What time do the first and last trains from London to Gatwick and Heathrow leave?
Whether you avoid all the snow and cold and planning to spend Christmas abroad or you just have to fly somewhere, people still have to take trains to airports over the holidays.
For Londoners and people nearby, they’ll probably need to get to Gatwick or Heathrow.
But do trains go there all day? To avoid later disasters or expensive last-minute cabs, here’s what you need to know…
Do trains run to Gatwick airport all day?
The good news is that there isn’t really a last train to Gatwick Airport.
Trains depart from various stations in London throughout the day.
After 1:14 a.m., however, trains become less frequent for a few hours.
You can catch the 1:14am train from London Bridge and arrive at Gatwick Airport at 1:56am.
Then the next train leaves at 1:52. The next trains after this time only come once an hour – at 2:53 am and 3:53 am.
Trains from other parts of London then switch back on around 4am.
You can catch a train from Blackfriars from 4:10am. From 4:30 a.m. trains from Victoria will be running again.
It is always advisable to check this before planning your trip as timetables are subject to change.
Are there trains to Heathrow all day?
When in London, there are several ways to get to Heathrow.
A Heathrow Express train to Heathrow Airport from London Paddington stops at all three Heathrow Airport stations and takes 15 to 21 minutes depending on the destination terminal.
Trains run every 15 minutes, seven days a week from 5am (6am on Sundays) to 11:30pm.
A slower and cheaper TfL Rail train – the Elizabeth Line – also runs from London Paddington to all three terminuses, stopping at stations in west London en route.
Another way to get to Heathrow is the Piccadilly line.
The 1st Piccadilly Line to Heathrow Terminals 2, 3, 4 or 5, Monday to Friday at 5.02am.
The last one leaves at 00:56 Monday to Thursday.
On Friday the last train leaves at 3:41 am. On Saturdays the last one is at 3:51 am. The last train on a Sunday leaves at 00:02.
Are there strikes over Christmas?
One thing that will affect all plans is the next round of rail strikes, which will take place in December 2022 and through January 2023.
There will be mass strikes in the various unions over the next few weeks so expect disruption.
The Heathrow Express has posted a list of service disruptions online. Tfl will not be on strike so Piccadilly scheduled services to Heathrow should continue to run but these could be heavier than normal and hit by strikes on parts of the line connecting to Network Rail.
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https://metro.co.uk/2022/12/11/when-are-the-first-and-last-trains-from-london-to-gatwick-and-heathrow-17917676/ What time do the first and last trains from London to Gatwick and Heathrow leave?