Do I risk the train to Gatwick

[pintofsnakebite]

I am travelling by myself from Gatwick.

It's a 3 hour drive, and £130 to park, or I could take a 2 hour train journey for £80. It involves a train to London, then tube to Victoria and train to Gatwick.

This is my preferred option but worry if the trains are cancelled or there are delays I'm screwed!

But is it riskier than the car!

I would say less risky than car plus you can always call an Uber at the last minute if needed.

I always go by train, similar journey. My only concern is a delayed flight back if it's scheduled late in the day, might mean I miss the last train out of London.

I feel like at the moment I only care about getting there - I'm not bothered about the journey back!

I'm going to have a look at an early train, so if there is an issue before the train leaves, I can still jump in a car.

I always go to airports by train. Much easier. Give yourself plenty of time if you are worried.

Yeah. Take the train. Best option. Just get there well early. You'll find the time to waste. It will be fine. X

If it’s an early flight we go by train and stay at the Bloc hotel in Gatwick. Make it part of the holiday.

I always take the train? Where are you travelling from? If you are north of London, the Thameslink from St Pancras is much easier and better than the Gatwick express

I mean to say we go the evening before and stay in the bloc hotel it’s cheaper than parking plus no worries about getting to the airport on time.

The only time I would consider the train a risk is if there are strikes planned or your flight leaves v early, so slight delay and you’ll miss it, or lands so late you’re in danger of missing the last one. Ordinarily though, I’d take the train and not give it a second thought.

There’s also a train from Farringdon which is on the Elizabeth line.

Put it this way: airports are disincentivizing car drivers other than taxis. Money to enter their property, money to park, money to leave. Meanwhile, train and tube stations are literally inside terminals. Mass transit is the way.

Check out the National Express coach service from Victoria to Gatwick.
Takes longer but it's reliable and pretty cheap.

A three hour drive but a train to London and back up to Glasgow?! That sounds mental!

check for train strikes

It's not risky, you just need to leave early enough. Strikes are normally announced in advance so you'll know and be able to make alternative arrangements.

Would never consider not going to Gatwick by train.
@trevthecat who mentioned Glasgow?

What time is your flight?

That’s what we do. We get the train one hour earlier than needed. If the trains were all cancelled or something we’d call a taxi or drive.
If you’re driving for 3 hours that’s a fair distance for jams and accidents, I’d definitely aim for the train.

Last time we went to Gatwick we allowed 4 hours for a one and a half hour journey - we aimed to arrive 2 hours before a flight to Dublin. Got on to the motorway. Everything stopped. Completely. For over 5 hours. We missed our flight.

At least it’ll stop my dc laughing at my need to arrive ridiculously early.

I’d definitely trust a train more than the M25.

I'd drive but stay the night before, purely because when I have tried to haul suitcases on the trains it's injured my back

Got the train to gatwick many times. All very easy.

Timings are all important here.
If you are travelling outside of early morning and late night, perfectly doable by train. Unlikely to risk it at 5am

Go the day before and stay somewhere overnight. Not cheaper, but far less stressful.

Gatwick is on two train lines, Gatwick Express or Southern via Victoria or the Thameslink, I think this de-risks it a bit as unless issue is at Gatwick or close by you have an alternative route.

We've been to Gatwick only once by car. Were stuck for ages on the M25 due to an accident - fortunately we were going down the afternoon before and staying overnight.

Always drive, we’re about 30 minutes from Heathrow and 50 minutes from Gatwick. If we have an early morning flight we stay at an airport hotel the night before. Couldn’t be arsed travelling with the 5 of us on a train with all the luggage and faffing about, we’d have to get a taxi first to the station and both airports would require a change. No thanks! Car direct to the airport for us.