I'm flying into Heathrow on one day and leaving from Gatwick the next day. I'm staying the night in London. How can I get my bags to Gatwick without having to take them with me into the city?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by balaram:
I'm flying into Heathrow on one day and leaving from Gatwick the next day. I'm staying the night in London. How can I get my bags to Gatwick without having to take them with me into the city?</font>

I *thought* I read once of an Airbus coach route that ran between LGW and LHR. I just checked at &lt;www.gobycoach.com&gt; but can only find details on routes from each airport into central London, though. If you could get to Gatwick directly you could leave your baggage at the Left Luggage office overnight and get it back the next day when you arrive at LGW.

Alternatively, if you could manage to keep your bags with you for the trip into central London, you could take the Underground or an Airbus coach as far as Victoria Station and, depending on what airline you're flying, perhaps check them to Gatwick there in the station (I know I was able to do this for American Airlines - they have a check-in office near the Gatwick Express platforms.)

If this isn't a possibility, Victoria Station does have a secure guarded area full of coin-operated storage lockers of varying sizes where you could leave your bags overnight. I've left luggage there myself; it definitely beats carrying unnecessary bags around with you.

I think the inter airport coach service is now run by airlinks. www.airlinks.co.uk (http://www.airlinks.co.uk)

I just tried it but couldnt quickly find the LGW - LHR service but it does exist I assure you!!!

Hi there,
There is no service that'll take your luggage from LHR to LGW, you'll have to do it yourself. If you don't want to take it into central London (probably a good idea!) then the suggestion of a coach is a good one.

Go to the www.airlinks.co.uk (http://www.airlinks.co.uk) website and select Jetlink. That'll take you to the coach booking page. Type in Heathrow and Gatwick and the dates and it'll show you the time. There seems to be one every 30 minutes, any of the folllowing numbers are OK to use: JL707, JL717, JL727 & JL797. The journey is scheduled for 1 hour & 10 minutes. This trip takes in some of London's busiest traffic so don't bet on that exact time.

At LGW the 24 hour left luggage is in the South terminal: http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/gatwick/terminal_information/south_terminal/baggage_page.html

The easiest way from LGW into London is then the train. The Gatwick Express or Connex is fine for the West End, for the City area take a Thameslink.

This lot of messing around will probably mean it'll take 2&1/2 to 3 hours from Heathrow to central London.

Jason

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by balaram:
I'm flying into Heathrow on one day and leaving from Gatwick the next day. I'm staying the night in London. How can I get my bags to Gatwick without having to take them with me into the city?</font>

Hi Balaram

Leave your luggage at the left luggage counter at Heathrow (3.50 pounds per day per item), go to London by Tube, return next day pick your luggage up and use your free coach ticket (If it is a continuous connecting flight ticket) to reach Gatwick.
I use this trick a number of times to save on Traffic crunch in the mornings and black cab taxi virtual robbery. I leave my luggage at the left luggage, go home by bus (costs 70 pence ), have a shower, return in my car and pick the luggage up!

I liked the last idea given, interesting.

What about staying at an airport hotel near Heathrow? go into London, do what you want that night, back to LHR hotel(and there are many good ones to choose from), then take one of the many buses to LGW. Hence, no lugging bags til you go out to Gatwick, which you'll have to do either way.

There is a central bus station at LHR for the buses to LGW, also one in front of Terminal 4.

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