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Gatwick Airport advice needed
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I'm due to travel to Barcelona later this month with the flight leaving at 19:55 from the North terminal at Gatwick (I think its north).
I've been wondering how to get there and would rather travel by train if possible.
There are 2 trains I'm looking at which leave around 3ish, one getting in at 17:54 (one change) and the other getting in at 17:58 (2 changes).
I'm just wondering whether people think getting there 2 hours before is enough. I will have hand luggage only and will have already checked in online, but I understand the train goes to the South terminal and I need to catch a bus to North.
I'd be grateful if anyone who has experience of Gatwick could advise how long it actually takes to get from the train platform to the gate (bypassing hold check-in) and what the security queues may be like.
Obviously I will have some spare time incase of train delays but I can't afford for the train to be delayed AND it taking ages to get to the gate! But I also don't know what the latest time is you can turn up at the gate prior to the aircraft leaving.
Never used Gatwick airport before so not sure what to expect, but my experience of travelling anywhere near London at that time of day means allow extra time!
Cheers in advance for any help.
I've been wondering how to get there and would rather travel by train if possible.
There are 2 trains I'm looking at which leave around 3ish, one getting in at 17:54 (one change) and the other getting in at 17:58 (2 changes).
I'm just wondering whether people think getting there 2 hours before is enough. I will have hand luggage only and will have already checked in online, but I understand the train goes to the South terminal and I need to catch a bus to North.
I'd be grateful if anyone who has experience of Gatwick could advise how long it actually takes to get from the train platform to the gate (bypassing hold check-in) and what the security queues may be like.
Obviously I will have some spare time incase of train delays but I can't afford for the train to be delayed AND it taking ages to get to the gate! But I also don't know what the latest time is you can turn up at the gate prior to the aircraft leaving.
Never used Gatwick airport before so not sure what to expect, but my experience of travelling anywhere near London at that time of day means allow extra time!
Cheers in advance for any help.
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The train station at Gatwick is at the South Terminal but there is a free shuttle which runs to the North Terminal every few minutes: http://www.gatwickairport.com/at-the-airport/passenger-services/Changing-terminals/
I am the same as Lostfool. Would much rather get there earlier than needed and have time for a relax and a drink or a look round the shops.
ps avoid the Gatwick express train to the airport if possible, the standard train (Thameslink) is much cheaper & not much slower.
Southern trains also go to Gatwick airport.
OP - You don't say where your starting point is (Unless I've missed it somewhere!)
Once you arrive at Gatwick, exit the train station and depending which station exit you take (both of which take you into the South Terminal) you either turn immeditely right to the North terminal transit train or enter the terminal, the turn right and go to the NT transit train. It's fairly well sign posted. It's a mini train transit that runs every 5 mins or so between terminals.
I'd allow 2 hours once at Gatwick to get through
The start point is Warwick, think I'll take a half day!
Give yourself a little more time - and then you will avoid stress!
PS where are you coming from - you can use Thameslink via Kings cross or Southern from Victoria.
https://goo.gl/maps/XxGii
The train station is located in the South terminal. When you leave the station you need to go an almost immediate right and head to signs for the North Terminal. This will take you to the transit train between the two terminals. The journey takes about a minute or two. Then when you get off the transit train the North Terminal is just a few steps ahead of you with all the check in desks. So once you've arrived it's less than 5 minutes to transit to the North terminal.
How long it takes you to get through security very much depends on time of day but I normally find Gatwick is very quick. For example, we normally stay at an airport hotel the night before and we can leave our hotel room and be through to departures in less than 20 minutes. It seems you will be going through just after the 5pm 'rush hour' so it should be quieter. I'd say from arriving at the station, you can be through to the departure lounge in about 15 - 20 minutes as you only have hand luggage. Time to gate very much depends on where it is. If i recall the furthest away gates are about a 15 minute walk (they say 20 minutes but that's only at snails pace).