Hi UK forum regulars. I'll be arriving into London Heathrow next month on a Monday morning flight (JFK-LHR) that gets in at 7:30am. Have 24 hours on the ground then departing another early morning, Tuesday flight. Both are out of Terminal 3. What are the best options for getting into downtown London (Marriott County Hall)? This is for 2 people
Definition of best, priority: 1) Fastest (since its just a day) 2) Convenience (luggage) and 3) price (assume price is not a factor)
Only been to London for work before twice and had cars reserved by the office both times.
After doing some reading of other threads and the London transportation wiki, it seems like Heathrow Express + Taxi would be best as it avoids rush hour traffic going into the city. However, some threads also report horrible taxi lines at Paddington Station in the morning.
Departing to Heathrow the next day, probably aiming to leave around 5 to 5:30am to make 7:30am flight. Is this reasonable? Again Taxi/HEX, or taxi/minicab all the way?
Are you already booked to stay at Mariott County Hall or are you just offering that as an example of the area of central london you are after? Or is it just a random posibility you are concidering for hotel?
'Downtown' is really a meaningless term in London, there are various 'centres' to central London.
If you land at 730, expect to be through imigration, luggage collected (are you collecting luggage, or handbaggage only?), and out by 0800 at the earliest. In both cases, underground or heathrow express, there is a walk from T3 to the station at heathrow, sadly not as well connected as other terminals.
Therefore, in terms of rushhour avoiding, the HEX would either transport you into Paddington station hitting it (people arriving before 9), or you just after (for questionable if any speed benefit).
How much luggage will you have to worry about? And do you need it?
If you can't through check it to your next flight (so you just have one bag to collect, or hand luggage).
I'd probably take the underground, changing from the Picadilly line ot the District line (Green) and getting off at Westminster, nice walk across the bridge and you are at County Hall. (Assume they will hold you bag, etc).
You could buy a travelcard that would do you for the rest of the day.
David-A - thanks for the response. Yes, we're booked at marriott county hall as it seemed like a good option to see a few major sites.
After reading through the forums a bit, I don't believe we'll be able to check our luggage through. We have 24 hours in London and I think anything over 12 requires us to pickup in London.
So we will each be checking 1 item (bit larger than a regular carry on) and have 1 carry-on (backup or otherwise). The rest of our journey is a week and a half and I dont think we'll be able to do just a carry-on.
Given this, do you still recommend the tube? It seemed like in my reading that HEX is 15 min and tube would be about an hour. would taxi to county hall be a long journey around 9am?
Thank you for the response. Yes in this case, we'll be at county hall due to its location.
I have to admit, I've only taken the tube once in London and I was hesitant given our luggage (2 ppl, 2 checked bags, 2 carry ons).
Is rush hour manageable around 8:30am on a monday morning? Coming from NY, I have images of bumper to bumper traffic, not the way I want to start a vacation after a red-eye flight.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jib71
If it's a Marriott you want, change the reservation to Marriott Kensington.
Take tube to Earls Court + walk (or cab if you have too much luggage).
If it's the County Hall location that matters, I'd second David-A's tube route recommendation.
If you're hauling lots of luggage, you could get a minicab from LHR for not much more than the H'EX + cab fare.
Heathrow Express is a fast (but expensive) way to get to Paddington. Your hotel isn't near Paddington. Furthermore, trying to get a cab from Paddington in the morning rush hour is not fun.
I'd take the tube to Westminster, if your bags are manageable. The Piccadilly line starts at Heathrow, so you will get a seat - though it will get busy as the train gets closer into the centre.
If the bags are too much, get a pre booked mini cab, which will cost about the same as two fares on HEx.
Terminal 3 will be very very busy when you arrive. I really would not expect to be through in less than an hour.
After reading through the forums a bit, I don't believe we'll be able to check our luggage through. We have 24 hours in London and I think anything over 12 requires us to pickup in London.
The first question of course is who are the airlines involved? That can govern whether it is possible at all, full stop.
Next, it is usually invariably 24 hours that is the magic figure, (not heard of 12h figure before). I know I've done it with a flight arriving 1045 and another departing 1035 the next day. So that was 10 minutes under 24 hours.
You say you arrive 0730, and depart 0730. Are these exact? I don't actually know what the rule is in that situation (exectly 24 hours). [Personally I think it should be governed by the MCT (minimum connection time) +24 hours. But it dosn't.]
Anyway, if it is over 24 hours, then I don't think it will be possible, if it is just a minute under, then it should be. [Depending upon the airlines invovled.]
Quote:
So we will each be checking 1 item (bit larger than a regular carry on) and have 1 carry-on (backup or otherwise). The rest of our journey is a week and a half and I dont think we'll be able to do just a carry-on.
Given this, do you still recommend the tube? It seemed like in my reading that HEX is 15 min and tube would be about an hour. would taxi to county hall be a long journey around 9am?
I don't think the HEX+taxi will save you any time.
As for luggage, it depends upon how confident you are moving it without a trolley. I regularly take a wheely + backpack on the tube.
If you are concerned about it being awkward, then I would be concerned Paddington might be almost as awkward in some ways.
Getting on at Heathrow won't be a problem. Changing from Picadilly line to Distric line will not be a problem, you are still outside the heavy intensive central area at that time.
The only place where I would expect any awkwardness would be Westminister. But, it shouldn't be too bad. And Westminster is a newly rebuild station, with plenty of lifts and escallators, etc.
The key is at heathrow you want to get a seat next to the doors (obviously keeping yoruself aware of the signed seats that should be ready to be given up for thouse carrying children or with walking dificulties, etc). Tuck yoru luggage in beside the doors, sit next to it.
There will be plenty of people to copy for the 'technique'.
Spread yourself away from others down the platform. So that not everyone with bulky bags is in the same point of the train. That can make it awkward.
But again, you would be changing to the Distrcit line before it gets too busy.
I you think luggage is a problem, then you would be better with a prebooked minicab service. I would NOT do the HEX for this, on the basis of (1) where you are trying to get to in london, (2) the cost, and (3) the time.
Don't use the tube. It will be painfully busy as you will be travelling at the height of the rush hour and while you will have a seat your luggage will get in the way and there is very little storage space.
Arrival
Take the Heathrow Express to Paddington and get a cab. The cab fare will be £15-20 but the whole thing is much less stressful - and more reliable - than messing around on the tube.
Departure
Find a local minicab firm (kind of like a town car). Don't ask the hotel - they will have a rip off arrangement - just google for someone. That will be probably £40 or so but quickest (45mins tops) giving you extra time in bed. No need to leave before 5:30.
The flight into London will be on American Airlines. The flight out of London will be on British Airways. Our actual connection time is 23 hours, 50 minutes.
Searching through a few threads such as (AA Through-checked bag on overnight connection) led me to believe that since we were over 12 hours we would need to pick up our bags and recheck them the next day.
Handling the 2 bags will be fine for me, but I will need to gauge this with DW. Perhaps I will need to pull 3
Thanks, for the advice on navigating the tube from Heathrow. Knowing where to sit and how to position oneself will make things as smooth as possible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by David-A
The first question of course is who are the airlines involved? That can govern whether it is possible at all, full stop.
Next, it is usually invariably 24 hours that is the magic figure, (not heard of 12h figure before). I know I've done it with a flight arriving 1045 and another departing 1035 the next day. So that was 10 minutes under 24 hours.
You say you arrive 0730, and depart 0730. Are these exact? I don't actually know what the rule is in that situation (exectly 24 hours). [Personally I think it should be governed by the MCT (minimum connection time) +24 hours. But it dosn't.]
Anyway, if it is over 24 hours, then I don't think it will be possible, if it is just a minute under, then it should be. [Depending upon the airlines invovled.]
I don't think the HEX+taxi will save you any time.
As for luggage, it depends upon how confident you are moving it without a trolley. I regularly take a wheely + backpack on the tube.
If you are concerned about it being awkward, then I would be concerned Paddington might be almost as awkward in some ways.
Getting on at Heathrow won't be a problem. Changing from Picadilly line to Distric line will not be a problem, you are still outside the heavy intensive central area at that time.
The only place where I would expect any awkwardness would be Westminister. But, it shouldn't be too bad. And Westminster is a newly rebuild station, with plenty of lifts and escallators, etc.
The key is at heathrow you want to get a seat next to the doors (obviously keeping yoruself aware of the signed seats that should be ready to be given up for thouse carrying children or with walking dificulties, etc). Tuck yoru luggage in beside the doors, sit next to it.
There will be plenty of people to copy for the 'technique'.
Spread yourself away from others down the platform. So that not everyone with bulky bags is in the same point of the train. That can make it awkward.
But again, you would be changing to the Distrcit line before it gets too busy.
I you think luggage is a problem, then you would be better with a prebooked minicab service. I would NOT do the HEX for this, on the basis of (1) where you are trying to get to in london, (2) the cost, and (3) the time.
Thanks for the response. This was my original thought as well in terms of speed (train being faster than car during rush hour) and convenience (pulling bags through crowd).
The other advice has been that the Tube will be fine. Not surprisingly, there are going to be different opinions on this.
It does seem like a minicab on the return would be fastest (no traffic at 5:30am and door to door service for our luggage).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Swanhunter
Don't use the tube. It will be painfully busy as you will be travelling at the height of the rush hour and while you will have a seat your luggage will get in the way and there is very little storage space.
Arrival
Take the Heathrow Express to Paddington and get a cab. The cab fare will be £15-20 but the whole thing is much less stressful - and more reliable - than messing around on the tube.
Departure
Find a local minicab firm (kind of like a town car). Don't ask the hotel - they will have a rip off arrangement - just google for someone. That will be probably £40 or so but quickest (45mins tops) giving you extra time in bed. No need to leave before 5:30.
Thanks, it sounds like Immigration/Customs will be a longer wait unfortunately than I had hoped.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcspeirs
Heathrow Express is a fast (but expensive) way to get to Paddington. Your hotel isn't near Paddington. Furthermore, trying to get a cab from Paddington in the morning rush hour is not fun.
I'd take the tube to Westminster, if your bags are manageable. The Piccadilly line starts at Heathrow, so you will get a seat - though it will get busy as the train gets closer into the centre.
If the bags are too much, get a pre booked mini cab, which will cost about the same as two fares on HEx.
Terminal 3 will be very very busy when you arrive. I really would not expect to be through in less than an hour.
Thanks, it sounds like Immigration/Customs will be a longer wait unfortunately than I had hoped.
Are you traveling in Economy or Business/First. If J/F, you should get a fast track pass, which should make getting through immigration faster.
To get to County Hall, I agree with the suggestions for the Tube...it will be busy, but the HEX, Paddington, and cost of a taxi from Paddington to County Hall do not seem worth it IMHO. If you're going to use the Tube to get around London for the day, consider an Oyster Card or 1-day travelcard.
Also, if you do not want to drag all of your luggage into London or leave them as through baggage, you could use Left Luggage for your larger items - cost is £8.50 for 24 hours.
__________________ 2013 TATL/TPAC: DL: 12; AA: 6 U/G: DL: 5/7 AA: 3/3 Have you seen Floyd the Flamingo?!
We will be flying in economy. However, I do have a couple of BA fast track passes from my 2 trips earlier in the fall. I had thought to try using them despite flying on AA, or will this be pointless?
Thanks for the other advice. I will look into the baggage storage service, that would eliminate some of my concern about the tube.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rwoman
Are you traveling in Economy or Business/First. If J/F, you should get a fast track pass, which should make getting through immigration faster.
To get to County Hall, I agree with the suggestions for the Tube...it will be busy, but the HEX, Paddington, and cost of a taxi from Paddington to County Hall do not seem worth it IMHO. If you're going to use the Tube to get around London for the day, consider an Oyster Card or 1-day travelcard.
Also, if you do not want to drag all of your luggage into London or leave them as through baggage, you could use Left Luggage for your larger items - cost is £8.50 for 24 hours.
