On that trip I used both Gatwick and Heathrow airports, as I stayed in London a few days then went on to Madeira, Portugal via Gatwick. When I first arrived from the US, I came into London Gatwick around 8am. The line for customs was miles long and it took about 30 minutes to get through.But when I came into Gatwick around 5pm from Madeira it was a ghost town. I kid you not, there wasn't a soul in the line, and the baggage re-claim area was dead quiet.ast Tuesday, it took 45 minutes to get to an immigration officer through a queue line that would do Disneyland proud...the immigration inspection took oh about 15 seconds, she looked at my landing card, my passport, asked how long I would be in the UK, stamped my passport and said, off you go..