jb5000

Hi everyone,

I've recently received an offer to fly for a well-known LCC out of Gatwick.

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience about commuting from London to Gatwick on public transport. I currently live near East Croydon but want to move in with the girlfriend in September and find somewhere vaguely convenient.

Would relying on public transport be ok? I have my own car but would prefer to live central rather than outside London, and so using my car could be an emergency option (public transport all offline etc.)

I've had a look at Gatwick Express and the slightly slower services by Southern, so I guess I'm looking at living either near Victoria or Clapham Junction.

If anyone has any tips / advice it would be very much appreciated.

The African Dude

I've flown as pax many times from LGW and got there by train from Victoria. It's half an hour and probably quicker than the car when you include parking and the fact that the train station is right at the South Terminal. Which I think is where a well-known LCC operates from!

angels

Why bother moving from East Croydon? Its 20 minutes or so from Gatters on First Capital Connect.

Both Clapham and Victoria are far more expensive and further away!

D'vay

It really is a piece of Piss.

Living near Victoria would be better as the first train leaves at 0330 the next is at 0430 and then five and then every 15 minutes until 2345.

The last trains back are 0050 and 0135.

The above trains are the gatwick express. Clapham Junction gives you less options as you have to use southern

Southern trains from clapham are hourly first thing at 8 minutes past 3,4,5 and then become a little more regular, however, I would not consider Clapham to be central!!

Away from these stations (in central london proper) your limitting factor would be the time at which your particular tube line opens also be advised that you should never, ever, ever trust the circle line to get you to work on time!

On the other han, Brighton is very pretty and you could walk your dogs by the sea every morning, first train in an unadvertised one at four and the last train back is about 0100.

Regards

pink diamond

Hi JB,

Victoria or Clapham....hmm v different. Presumably you would want to be near the BR station(s) so ....... the pros and cons IMHO.

Victoria - choice of southern and Gatwick Express. The Express is pricey and certainly during the night may be a more frequent route. Victoria is close to the west end and has some bars/restaurants close to the station as well as the shopping precinct but I don't know if it is 24 hours. It is also probably more expensive to live round there compared to close to Clapham Junction, although E. Croydon is likely to be cheaper than both.

Clapham Junction has definitely arrived with the young and trendy, many bars restaurants, numerous gyms and fitness centres (oh pulease) plus a 24 hour supermarket on Lavender Hill, and others open till 11pm or later. There are also Wandsworth and Clapham Commons for foolin' around and sunbathing (but not this time of year!) The social scene is fab with plenty of bars and restaurants of all kinds - some cheap thru to pricey depending what you want. Northcote and Battersea Rise are fairly compact and there is a real cafe feel with people sitting outside etc in the better weather. You would probably have far more on your doorstep here than in Victoria - however, only you can judge what suits.

There are trains running through the night to and from Gatwick, but not as frequently as the Gatwick Express. However, should you ever have to get a cab it would be cheaper than going to Victoria.

If I can be of any further help let me know.

PD

merlinxx

From East Croydon you've 24/7 (subject to RailTrack) with 30min on stoppers to/from LGW. Also the night bus rotations are pretty good through EC, every 30mins from me at Caterham-on-the-Hill.

The diff between driving & bus/train is negated after parking car, walking to Ops, getting soaked through etc. Season tkt EC/LGW around GBP200PM. Hey and a cab from me to South Term is only GBP25 in emergency situs.

PM for more info, I was/am a commuter on that route.

jb5000

Thanks for all the info everyone, very much appreciated.