My daughters and I are flying to Italy next March. On the return, we'll fly in to Heathrow Friday afternoon around 2, and then we fly out the next morning from Gatwick (I think around 10)...what I'd like to find is inexpensive lodging in an area of London that will allow us to either walk and see what we can that afternoon/evening, OR close to a "hop and ride" sort of bus that will drive us around major sights. We know we don't have much time, but then this is a bonus to our trip to Italy. Which areas of London would provide easy access by rail or tube out to Gatwick in the morning? Any picturesque (cheap!) areas where we can stay? Tall order here, but thanks...I'm checking lots of links from before, but up-to-date is always good, too

You could try to stay close to Victoria Station which is where you can catch the Gatwick Express train which takes 30 minutes. The hop on hop off bus tours both stop close to there I believe. (By Buckingham palace's rear garden if I recall) Don't have any lodging suggestions though. Sorry!

The Big Bus Company is one of the companies who do the hop on off thing and I think they have a main office across from Victoria station.

If I've read your question correctly, you are returning to the States from Gatwick, correct? If so then you'll have to be at check in at Gatwick at least 2 hours prior to your take off. If your plane leaves at 10 then you'll need to be there at 8 am. If you find accommodation in London for the previous evening you'll have to get out of the hotel and onto a train at Victoria at somewhere around 7:15 - 7:30.

I don't know how good you are in the morning but faced with that I think I would opt to stay the evening nearer Gatwick. You could go from Heathrow to Victoria Station and stash your bags in the Left Luggage and then take a bus tour of the city which will give you a good overview. You could even have an evening meal in London and then take the train down to your hotel near Gatwick. I think this question has come up a few times before so there are, I'm sure, some reviews of hotels near Gatwick.

Good thoughts; Beebee, I'd originally thought it would be a good idea to stay closer to Gatwick, but it looked far out from the city. I like your idea of dropping the luggage off right away and then having the freedom to roam...other thoughts out there??

Just be aware that it costs 6 GBP per bag at the left luggage at Victoria Station. Depending on the number of bags, that can get pretty pricey.

Yes, Gatwick is some 28 miles south of downtown London. Rail connections are good--either by the Gatwick Express from Victoria station or a non-express train from Victoria or from Blackfriars and Kings Cross. The fastest way is the Gatwick Express...about 35 minutes.

Coming from Heathrow, you've got a choice to make:

• if you are going to stay near Gatwick, then you'll probably take the connecting bus between the airports. Takes at least an hour, usually a bit more. It might be 4pm or later by the time you clear Heathrow and then connect to Gatwick. There's a Hilton hotel connected to the Gatwick terminal--not cheap, but very convenient for departure the next day. From Gatwick, you can take a train into central London: either the Gatwick Express (35 minutes) or non-express (45 minutes) to Victoria, or non-express to Blackfriars station.
  
  
• if you are going straight into central London, then you'll need to take a car service (justairports.com is one), a taxi (expensive), Heathrow Express+taxi, or Underground/tube (not recommended with luggage and kids). All told, it will probably be 4pm or so by the time you reach a central London hotel.

If it were me, I'd pick the latter, find a hotel right very near Victoria station, see a bit of London and then bite the bullet and get up early the next morning.

With either choice, don't discount that your group may be fairly jet-lagged and not up to treking back into London, or spending very much time sightseeing in the city, before collapsing into a hotel bed ;-)

I've stayed at Premier Travel Inn at Gatwick a couple of times - you can book on the internet. You have to pay to take the shuttle from the hotel back to the airport which is kind of annoying, but I think on the whole it is probably going to be cheaper than the Hilton. It's a Day's Inn or Hampton Inn type of operation - not fancy, but clean and reasonable.