Booking a taxi service beforehand is crucial when travelling from Guildford to Heathrow, Gatwick, or London. This approach helps avoid delays, unwanted stress, and last-minute panic, especially when you need to catch an early morning flight or arrive for an important meeting.
In this blog, we discuss various rush hours, identify the best time to book a taxi, and share tips on ensuring a smooth ride to the airport.
Guildford rush hours to watch out for
Guildford experiences overcrowding hours, just like many of the other towns in Surrey. Thus, to avoid this, here’s a list of the rush hours, which can help you identify their patterns:
- Early morning from 7:30 am to 9:30 am
- Evening hours from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
- Heavy traffic on routes towards the M25 and A3 has been reported on Fridays and during bank holidays
According to Traffic England, congestion on major roads like the A3 and M25 can build up quickly during peak periods.
If your travel times happen to fall between these hours, then it’s best to leave space for extra time, precisely around 35-45 minutes for just in case situations, especially if you have arranged an airport transfer from Guildford.
Best time to leave for your flight
It’s important to consider what time you’ll leave for your flight, as it helps you prepare in advance and allows you to reach the airport on time.
Heathrow airport transfers
If you’re flying through the Heathrow airport, and you have a morning flight which falls between 7:00-9:00 am, it is best to leave for the airport around 4:30-5:00 am. However, if your flight is set to depart in the evening, then it is best to be off to the airport before 1:30 pm, in order to avoid rush hours.
Gatwick airport transfers
For the people who are flying through the Gatwick airport, it is advised to leave for the airport before 5:30 am to ensure a smooth trip to the airport. On the other hand, for the people whose flight is in the evening, it is best to leave before 4:00 pm to avoid M25 bottlenecks.
How early should you book?
When it comes to pre-booking your airport transfer in Guildford, it is foremost that you book your ride 12-24 hours ahead, especially if you’re travelling on weekdays. For people travelling on the weekends or during public holidays, booking your taxi around 2-3 days in advance would be highly advised. For travels during the Christmas or summer holidays, it is best to book a taxi around 4-6 weeks ahead to receive the best fares and ensure availability of the taxi.
Tips to avoid disruptions during travel
To avoid any sort of disruptions during your travels, it is advised to:
- Book journeys during mid-week for a peaceful and quieter trip to the airport
- Book flights that depart late in the morning or early in the afternoon
- Avoid booking flights during rush hour times in Guildford
- Share your flight details with your driver to ensure a smooth journey to the airport
- Leave a space of 20-30 minutes for your estimated travel time to the airport
Tools like Google Maps Traffic and National Rail can help you assess road and train delays in real-time, helping you plan smarter.
Final thoughts
Whether you are looking to book a taxi service for travel from Guildford to Heathrow, or Guildford to Gatwick, or simply a private hire for travelling within Guildford, it is important to make sure that you book your taxi service early and avoid peak rush hours to ensure a relaxing and smooth journey ahead.
So, remember to plan beforehand, travel smart, and make your next transfer a smooth one.
