Train Gatwick to Best Western London Highbury

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Hi. Myself & my son (17) are flying into Gatwick in March from Dublin to go see an arsenal match. We are staying in the above hotel. We’ll be landing late evening on a Friday so don’t want to be faffing about with the tube so have decided to get either train or bus to Finsbury Park as it’s a straight run no stops.
Can anyone recommend either? Train is expensive but quicker. Would I be better getting some kind of travel card before we go or would it be the same price as paying at the station?
Sorry for the questions. I’ve only been to London once before & while the tube was very quick & easy enough, I’d rather just have the straight run to our hotel.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

If you have a contactless debit card you can use that to travel from Gatwick train station to central London - costs around £9 I think. Definitely get the direct train - a bus would take forever.

contactless.tfl.gov.uk/

Thanks for the info. I do have a contactless debit card so that’s great. I’ll have a look at that site.

Just to be clear, you EACH need a contactless card. You can't use the same one for both of you.

Thanks a mil. Maybe I’ll order 2 Oyster cards then?

almost worth getting him to open a bank account!!

you need either an Oyster or a contactless to get the best fare. the Gatwick Express is only marginally faster, costs a bomb and only gets you to Victoria, so avoid.

tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares/single-fare-finder

says the cheapest (and quickest!) is straight through on Thameslink at £8.50 each, with contactless or Oyster. Do check what you get charged though (when you get home) - I am an infrequent London traveller and get overcharged most times on my contactless card so have to reclaim. I suspect this is a nice moneymaker as most don't check.

Gatwick Express into Victoria and tube to Finsbury Park.

at £17.80 per person just for the Gatwick Express..... that train is serious tourist suckerbait!

I live around the corner. I'd get the train Straight to Finsbury Park then it's a 5-10 min walk along the main road. I wouldn't faff with going to Victoria then tube when there's a direct train!

Thameslink goes direct from Gatwick to Finsbury Park - offpeak fare (after 7pm) with your oyster or contactless is £8.50. A paper ticket is much more - absolutely do not buy one from the rail station.

I would also get the train direct from Gatwick to Finsbury Park. I HATE Victoria station!!

Wow! I came on to say Gatwick Express to Victoria and then Victoria line up - I do this a lot. I had NO IDEA Thameslink went direct to Finsbury Park!
There is a lift at Victoria now though so saves heaving big cases up those horrible old steps they used to have.
Have a great time at the Arsenal and don't forget to have a pie at Piebury Corner (my friend's DH swears by it)

Thanks so much for all the messages. It’s very much appreciated.
Yes a direct train to Finsbury from Gatwick is the preferred option.
I may actually get my son to open an account just to get the contactless card lol.

@ OhamIreally we will deffo get a pie

Washed down with a local Hammerton beer I hope.

@ Vinorosso74 goes without saying!!!

Certainly the Gatwick-Finsbury Park option is by far your best option. But it’s good to have a fall back plan in case of cancellations or if something goes wrong.

For plan B, l recommend Gatwick-St Pancras International and then 2 stops on the Victoria Line to Finsbury Park.

Thanks for all the help. I really appreciate it. I don’t want to end up in the wrong place lol.

And good idea having a plan B. Thanks.