30March
Getting to and from London's airports with a large and heavy suitcase is difficult. Here's our recommendations for getting from (and, by extension, to) the leading two airports. As ever, readers who have personal experience may wish to leave a comment.
From Gatwick
As a rule of thumb, the Gatwick Express is quicker (but more expensive) than any other train; the Thameslink to London Bridge and Blackfriars is slightly faster than the Southern semi-fast to Victoria. Both stopping services call at the major interchange of East Croydon; the Victoria services also call at Clapham Junction.
Victoria, London Bridge, and Blackfriars all enjoy regular, direct links to Gatwick. Note that changing platforms at Blackfriars will generally involve the use of stairs.
For Charing Cross and Cannon Street services, change at London Bridge - a ramp links the through platforms.
Passengers for King's Cross and St Pancras will wish to avoid the Thameslink station, as this requires a long trudge through underground passageways, or dicing with death on the London ring road. Instead, change at London Bridge to the Northern line; this has fewer stairs down than the change at Victoria, and is likely to be slightly quieter.
For Euston and Moorgate, we also recommend a change at London Bridge to the Northern.
Waterloo is a toss-up. Some prefer to change at London Bridge to any Charing Cross train stopping at Waterloo East, then taking the link to the main station. Others would take the Jubilee line between the two stations. Passengers who are travelling via Guildford, or to stations in the area, may prefer to join the Reading train and change.
Marylebone and Paddington are best served by changing at London Bridge for the Jubilee line, then taking a cross-platform change at Baker Street to the Bakerloo. We do not recommend going via Charing Cross, as there are many additional stairs down. Paddington-bound passengers for whom time is not a problem may wish to consider the hourly direct service from Gatwick to Reading.
Liverpool Street passengers should stay on the Thameslink to Farringdon, then cross all lines to take the first train eastbound. This ensures fewer steps than Blackfriars, and many steps at only one station - a flat exit at Liverpool Street is possible by cunning use of lifts and ramps.
The worst draw is for Fenchurch Street passengers. Changing at Blackfriars involves humping up to the booking hall and then down to the platform. Going via Cannon Street involves fewer stairs, but an additional change at London Bridge, never cross-platform in normal running. If there's one consolation, the District line offers the option of staying on the tube to Barking, where there's cross-platform interchange to the mainline trains.
From Heathrow
Those coming from Heathrow generally have a slightly more simple task. The Picadilly line gives a direct (if slow) link to many main-line stations with no more than one or two changes.
King's Cross is direct on the Picc.
Victoria, Charing Cross (via Embankment), Blackfriars, Cannon Street, and Tower Hill (for Fenchurch Street) are all available by a cross-platform change at Baron's Court to the District line. Fenchurch customers may prefer to remain on the train to Barking, where there is a cross-platform change.
Paddington is served by the Heathrow Express, an extremely expensive train; and by Heathrow Connect, a stopping service that may be of use for passengers looking for Reading and stations to the east. For mainline passengers, Paddington may be reached by a cross-platform change at Baron's Court to the District; then a cross-or-same platform change at Earl's Court for a District train to Edgware Road.
Liverpool Street and Moorgate may be reached via Paddington; it's a same-platform change there for a Circle train.
Northbound Thameslink is probably easiest to change at Blackfriars; Farringdon involves two additional flat changes; the stairs at Farringdon are up and down.
Waterloo, may be reached by taking the bus to Staines BR station, from where there is a direct service. This may provide a preferable route for Euston and Marylebone passengers, who would otherwise face large flights of stairs at Euston Square and Baker Street, or changing to the Northern or Bakerloo line at Embankment.
London Bridge requires a change at Embankment/Charing Cross, Cannon Street, or Blackfriars. None of them are particularly easy, all involve significant flights of stairs up.
