivet42 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 817 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (5 years 11 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 1158 times:
Quoting YHMYYZspotter (Reply 7): I can't believe the hotels around Stansted are so expensive! I may end up sleeping on the floor like you said. Is this even allowed??
... it seems to be actively encouraged given the lack of affordable hotels in the vicinity! There is at least one cafe that is open all-night, but most people just get their sleeping bags, duvets, blankets and pillows out (I kid you not - people seem to arrive very well prepared!), and find themselves a slot on the floor. You have to get there early for a prime position in a corner or against a wall, though...
Overlander From Ireland, joined Aug 2005, 150 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (5 years 11 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1135 times:
What about hiring a small car from LGW and dropping it off at STN the next day.
For example, the Hotel Formule1 in Barking is £30 a night and a relatively easy drive to Stansted the next morning. This would allow you an evening to have a bit of a drive around London.
Hiring a small car these days is not that great an expense compared to the cost of public transport in the UK.
Just a thought.....
It is better to travel hopefully.............but, always be prepared for the worst!
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