Gatwick Airport - 7 and a half hour wait!!

[annie0000]

Going with the kids for a school trip to Italy next week,we have a 7 and a half hour wait between flights at Gatwick. Anyone any suggestions of what we could do? 8 adults and 8 kids (age 9-11).

[joggerjayne]

You could be in Brighton in half an hour.

[Zacs-Master]

Get the train into London?

[VHG]

But if you have to be there 2 hours before your second flight then that reduces it to about 5 hours - maybe not time to do much.

Plus I guess you will have your luggage.

Why not contact Gatwick Airport and see what they can offer. Maybe a room somewhere to at least chill out.

[annie0000]

Thought about London Zacs, but we were there for the weekend a couple of weeks ago - just a bit nervous of everyone splitting up and getting lost or not making it back to the airport in time - maybe if we picked one thing to go and do, still a possibility.

JJ - is it easy to get to Brighton by public transport from the airport?

[annie0000]

VHG - we are hoping that our luggage will be transported through - as you say, 5hours probably - we could book into a lounge for 3 hours of it, but that is just hanging about but in nicer surroundings.

[ubasses]

Train from airport direct to brighton think its first capital connect

[Prudie]

I'd be nervous about travelling too far in that time, it's not normally a place high on people's wish list but you could go into Crawley
http://www.tripadviso...dom:Things.To.Do.html

[Zacs-Master]

Useful?
http://www.gatwickair...s-to-do-near-gatwick/

[annie0000]

Ooh - turns out we can get to Brighton and back for £60 for all 16 of us :o) It's looking like an attractive option as there are loads of train choices for the way back.

Would Brighton Pier be the best bet

[joggerjayne]

No, not the pier.

Go for a bite to eat in the Lanes. Also, plenty of child-attractive shops ... Fat Face, Jack Wills, etc.

Come out of the station, and walk DOWN the hill ... you'll see what I mean when you're there. Keep going, past the clock monument in the road, and turn left at LLoyds Bank ... it's the quickest way into the Lanes.

Let the kids can have a laugh at the quirky shops, then follow the road ... it bends right, then left ... and you come to some great pubs. The kids can wander off, with instructions to be back in one hour. And you're about 100m from the sea front if it's nice enough.

[SpikeyBush]

Go to one of the cafes in Gatwick, have a cup of tea and complain about how expensive everything is. I seem to live at airports and that is all there is to do. Unless you are at Hong Kong airport where I got a very nice pint of Tetley Bitter (followed by seven more ). Leave the airport and you risk something happening that will prevent you from returning in time, 'tempting fate' I think it is called. And then you will have even more of a wait...and expense.

Surely there must be enough cafes and bars for the adults, and arcade machines for the kids?

[annie0000]

Right Jayne - that sounds just the ticket, a bit of fresh air and a wander about - I'll sound out the other parents and staff and see what people think. Just looked at the itinery and we have 6 hours on the way back too, so maybe try London on the way down and Brighton on the way back...

[joggerjayne]

I'll suggest a few "must see" shops.

eg. As soon as you turn left at Lloyds Bank, there's Choccywokkydoodaah on your left ... the most incredible chocolate creations shop ever. It's amazing. You MUST go inside.

[annie0000]

lol spikey - just how much cash do you think young kids could get through in an arcade for 7 hours?!
We will be leaving our houses at 4.15 am and getting to Gatwick about 7.30 am and our next flight is near 3pm - with our eventual arrival at the hotel in Italy about 7.30pm - I think they will have enough sitting/hanging about. It would be good to have something specific to do. I do share your worry about people not getting back in time though.

[annie0000]

wow, that does sound good Jayne - I'm partial to a bit of chocolate and I'm sure the kids would enjoy that too. Do you know anywhere that would be good for a gluten free meal?

[ladybirder]

annie that long a wait on both legs of the journey would put me off going, life's too short. Is that really the best they can offer?

[annie0000]

oh and we have one child with a peanut allergy too :o)

[joggerjayne]

Gluten free? Err ...

Oh yes, hang on ...

http://www.foodforfriends.com/

This place is on the road that I described, after the right and left bend.

[annie0000]

yeah ladybirder, I'm afraid so, we are flying easy jet, there is no direct flight and that is the only flight to Gatwick that day prior to the flight to Italy - the school organised it and tbh I think I could have done better myself. It might have been better to fly into another airport and transfer or take the train down to somewhere with a more direct flight. we are away for 5 days but only have 3 in Italy.

[ladybirder]

When mine were little we went on the ferry to Guernsey. My children played on the slot machines for the whole journey and were skint by the time we got there. AND we were there for two weeks.