Help with trains! Gatwick

[madmumof2]

I'm trying to find out how to get to Gatwick the night before we leave but I'm reading conflicting info. Some saying trains go directly there, some saying there's a stop in the South Terminal, some saying it's nowhere near you have to get a taxi, some saying there's two trains to get, some saying there's a shuttle etcnand my head is about to explode!

I'll admit, I know nothing at all about London, not street names, not directions, nothing.

I need to know how to get from Leicester to Gatwick with the least amount of stops? Is there a train direct to Gatwick? Or do I need one to London, then Gatwick?

If anyone can explain things very clearly, step by step, like you're talking to a child I'll love you forever! lol

Thank you!!

 

[Elise79]

You will need to get 2 trains.

First Leicester to st Pancras then change at St Pancras to the Gatwick train.

Check out the thetrainline.com for times

 

[Chilly]

You will need to get 2 trains.

First Leicester to st Pancras then change at St Pancras to the Gatwick train.

Check out the thetrainline.com for times

Thats correct and it'll take between 2.5 and 3 hours.

 

[madmumof2]

You will need to get 2 trains.

First Leicester to st Pancras then change at St Pancras to the Gatwick train.

Check out the thetrainline.com for times

Thank you!

Is it the Gatwick Express from Pancreas?

 

[Elise79]

No, the Gatwick Express runs from Victoria. I think it will be First Capital Connect.

 

[madmumof2]

No, the Gatwick Express runs from Victoria. I think it will be First Capital Connect.

Ahhh, never heard of that one.

Is it best to do Pancreas then First capital, or to Victoria then Gatwick express?

Fastest, cheapest?

 

[Invisable89]

Price will completely depend on what day & time you're traveling.

Have a look on this website for ticket prices & times - http://www.thetrainline.com/buytickets/?

Put Leicester or St Pancras in the 'From' section & Gatwick in the 'To' section underneath & then chose a date, but bare in mind you can't check/book until 3 months in advance so if you're not going for several months then just do a dummy check (put in the same day as you're going).

Or you can go to the official website's of First Capital (http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/) & Gatwick Express (http://www.gatwickexpress.com/) & fill in the same sort of thing.

 

[madmumof2]

Yeah I tried that and found I could only look until May at the minute, I'm going in October.

Do you know which choice of the two is generally quickest/easiest or are they both about the same?

 

[Invisable89]

Yeah I tried that and found I could only look until May at the minute, I'm going in October.

Do you know which choice of the two is generally quickest/easiest or are they both about the same?

From doing some research it doesn't look like it's very straightforward to get to Gatwick from Leicester. It Looks like you'd have to get a train from Leicester to St Pancras via First Capital Direct (or whoever) then get on the Underground to Victoria then get on the Gatwick Express or First Capital Direct (via Southern trains) to Gatwick Airport. & There doesn't seem to be much difference in time - both inbetween 30-35 mins. But the Gatwick Express runs every 15 minutes. It's more expensive to go via Gatwick Express, however.

 

[madmumof2]

From doing some research it doesn't look like it's very straightforward to get to Gatwick from Leicester. It Looks like you'd have to get a train from Leicester to St Pancras via First Capital Direct (or whoever) then get on the Underground to Victoria then get on the Gatwick Express or First Capital Direct (via Southern trains) to Gatwick Airport. & There doesn't seem to be much difference in time - both inbetween 30-35 mins. But the Gatwick Express runs every 15 minutes. It's more expensive to go via Gatwick Express, however.

Really?? Is there no easier way? Is there nothing directly from Pancreas to Gatwick?

 

[Invisable89]

Really?? Is there no easier way? Is there nothing directly from Pancreas to Gatwick?

Only on the National Rail website it IS saying there's a direct train from St Pancras to Gatwick via First Capital Direct but it doesn't say how regular the trains are, only that it takes 48mins to get there. But there's engineering work going on at the moment during nights/weekends throughout the year so that will affect the trains (cross-London services).

Do you know what day of the week & time you're going?

 

[madmumof2]

The hotel is booked for the 10th of October which is a Wednesday. I can check in any time after 2pm, flexible on times really. Cheapest time seems to be around 11am from here.

 

[Invisable89]

The hotel is booked for the 10th of October which is a Wednesday. I can check in any time after 2pm, flexible on times really. Cheapest time seems to be around 11am from here.

The trains seem to be all over the place directly from St Pancras to Gatwick because of engineering work so your best bet is to check near the time, 3 months (some websites will let you check before) in advance. You might be able to go straight from St Pancras to Gatwick but it's too early to tell right now, otherwise it's the more complicated option of having to get the Underground at St Pancras to Victoria & get a train to Gatwick from there. Time-wise it's best to get the train/s for before rush hour (4pm onwards) since you're traveling on a Wednesday.

 

[lakelandcallsme]

i booked from leicester to gatwick on redspottedhanky.com. there is one train change at st pancras. the stop at gatwick is right outside the north terminal.

 

[dynamite100]

i booked from leicester to gatwick on redspottedhanky.com. there is one train change at st pancras. the stop at gatwick is right outside the north terminal.

The rail station at Gatwick is at the SOUTH terminal.

 

[Disneymad]

I use the First Capital train to go to Gatwick every single trip and think think this must be the same route (though I pick it up from Blackfriars which is a bit further along).

As mentioned, check timetables closer to time when they're more accurate, but be aware that there are multiple trains on that route, some of which are 'slow trains' - ie, they make multiple stops enroute to Gatwick so be sure to check all the trains around the time period you're looking to leave as sometimes the fast train can leave later but arrive sooner! As a general rule of thumb though, fast trains run every 30 minutes or so.

Also be aware that the train's end destination will be labelled as Brighton not Gatwick so don't be thrown off by that

I can also confirm that the Gatwick station arrives at the SOUTH terminal, if you're flying from North you'll need to take an internal airport shuttle (free) to change terminals but it's all clearly signposted so you'll be grand.

 

[madmumof2]

I use the First Capital train to go to Gatwick every single trip and think think this must be the same route (though I pick it up from Blackfriars which is a bit further along).

As mentioned, check timetables closer to time when they're more accurate, but be aware that there are multiple trains on that route, some of which are 'slow trains' - ie, they make multiple stops enroute to Gatwick so be sure to check all the trains around the time period you're looking to leave as sometimes the fast train can leave later but arrive sooner! As a general rule of thumb though, fast trains run every 30 minutes or so.

Also be aware that the train's end destination will be labelled as Brighton not Gatwick so don't be thrown off by that

I can also confirm that the Gatwick station arrives at the SOUTH terminal, if you're flying from North you'll need to take an internal airport shuttle (free) to change terminals but it's all clearly signposted so you'll be grand.

That all sounds so complicated! To someone who doesn't know London at all and is not used to trains I'm lost! lol

I am flying from the South terminal so it'll be good on the way back, but on the way there we're staying at a hotel nearby so I suppose it doesn't matter?

So, subject to times, train from Leicester to Pancreas. First Capital (is this a train or bus?) to Gatwick South Terminal? Look for duration to make sure I'm on a fast train? And get off at the stop that says Brighton?? Or is that just it's last stop :S

 

[casinocolin]

That all sounds so complicated! To someone who doesn't know London at all and is not used to trains I'm lost! lol

I am flying from the South terminal so it'll be good on the way back, but on the way there we're staying at a hotel nearby so I suppose it doesn't matter?

So, subject to times, train from Leicester to Pancreas. First Capital (is this a train or bus?) to Gatwick South Terminal? Look for duration to make sure I'm on a fast train? And get off at the stop that says Brighton?? Or is that just it's last stop :S

Ok it is easy really.

You need to take a train from Leicster to London St Pancras Duration 1 hour 8mins (The Train Company is East Midlands Trains) At St Pancras take a train to Gatwick Airport Duration 46 mins (The Train company is First Capital Connect and the last stop is Brighton)

You can get the times of the trains from http://www.thetrainline.com/buytickets/?

 

[Duck In Blue]

You will get an East Midlands Trains' Train (that's a mouthful) from Leicester to St Pancras. When the train arrives at St. Pancras you will need to leave through the ticket barriers and right in front of you there is an escalator. You take that down (East Midlands Trains arrive on the upper level) to the main concourse where all the shops are. When you get to this level do a u turn and right behind you will see the entrance to the First Capital Connect platforms.

Go through the ticket barrier and down to Platform A. From there you can take any train to Brighton as all Brighton trains call at Gatwick Airport. If you;re going in the middle of the day the the trains run every 15 minutes and they all call at exactly the same stations (they only change the stopping pattern AFTER Gatwick Airport) so it doesn't really matter what one you get as long as it is a Brighton train!

This is probably your easiest route as avoids the Underground. Although the Gatwick Express is quicker from Victoria, you have to get there first so I doubt you would save much, if any, time by the time you cross London.

As others have said the station is right next the South terminal, if you needed to get to the North terminal there is a free shuttle from the South terminal which takes a few minutes.

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time for your journey as there is nothing more stressful than delays on the trains. Personally I would aim to get there at least 3 hours before. Train times will be available at least 12 weeks before travel although most companies release their Summer timetables which include October around May. As a guide it takes around an hour from Leicester to St Pancras on a fast train and around 45 minutes from St Pancras to Gatwick.

Hope this helps!

That all sounds so complicated! To someone who doesn't know London at all and is not used to trains I'm lost! lol

I am flying from the South terminal so it'll be good on the way back, but on the way there we're staying at a hotel nearby so I suppose it doesn't matter?

So, subject to times, train from Leicester to Pancreas. First Capital (is this a train or bus?) to Gatwick South Terminal? Look for duration to make sure I'm on a fast train? And get off at the stop that says Brighton?? Or is that just it's last stop :S

 

[gemmybear83]

Have you thought about national express if this is looking too complicated for you?