Best way to get to from Birmingham to London Heathrow?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: American Express Centurion
Posts: 131
Best way to get to from Birmingham to London Heathrow?
I would like to travel to Asia in the near future and am thinking of going from LHR-HKG-CEB on CX however I live in BHX and would need to get to LHR.
TOA Taxis here in Birmingham says they would charge a fixed price of £160.00 for pickup from my apartment to the airport. A private car from London Heathrow back to my flat (when I return) would be £145.00 for total of a whopping £305.00.
I know I can take one of the new Virgin trains to London Euston but that would require I connect either with the underground or get to Paddington Station to take the Airport Express. I'm traveling with one piece of luggage and I don't really prefer to do much heavy lifting being quite small myself. Assuming the cost of a return train ticket would be £30.00 + ~ £8.00 for 2 underground tickets and that would set me back £38.00.
Or I can take the National Express coach from Birmingham, Digbeth coach station to LHR and the travel tickets seem to vary from 3 - 5 hours depending upon what time I leave BHX and £25.00 for a ticket. Assuming Taxi fees are £10.00 from the city centre to the coach station and I am £45.00 out of pocket roundtrip. How are these trains like? Is there adequate storage space and is there someone at the station to assist with placing luggage on-board?
Is it a hassle taking the train or should I just pay and smile for a taxi? It seems like for that kind of money I can take a cheap flight from BHX to CDG, AMS, or FRA and then take a CX flight direct to HKG... but I would then have to deal with issuing two seperate tickets.
Advice?
around the world
TOA Taxis here in Birmingham says they would charge a fixed price of £160.00 for pickup from my apartment to the airport. A private car from London Heathrow back to my flat (when I return) would be £145.00 for total of a whopping £305.00.
I know I can take one of the new Virgin trains to London Euston but that would require I connect either with the underground or get to Paddington Station to take the Airport Express. I'm traveling with one piece of luggage and I don't really prefer to do much heavy lifting being quite small myself. Assuming the cost of a return train ticket would be £30.00 + ~ £8.00 for 2 underground tickets and that would set me back £38.00.
Or I can take the National Express coach from Birmingham, Digbeth coach station to LHR and the travel tickets seem to vary from 3 - 5 hours depending upon what time I leave BHX and £25.00 for a ticket. Assuming Taxi fees are £10.00 from the city centre to the coach station and I am £45.00 out of pocket roundtrip. How are these trains like? Is there adequate storage space and is there someone at the station to assist with placing luggage on-board?
Is it a hassle taking the train or should I just pay and smile for a taxi? It seems like for that kind of money I can take a cheap flight from BHX to CDG, AMS, or FRA and then take a CX flight direct to HKG... but I would then have to deal with issuing two seperate tickets.
Advice?
around the world
#2
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,091
I don't know where a lot of the fuss about the UK's transport system comes from; yes, the train system is rubbish but why bother when private-hire car services (such as shown here) are such good value?
I also find that if you're studying, brief mention of this fact to your driver at the start of your journey will result in a better service and the customary academic discount.
Coaches...who needs them?
I also find that if you're studying, brief mention of this fact to your driver at the start of your journey will result in a better service and the customary academic discount.
Coaches...who needs them?
#3
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe, and Carbon Conscious Travel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
There is another option with public transport, which is to get the train to Watford Junction, from where there is a railair link.
#5
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe, and Carbon Conscious Travel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
Originally Posted by RJB
Why not just fly from Birmingham to LHR?
No such flight, I'm afraid.
#6
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
I don't know where a lot of the fuss about the UK's transport system comes from; yes, the train system is rubbish but why bother when private-hire car services (such as shown here) are such good value?
It may be good value as far as taxis go, but I wouldn't take a taxi to get from Birmingham to Heathrow - I can think of better things to do with my money.
The RailAir service from Watford Junction has already been mentioned, there is also a RailAir service from Reading. Both Watford and Reading are served by direct trains from Birmingham New Street, so it would just be a case of working out which of these two has better connections.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: somewhere north of London, UK
Programs: HH Gold, BA Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 15,245
Aviatrix, I fear BahrainLad was being somewhat tongue in cheek with his remarks, although you need to bear in mind that the OP once suggested that he could fly xx-LHR-EDI-BHX as an efficient way of getting to his new abode.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: American Express Centurion
Posts: 131
Originally Posted by Swiss Tony
Aviatrix, I fear BahrainLad was being somewhat tongue in cheek with his remarks, although you need to bear in mind that the OP once suggested that he could fly xx-LHR-EDI-BHX as an efficient way of getting to his new abode.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,359
It would need to be a bag full of lead ingots to encourage me to pay GBP300+ for a round trip in the taxi. You can FLY to the US for less than that If you are the worried about lugging bags around, take a cab to the coach station and let National Express take you to LHR.