Gatwick Airport to London "bargain" train tickets

okidoki987

For anybody flying into Gatwick Airport and then travelling onto London by train (may work for other end destinations).

Bargain doesn't work for Gatwick Express just Southern or Thameslink trains to London but both of these are only around 5 minutes slower than GE and about 30% cheaper!

1 single train ticket Gatwick to London Bridge is €13.20 with either Southern or Thameslink, 2 single tickets €26.40 for both but 3 single tickets are €26.10 total!

So if 2 of you are going by train, buy 3 tickets!

You get the tickets for 30c cheaper and get another FREE ticket which you could either sell or give to away to someone buying a ticket at the station.

Only stipulation is you are all supposed to travel together.

R11

Family of 4 flying into Gatwick end of march so we'll use Thames link....quick question -do we have to travel on the exact time train that we booked? Just wondering if we miss our booked train upon arrival,can we get the next available one?

Doodah7

If you book through trainline.com, there are a load of options and it also sets out the restrictions on various ticket types.

Batesout

And buy a yearly railcard , train fares are much cheaper

rameire

If you have an oyster card or a Bank Card you can use in the UK without fees for Tapping on and off the price off peak is £9.50

https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/can-you-use-oyster-card-gatwick

Flashdan

Make sure you don't get an all stops one to Victoria. Takes forever !

okidoki987

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121631802#Comment_121631802

I've missed trains before but never had a problem going after (or before) advertised train time.

Tickets are valid for all day travel so you can get any train.

okidoki987

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121631898#Comment_121631898

There are booking fees with trainline.com, better going onto operators website instead for exact same train.

R11

It's working out at £53.35 for 2 adults and 2 kids(they're actually calculating it by using 1 child and 3 adults with Groupsave). Flight due in at 08.30 so if we can make the 09.06,it'll take 35 minutes. Later train are about 10 or 20 minutes longer.

R11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121633876#Comment_121633876

Are children under 12 free? If so,that'll be £38 return which is cheaper than what Thameslink are quoting me....

sgarvan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121634405#Comment_121634405

u12 are free on the underground. U5 are free on the Thameslink service.

R11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121634747#Comment_121634747

ok.I've an 11 year old and 8 year old so looks like I'd be better off booking direct with Thameslink for £53 return

rameire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121634405#Comment_121634405

as noted by sgarvan no they are not.

The only way round it would be to get a child visitor oyster card,

or if you can use an address in the UK you can use them to get a proper child oyster card before hand, need probably a month to organise it.

okidoki987

Aer Lingus pulling out of Dublin to Gatwick flights.

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2024/0119/1427567-aer-lingus-gatwick/

Aquos76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121642213#Comment_121642213

They cant compete with Ryanair on that route, I've flown in to there a few times with Ryanair and each time I would have checked both sites for the best fare and Aer Lingus were always more expensive. The last two times Ive flown to London, I have actually found British Airways to be excellent value into Heathrow. I've gotten two return flights 7am out on a Friday and mid afternoon back on Sunday with carry on 10kg and a 23kg each which we obviously didnt need for €110 each a flight from them. Heathrow is much cheaper to get into centre of london also

Doodah7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121644840#Comment_121644840

These days do you have to go through passport control when you land at Heathrow?? At Gatwick and London City, you just walk off the plane and are on your way which is super convenient.

ShagNastii

My wife was lived in Marylebone last year and I constantly flew over to Heathrow.

Like this post I would advise people never to use the Heathrow express. I did quite often as I would get the very early morning flight.

The tube journey on the Elizabeth line was/is considerably cheaper (HE prices are seriously expensive).

All considered the tube service is only 10-15mins longer.

Electric Nitwit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121646211#Comment_121646211

You don't, no

I similarly found BA cheap to Heathrow recently. I had to catch a coach and the flight was very delayed so, from experience, I know you can do plane to coach stop in Heathrow in 7 minutes if you really try 🤣

flanzer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058331501/gatwick-airport-to-london-bargain-train-tickets

Nice one! 4 of us heading over in a couple of weeks, for the night, for the boxing, and traveling from LGW, and staying in Shoreditch. This offer will come in handy

okidoki987

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121644840#Comment_121644840

Aer Lingus flights included a 10kg bag to bring on board which was handy.

One problem with AL pulling out is that they had 5 flights a day Dub/Gatwick and these people will now have to find alternatives going forward which could put upward pressure on prices with Ryanair for that route.

Aquos76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121656945#Comment_121656945

Were those not checked in 10kg bags, and even if they were carry on, when you add priority boarding and bags with Ryanair, they were still considerably cheaper than AL in most flight I booked anyway.

okidoki987

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121661280#Comment_121661280

Not sure as I didn't pay for the flights.

A few short notice flights I have booked in the past few months were cheaper with AL which surprised me.

Runsallday

Really informative thread. What would be the best value and fastest train from Windsor to London City?