If you want to feel like a local who just happens to be carrying a suitcase, take the Underground. First, you’ll hop on the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to central London. It’s slow, it’s hot, and you’ll start to question why Londoners ever smile. This leg takes about 45 minutes, long enough to develop a philosophical opinion on carpet patterns.
Then, you switch to the Gatwick Express from Victoria Station. This is the proper train—sleek, fast, and it smells like corporate efficiency. The journey to Gatwick takes just 30 minutes, which feels like a victory lap after that tube crawl. But here’s the kicker: total cost can exceed £40, double the coach price. You’re basically paying for the illusion of speed and a seat that reclines slightly.
Fun fact: the Gatwick Express runs every 15 minutes, which is great news if you miss one. You’ll just stand there, pretending to check your phone, while secretly wondering if that pigeon outside is judging your life choices. It is.
