So I checked the trains and found that the only train that I could get would take me to St Pancras International and then I would have to negotiate the Underground to take me to London Bridge for the connection to Gatwick. Now I have to confess to a complete phobia about the Underground! I will do anything to avoid it, but in this case I can obtain return train tickets for quite a lot less than National Express.

Have any JY folks on previous journeys travelled on this route train wise, and how difficult is it to negotiate please?

I need to make a decision soon, bearing my travel will be done on a Bank Holiday weekend, and I have already booked a hotel overnight at Gatwick as originally the flight time was earlier than has now been predicted.

Would appreciate some advice from seasoned travellers!

you can get a train directly from St Pancras to Gatwick, no changing, I think it's the citythameslink (or used to be called that), goes from Bradford or Luton to Brighton - have a look at the NationalRail website, in the advance search, click on the "direct only". this way you do not have to worry about the underground. Or you can get a train from St Pancras to East Croydon, and change there for Gatwick, but I'm pretty sure this would be the same train. Hope this helps

regards

SueP

Just a tip you'll probably find it cheaper to book your journey in two segments (Nottingham to London then London to Gatwick). Saying that may have missed the best prices as they go on sale 12 weeks before your journey but its worth a try. I use East Coast for bookings find them as good as anyone and the website is easy to use.

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/Default.aspx 

You say London Bridge to Gatwick but I think you would be better going from Victoria which is only 5 stops from st pancras on the victoria line.

One word of warning is I see your return journey is on a sunday, you need to check if any engineering work is planned, can make train journeys longer than planned.

Mick

Hi there. Normally when I travel down to either Heathrow or Gatwick I go by National Express as I don't drive. Checking the prices for when I am travelling (30th April,coming back on 8th May) I was alarmed to find how much they had gone up. Over £60 return from Nottingham, and coming back if the flight is delayed and I miss what would be a rather tight connection at Gatwick I would have to wait at the airport for the next connection which does not run for something like 3 hours.

So I checked the trains and found that the only train that I could get would take me to St Pancras International and then I would have to negotiate the Underground to take me to London Bridge for the connection to Gatwick. Now I have to confess to a complete phobia about the Underground! I will do anything to avoid it, but in this case I can obtain return train tickets for quite a lot less than National Express.

Have any JY folks on previous journeys travelled on this route train wise, and how difficult is it to negotiate please?

I need to make a decision soon, bearing my travel will be done on a Bank Holiday weekend, and I have already booked a hotel overnight at Gatwick as originally the flight time was earlier than has now been predicted.

Would appreciate some advice from seasoned travellers!

Have u checked ju offers with national express not always cheaper but worth checking give them a call.

And Mick. I SO understand what you are saying about using the train on a Sunday. Again, the last time I had to travel to and from Gatwick I used the train. Great going out, but the day I was due to fly back from the U.S.A I had an email from my brother to tell me that East Midlands trains (from St Pancras to Nottingham) were on strike that day. So I had to quickly use the hotel's computer to book a coach ticket on National Express. THEN, the flight was delayed and I missed my connection, and had to wait another two hours for another connection, and pay a fee on top. All this on top of an overnight flight and my first experience of jetlag!

Thank you both again. 🙂

I can sympathise.I come from a diffferent direction but the trip to Gatwick is an expensive nightmare. Unfortunatly more and more holidays (not just JY) are from Gatwick. I was hoping when T5 opened at Heathrow more BA would go from there. Gatwick means a long journey and an expensive overnight Hotel which pushes up the Holiday cost considerably.

Thanks Sue. I agree. I am lucky because the guest house is only £49 plus breakfast for the overnight, but even so it is going to cost me over £100 extra just for the travel. I wonder what happened to the National Express funfares and special rates for airport travel? I will contact Customer Services at JY next week though just in case they are able to help with any reduced fares on National Express.

Try Just You they have reduced rates for National Epress