Heathrow to Gatwick

Q: After flying into London Heathrow Airport, we need to transfer to Gatwick Airport for a flight five hours later. What is the most convenient way to do this? How much will it cost? - Anne Botha

A: The easiest way to get between the airports is to use the National Express Airport bus. There are more than 100 services a day, running from the central bus station and terminal 5 at Heathrow to Gatwick's north and south terminals. You can book a ticket in advance on the www.nationalexpress.com website, which is recommended. If your flight is late, you can catch a later bus using the same ticket. The journey time is 45-75 minutes, but delays can occur. However, with five hours between flights, you should be fine. The fare is presently 19.50 British pounds sterling (GBP).
There are also fixed price taxi services between the airport. Global Taxi Service will charge you 76 GBP for a maximum of three people and three suitcases. However, if your group consists of five or more people, you might consider renting your own eight-seater minibus, which costs 120 GBP each way. A benefit is that the minibus will collect you at your terminal of arrival and drop you at your departure point. You won't have to drag your luggage from the terminal to the central bus depot at Heathrow. Another advantage is that your private hire bus driver will check on your flight and be waiting for you when you exit customs even if your flight is early or late. The bus service is operated by FCMBS. You can book this on the www.londontoolkit.com website.
It is possible to catch the underground from Heathrow to Victoria Station in central London and then a bus to Gatwick, but this transfer takes around three hours.