Get me to Gatwick!

You can go direct from Hull to King's Cross and get the Thameslink train to Gatwick.  No underground required and it will probably be your most direct route.  It looks like you'll have to walk from one part of King's Cross station to another but it shouldn't hopefully be too bad.  They say the entire trip takes 4 1/2 hours.


HULL dep 08:02 HULL TRAINS
LONDON KINGS CROSS arr 11:09
LONDON KINGS CROSS dep 11:09   Foot
KINGS CROSS THAMESLINK arr 11:40
KINGS CROSS THAMESLINK dep 11:40 FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT
GATWICK AIRPORT arr 12:25

If I understand correctly, Happyuptopia is in Hull.  Even getting a Trans Pennine Express direct to Manchester Piccadilly is a 2 hour journey.  Then jumping on a direct plan to Gatwick is probably 45 minutes to 1 hour and probably over £100 for the 2 of them.
Personally, I'd just take the Hull to Gatwick via King's Cross.  We've put big suitcases on the luggage carriers at the back of carriages on long-haul trains.  The Hull to King's Cross should have them and I imagine the King's Cross to Gatwick should as well.

Yeah, I'm sure you're right, mattj74.  But maybe for future trips, happyutopia would want to consider flying out of Manchester (direct) instead.  Personally, I would never route myself out of a London airport -- living up here, if I could avoid it.  Manchester is just so much more convenient.  Plus, I love riding the TransPennine Express 'cause when they announce it in the station -- it always sounds like they are saying the Transparent Express (which sounds like something that would be in Harry Potter).  So I call it the Transparent Express.

My brother just trained it from Hull to Gatwick ... it's a doddle ... take the train from Hull to London Kings Cross, then it's a quick change at Kings Cross from the main line station to the Thameslink station and then it's direct to Gatwick Airport (the station is right in the airport)  ... you don't even have to go on the tube.  There are a few steps at the Thameslink station, but it's not too bad.

However, the journey is a bit long, so take a good book!

Hiya. Another die-hard train travel fan here. I've made that trip from Kings Cross to Gatwick several times. It's a pleasant journey, you avoid the Underground. And you'll have no problem finding space for your luggage. That train usually has toilets and dining car too but it's only about 40 minutes travel direct to Gatwick. 

For those who might not know, check out this fantastic website about how to get from any point in the UK to any point in Europe and elsewhere by train alone. 
http://www.seat61.com

Thanks for posting this!

Here I was thinking I had to go all the way to Victoria to get to Gatwick!
(I live in North London, and work very close to King's Cross)

 

Actually train travel (aside from rush hour) is great! I prefer the train to flying because flying brings a lot of hassles.

My husband and I have done long haul train journeys in the UK with no problem (and with a lot of luggage)...its actually relaxing once you get settled! Hopefully you won't have a lot of transfers.  Check out TheTrainline.com for available routes. Example we went direct from Reading to Leeds (and back)...it was painless. Maybe you can find a train from Leeds to Reading with a transfer at Reading to Gatwick. Reading is a great connection point, a lot of availability and an easy station to navigate through. Who knows, there may be a train straight through.

PS - Try to avoid trains that route through London because most likely there will be a tube journey as well.

Leeds! I forgot about Leeds. I'll have to check out the trains from Leeds to Gatwick. I can have someone drop us off, Leeds is pretty close.

sorry can't help with how to get to Gatwick... just offer some things to think about when considering the train.

Stairs... are there elevators?
Porters... are you leaving from a big station? is there the possibility for porters or carts?
Luggage... does it have wheels? is it cumbersome?

once on the train it is cake. I can check this weekend if Gatwick has trolleys upon arrival. I know you can't take a trolley down to the train from the airport unless you have a porter though.

I had to do this solo from Heathrow to my house... via a bus, taxi, train and taxi. I vowed never to do it again, but your situation may be more manageable.

We'll each have one luggage with wheels. Since Jamie will be with me, he can pull the heavy one.  But if I were on my own I wouldn't dream of it.

My brother just trained it from Hull to Gatwick ... it's a doddle ... take the train from Hull to London Kings Cross, then it's a quick change at Kings Cross from the main line station to the Thameslink station and then it's direct to Gatwick Airport (the station is right in the airport)  ... you don't even have to go on the tube.  There are a few steps at the Thameslink station, but it's not too bad.

However, the journey is a bit long, so take a good book!

I don't mind the long journey, it'll give Jamie and I time to sit back and watch the world go by.