Solution for London layovers

[juio99]

The London layovers (and in others cities) can be a pain in butt.  There is one nice way to mitigate the pain if you are in Gatwick.  There is a town, Horley, just a five minute drive from Gatwick.  There are many, many, bed and breakfasts there.

They will retrieve you from airport, bed you, feed you breakfast, and get you back to airport in morning.  And, being just five minutes away, you don't lose all the sleep you would if you traveled to most other lodging accommodations.  Will cost you around 60 USD.

I have a brochure with web address for the B&B association but can't locate it right now.  Will post later when I find.  But anyone can probably find it by punching 'Horley Bed and Breakfast' into search engine.

It would be helpful if others could tell of such places near other airports on the routes to FSU.

JR

[Pordzhik]

... in response to Solution for London layovers, posted by juio99 on Oct 19, 2002

If you only want a peacefull sleep in a sleepy little town then Horley is the place.

If it's some English nightlife you want and have the time to spare then try nearby Croydon (fast trains 15mins) that rivals Londons West End without the silly prices, Croydon has a big choice of all classes of hotel to suit all pockets, restaurants to suit all tastes (and pockets) nightclubs, bars, pubs and theatre.

BTW that fast train runs 24hrs

[Jski]

... in response to Depends, posted by Pordzhik on Oct 20, 2002

Same train as that $45 ride out of Heathrow?

[Pordzhik]

... in response to Re: Depends, posted by Jski on Oct 21, 2002

The train I was writing about runs London (Victoria)-Gatwick.

You've got a number of options when transfering Heathrow to Gatwick.

Coaches run direct between LHR and LGW via the M4-M25-M23 motorways all you'll see is some of the Surrey countryside.

The tube runs direct from terms 1,2,3 and 4 into Central London or take a bus or coach, many take you direct to London Victoria Coach Station (spitting distance from Victoria Train Station).

Trains and coaches run frequently from Victoria into Gatwick (the train station at Gatwick is actually in the airport).

Croydon is midway between London and Gatwick, the majority of Croydons hotels, theatres, clubs, pubs, restaurants etc are within walking distance from East Croydon Station.

Plan your stopover as you please.

[Jski]

... in response to No, posted by Pordzhik on Oct 21, 2002

I've run that LHR / LGW bus once.  I love how it fills up with luggage long before people :-)  I used to fly into LGW when going to Basingstoke (Don't laugh, not my choice location) on business (just easier for me to fly out of DFW than ORD.  
I was thinking about crashing at the American Ailines Admirals club until I found out it closed at 2pm (unless they lock me in there).
I'll check out Croyden too.  Still have 90 days to plan.

Thanks for the info.  I owe you a Guiness.

[Jski]

... in response to Solution for London layovers, posted by juio99 on Oct 19, 2002

Thanks!

Here's what I found http://www.ukbed.com/south-east-england/horley.htm

All my London stops have been business.  Actually spent about 5 months in Basingstoke last year as well.  I'll be doing the Heathrow - Gatwick transfer (I hate that bus) so this might work out well.

[juio99]

... in response to Re: Solution for London layovers, posted by Jski on Oct 19, 2002

Jski, I found my brochure.  Here is webaddress for the associaton.

www.gatwickguesthouses.com