Three hours from central London to Gatwick flight

[sparkysdream]

Is it cutting things too fine? Trying to squeeze in a matinee that finishes at 4pm to getting an internal flight at 7.05pm. Google suggests the journey is about an hour, train from Charing Cross and Thames Link to Gatwick but that is if each step goes to plan, and Easy Jet advice is to arrive two hours before departure.

I wouldn’t, but then I’m Anxiety Annie and always plan to be early for everything!

It’s risky. Personally I wouldn’t chance it as trains go wrong all too often in this country and you wouldn’t be leaving enough contingency to get an emergency taxi there.

It’s very tight.
if you’ve just hand luggage and there’s a train that leaves cc no later than 4:30 it’s possible but one cancelled train and it could all go wrong.
i don’t think I’d enjoy the show worrying about it (would you have to collect left luggage from the theatre or a station too?)

I'd do it for an internal flight, yes. Will probably be fine.

Thanks, happy to be told it’s mad! I feel bad as I booked The Curious Case of Benjamin Button for the evening before but have found my daughter’s Heartstopper favourite, Joe Locke, is in a play on the same date, so could change the Benjamin Button tickets to matinee. But if it’s not sensible then I’ll take it as bad luck not meant to be.

Sounds a bit stressful

Just hand luggage. A small rucksack each. I hadn’t thought of having to check it in at the theatre. There is a train that leaves at 4.30pm, and with just hand luggage I would think we could miss one and still be okay, but I’m not sure how common delays are. Definitely a risk….

You could try it if you can leave before the curtain call- that would give you an extra 15 mins or so

It would have to be a no for me, I’d spend the day too tense to enjoy anything.

Can you change to a later flight or is that the latest one?

Delays happen but can be unpredictable. The issue is that Gatwick is a long way out of London so if the trains are buggered (all it takes is one incident), you don’t have enough time for a plan B. Unless you’re fine to pay for an airport hotel and a flight the next day?

Also don’t forget that you may have to transfer terminals at Gatwick (after arriving by train) depending on which terminal your flight is leaving from. Which can be a time consuming faff.

It is the last flight. I wouldn’t be happy with the expense of an overnight and new flights, so I’m thinking it’s just too risky. I think I’ve read EasyJet are furthest from the train station so that probably makes things worse.

Are you going to use the Gatwick Express?

Gatwick is usually quite efficient to get through in my experience, but also bear in mind that it’s peak holiday travel time atm

It came up as an option from Victoria but the Thames Link seemed a little more straightforward as no tube changing involved, just Charing Cross to Blackfriars. I’m probably not going to do it though.

That’s good to know. Google does suggest security is usually quick. It would be a Tuesday in Separate so maybe not peak travel time, though I imagine it is peak time of day with a 7pm flight.

Not much leeway but doable. The Trafalgar theatre is 5mins walk to Charing Cross with a quick change at London Bridge, so if you didn't hang around and left straight after bows you could make it in plenty of time. Perhaps you could check the time it takes from Gatwick station to your terminal. In theory with hand luggage you only need to be at your gate 30mins before departure.

You would definitely need a plan B if major disruption on trains but if this happened would you not claim on travel insurance for your extra costs?

Yes, I was thinking that travel insurance would cover things if there was a massive train disruption that prevented me getting there. Aggg, I think it would be like 95% likely to be okay, but just trying to judge if it is worth the worry! (and extra expense of Clarkston tickets 🙈)

I’d do it. If the trains/tube end up a bit slow then pay for fast track security while you’re in the train. That would get you airside in 20
mins from the train (or 30 if flying from N terminal), then 15 mins to gate.

Which terminal are you flying out of ?

Just checked and think it will be North

I went through Gatwick recently and the no taking laptops out or liquids has really sped up the process.

Train station is South and terminal link is right above it. All I would say is that SE railways are notorious for issues .

Are you & your DD fit & able? Being able to speed walk through the airport might make a difference to this. As will being able to see signs easily. And being able to last from the interval of play until take off without a wee.
This was 20 years ago but me & my mates world routinely fly from Gatwick at about 7pm on a Friday having skived off work a bit early (so about 4.30). We were based in the City so slightly closer to London Bridge but only a few minutes.
Yes there might be chaos on the tubes but I’d say it’s more likely that your flight will be delayed so you’ll have plenty of time.

It would be doable on a good day. Taking into consideration you will be slow finding where to go quickly and it's rush hour.
No.

Yes finding the right way is my worry, and though I can plan the walking parts through street view the station changes are a worry when it’s unfamiliar. We are fit and able to power walk though. I’m still erring on not risking it.