gkher

Is there any Indian markets/ shopping place /sightseeing place around gatwick airport , london....?
let me know..i Have 4-5 hrs so was thinking of going out of airport.

Phil Richards

In article , gkher
said...

    > Is there any Indian markets/ shopping place /sightseeing place around
    > gatwick airport , london....?
    > let me know..i Have 4-5 hrs so was thinking of going out of airport.

Gatwick is 30 minutes by train from Central London so you're going to be
pushed for time.

Transport for London publish a nice free guide on markets which you can
see on line at:

http://www.londontransp-
ort.co.uk/tfl/rl_markets.shtml

A good area for Indian shopping (IMO) though it's way out in the suburbs
is Ealing Road, Alperton in North West London. It's a mixture of Indian
food, jewellery, music & clothing shops rather than a street market as
such.

--
Phil Richards
Stroud Green, London, N4

Office Manager

On Fri, 11 Oct 2002 21:02:49 +0000, gkher
wrote:

    >>Is there any Indian markets/ shopping place /sightseeing place around
    >>gatwick airport , london....?
    >>let me know..i Have 4-5 hrs so was thinking of going out of airport.
London Gatwick isn't actually In London at all, and the nearest Large
town is Crawley.
To be honest 4-5 hours between flights is nowhere near long enough to
get in and out of London

---
Coming into Londo?
Fixed price Taxi to Central London
http://www.airporttransfers.biz

Fred_Scuttle

4-5 hours isn't a lot of time,and even if you went into London trains can be delayed between London and Gatwick.It happens quite often.Industrial action,leaves on the line,bodies on the line etc.

Pulaski

Gatwick is in Surrey, as English a counry as you are likely to find. There are no Indian markets there, but if you are coming to England why are you looking for an Indian market???

Miguel Cruz

Office Manager wrote:
    > To be honest 4-5 hours between flights is nowhere near long enough to
    > get in and out of London

When I have to land at Heathrow, tube into town, pick up an onward ticket to
Africa or the middle east at a travel agency, and make it back out to the
airport, I usually give myself 5 hours. Never missed a flight yet.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world:
http://travel.u.nu
New mini photo-feature: Life in DC:
http://travel.u.nu/dc/

Fred_Scuttle

Yes from Heathrow you can get the London Underground,but from Gatwick public transit is either train or bus,AND Gatwick is about 30 miles from central London, Heathrow is less than half that. And the sightseeing takes longer than picking up a tkt.

Vicky

In article , Fred_Scuttle
wrote:

    > > Office Manager wrote:
    > > > To be honest 4-5 hours between flights is nowhere near long enough
    > > > to
    > > > get in and out of London
    > Yes from Heathrow you can get the London Underground,but from Gatwick
    > public transit is either train or bus,AND Gatwick is about 30 miles from
    > central London, Heathrow is less than half that. And the sightseeing
    > takes longer than picking up a tkt.
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

My first time ever in London - I had 5 hour between flights. Landed in
Gatwick early in the morning, took the train to Victoria station. Then
I somehow found my way to the Tube and took it to Trafalgar Square.
Found a place to have breakfast there and then walked around Hyde Park
and towards Buckingham Palace. Found out that it was about time for
changing of the guards, so managed to catch that, after a LONG wait.
Then walked back to Victoria station, took the train back to Gatwick
and had plenty of time to catch my flight to Madrid.

Did it all in 5 hours. No problem, no rush.


Vicky

Fred_Scuttle

With the heightened security now check in could take longer and you may have to check in sooner although a connecting flight might mean less hassle.I myself don't enjoy sightseeing when I have to check my watch constantly and hope the return journey out to Gatwick will go as planned.Too many times I've heard train cancelled due to incident at East Croydon stn,broken down train on line,etc.If every thing goes to plan fine,but with British tubes,trains and buses you can never be sure.The poster also said he had 4-5 hours between flights,his flight in won't necessarily land on time,and a first timer to London will find it harder and need more time than someone who has been there numerous times.

Office Manager

On Sat, 12 Oct 2002 22:19:30 +0000, Fred_Scuttle
wrote:

    >>Originally posted by Miguel Cruz:
    >>> Office Manager wrote:
    >>> > To be honest 4-5 hours between flights is nowhere near long enough
    >>> > to
    >>> > get in and out of London
    >>> When I have to land at Heathrow, tube into town, pick up an onward
    >>> ticket to
    >>> Africa or the middle east at a travel agency, and make it back out to
    >>> the
    >>> airport, I usually give myself 5 hours. Never missed a flight yet.
    >>> miguel
Heathrow is already in London, Gatwick is not, we are talking about 2
different airports.
for Heathrow 4/5 Hours is fine to see some of London, but Gatwick,
well I live here and I wouldnt chance it.
LHR 17 miles to Central London
LGW 41 Miles to Central London
Also remember clearing customs and immigration is going to take
between 45-60 Minutes, and you have to back at the airport one hour
before the flight takes off.
That leaves about 3 hours to get in and out of London, the Gatwick
Express only Goes to Victoria.


---
Coming into London Gatwick?
Fixed price Transfers to Central London
http://www.airporttransfers.biz

Phil Richards

In article , Pulaski
said...

    > There are no Indian markets there, but if you are coming to England why
    > are you looking for an Indian market???

Possibly to sample our diverse range of cultures....

--
Phil Richards
Stroud Green, London, N4

Austin500

"Office Manager" wrote in message
news:vjgiqu0ira61li7pu4dmr37f-
[email protected]...
    > On Sat, 12 Oct 2002 22:19:30 +0000, Fred_Scuttle
    > wrote:
    > >>
    > >>Originally posted by Miguel Cruz:
    > >>> Office Manager wrote:
    > >>> > To be honest 4-5 hours between flights is nowhere near long enough
    > >>> > to
    > >>> > get in and out of London
    > >>>
    > >>> When I have to land at Heathrow, tube into town, pick up an onward
    > >>> ticket to
    > >>> Africa or the middle east at a travel agency, and make it back out to
    > >>> the
    > >>> airport, I usually give myself 5 hours. Never missed a flight yet.
    > >>>
    > >>> miguel
    > Heathrow is already in London, Gatwick is not, we are talking about 2
    > different airports.
    > for Heathrow 4/5 Hours is fine to see some of London, but Gatwick,
    > well I live here and I wouldnt chance it.
    > LHR 17 miles to Central London
    > LGW 41 Miles to Central London
    > Also remember clearing customs and immigration is going to take
    > between 45-60 Minutes, and you have to back at the airport one hour
    > before the flight takes off.
    > That leaves about 3 hours to get in and out of London, the Gatwick
    > Express only Goes to Victoria.
    > ---
    > Coming into London Gatwick?
    > Fixed price Transfers to Central London
    > http://www.airporttransfers.biz



" LGW 41 Miles to Central London"



28 miles according to the Gatwick Airport website.A minicab driver might say
it's 41 though
    :-)

Harvey V

On Sat, 12 Oct 2002 22:19:30 GMT, Fred_Scuttle wrote
    > Originally posted by Miguel Cruz:
    >> Office Manager wrote:


    >>> To be honest 4-5 hours between flights is nowhere near long
    >>> enough to get in and out of London

    >> When I have to land at Heathrow, tube into town, pick up an
    >> onward ticket to Africa or the middle east at a travel agency,
    >> and make it back out to the airport, I usually give myself 5
    >> hours. Never missed a flight yet.

-snip-


    > Yes from Heathrow you can get the London Underground,but from
    > Gatwick public transit is either train or bus,


I'm quite sure that the Piccadilly Line route from Heathrow takes
longer -- about 45 minutes -- than the 30-minute Gatwick Express to
Victoria, and one walks a fair distance from landing in H/row to the
underground (compared to getting to the Gatwick train station).

4-5 hours is obviously reaaaaaaaaaaaaalllyy tight, but if, on a bet,
one wanted to do a marathon "take pictures and tick those off the list"
sort of thing, you could probably achieve the following:


Get off the plane, clear customs, find the train: 1 hour
Gatwick Express to Victoria (15 min wait/30 minute trip): .75 hour
Ride a bus from Victoria to Trafalgar Square: .5 hour
Walk back through St James's Park: .75 hour
Victoria to Gatwick with Gatwick Express (as before): .75 hour
Check-in for flight (assuming through-booked): 1.5 hours


To me, it doesn't sound worth bothering, but it's do-able for a
hyperactively obsessive type.......

--
Cheers,
Harvey

Miss L.Toe

"gkher" wrote in message
news:440789.1034370169@britishexpats-
.com...
    > Is there any Indian markets/ shopping place /sightseeing place around
    > gatwick airport , london....?
    > let me know..i Have 4-5 hrs so was thinking of going out of airport.
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

There are two Indian food shops in Crawley (about 10-15 minutes and 10 GBP
in a taxi from Gatwick, or train to Three Bridges and another train to
Crawly, or probably a direct bus service from Gatwick to Crawley) not really
Indian markets - was there something specific you are looking for.

The other main place to get to (apart from London) is Brighton, sea side
town with lots of attractions check www.railtrack.co.uk for train times,
There is the Brighton Pavilion which was built by Prince Albert (I think)
and looks very Indian fromn the outside but very Chinese Inside. Lots of
other things to do there like eating Fish and Chips on the Pier (don't go to
Harry Ramsdens). Lots of Shops in Brighton - If you want 'different' try the
North Laines when you walk out of the station turn left, lots of small
independant shops (including a lesbian sex shop - or so I have been told).

But as others have said 4-5 hours isn't really 4-5 hours once you have got
out and back.

Also lots of shops in Crawley.

There is a small zoo/avery near the airport (there was talk of it closing
down - so check if you are interested).

Also several old houses / gardens nearby if you are interested find the
National Trust web site.

Or ask a more detailed question specify what sort of sighseeing you want.

Jt

more considerations:

Some folks consider it a MUST to use carryon luggage. Gatwick
website says it still operates luggage storage, but can't figure
out if this is outside the secured area (requiring for layover
you drag bag out thru customs, then back in thru security)?

Is Brighton more advisable to those in a hurry - very close and
frequent trains I think?