Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Destinations > Europe > U.K. and Ireland
Reload this Page >

Bargain travel to LHR: the N9 night bus

Bargain travel to LHR: the N9 night bus

Old Feb 13, 2009, 11:50 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: West London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 221
Bargain travel to LHR: the N9 night bus

I arrived at T5 this morning on the N9 night bus from central London. It cost me £1 on my Oyster Card. The journey time from Aldwych is about 1 hr 15 mins, and from Kensington High Street 1 hour. The buses run roughly every 20 minutes through the night. Worth considering by anyone who is feeling the effects of the credit crunch and has an early flight from LHR. (I realise that it won't necessarily appeal to everyone!)
HighlandPark is offline  
Old Feb 14, 2009, 12:13 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Asia/Europe
Programs: CX, OZ, MU (+AY, DL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 7,236
The bus routes from Heathrow Central are very convenient also during layovers. There is lots to see and do for example towards Richmond.
mosburger is offline  
Old Feb 15, 2009, 4:09 am
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP 2 MM
Posts: 2,823
There is a night bus map on the tfl site. But I can't find timetables for each route.
nbevan is offline  
Old Feb 15, 2009, 4:24 am
  #4  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: London, UK & Oslo, Norway
Programs: Mucci (Diamond Hairbrush Status), BA Gold (earned on almost all (wh)Y travel), *A Gold.
Posts: 567
Originally Posted by nbevan
There is a night bus map on the tfl site. But I can't find timetables for each route.
This should help from the TfL site. In the second box just put the number of the bus you require and follow the steps.

Last edited by The Specialist; Feb 15, 2009 at 4:45 am Reason: diabolical grammar
The Specialist is offline  
Old Feb 15, 2009, 5:01 am
  #5  
Hilton Contributor BadgeHyatt Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,648
I definitely find the nightbus the best option for early morning departures when not on expenses. I have a nightbus from my place to Trafalgar Square, and so if timings are right it's not much slower than a cab, and about £100 cheaper.

Luckily, however, I very rarely have to do the crazy early mornings.
EuropeanPete is offline  
Old Feb 15, 2009, 7:17 am
  #6  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Home: East Mids UK - Work (Base): Accra, Ghana.
Programs: BAEC: Silver - Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 12,086
Originally Posted by HighlandPark
(I realise that it won't necessarily appeal to everyone!)
Ha ha ha ha... ^

That has to be the understatement of the century...!

The N9 sends shivers down my spine!
(Ooohhh... that rymes!)
BingBongBoy is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2009, 2:44 am
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,203
Originally Posted by BingBongBoy
Ha ha ha ha... ^

That has to be the understatement of the century...!

The N9 sends shivers down my spine!
(Ooohhh... that rymes!)
So you're not one of the BA crew that are often seen using this?

I like it, the traffic is usually very quiet that time in the morning (for London standards), I have to get a bus to Trafalgar Square first and then change for the N9, total cost for me £2 (two oyster singles), when I have a travelcard then it's free because the buses don't work on the zonal system.

During the daytime, getting to LHR by bus from Central London is nowhere near as easy as the good old N9. The regular route 9 doesn't go as far as LHR, even if it did then I can imagine daytime traffic to be very painful.

As I live fairly central dot2dot is another option when travelling alone at £19 to Heathrow, but for early flights I enjoy the N9 and have the comforting thought that I've grabbed a real bargain (apart from the odd times when I have a lot of luggage).
layz is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2009, 3:08 am
  #8  
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
The London night bus network is excellent - when I used to live down that way, I had 10 buses an hour to get me home, all through the night, all for £1.

(Although it was more fun to cycle back through deserted streets... London is so much nicer when it's free of traffic...)
stut is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2009, 4:23 am
  #9  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,203
Originally Posted by stut
The London night bus network is excellent - when I used to live down that way, I had 10 buses an hour to get me home, all through the night, all for £1.

(Although it was more fun to cycle back through deserted streets... London is so much nicer when it's free of traffic...)
It was even better until the beginning of this year, all Oyster bus fares were 90p day or night making my commute to work just £1.80 return. £2 still ain't too bad either.

I consider it a myth that public transport within London (maybe except the HEX) is overpriced as long as you use oyster. Of course the press (particularly the Evening Standard during election time) liked to use the cash fares, particularly on pointless tube journeys such as Covent Garden to Leicester Square, to show how expensive it is.

The cash fares were artificially inflated to encourage usage of oyster which really shouldn't be a problem for anyone as they're easy to obtain and there's plenty of information located in main tube stations.
layz is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2009, 10:40 am
  #10  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LON, ACK, BOS..... (Not necessarily in that order)
Programs: **Mucci Diamond Hairbrush** - compared to that nothing else matters (+BA Bronze)
Posts: 15,039
Originally Posted by layz
It was even better until the beginning of this year, all Oyster bus fares were 90p day or night making my commute to work just £1.80 return. £2 still ain't too bad either.

I consider it a myth that public transport within London (maybe except the HEX) is overpriced as long as you use oyster. Of course the press (particularly the Evening Standard during election time) liked to use the cash fares, particularly on pointless tube journeys such as Covent Garden to Leicester Square, to show how expensive it is.

The cash fares were artificially inflated to encourage usage of oyster which really shouldn't be a problem for anyone as they're easy to obtain and there's plenty of information located in main tube stations.
Avoid the N9 at weekends i.e. Fri & Sat as they are full of drunks on their way home. Thursday used to get bad too.
Jimmie76 is offline  
Old Feb 23, 2009, 11:04 am
  #11  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,203
Originally Posted by Jimmie76
Avoid the N9 at weekends i.e. Fri & Sat as they are full of drunks on their way home. Thursday used to get bad too.
Good points. Most of my N9 experiences have been between Mon-Wed with no problems.
layz is offline  
Old Feb 23, 2009, 2:41 pm
  #12  
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,833
Does this night bus have beds? Does it shrink to fit between other busses? Just wondering.
RichardInSF is offline  
Old Feb 23, 2009, 3:59 pm
  #13  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,203
Originally Posted by RichardInSF
Does this night bus have beds? Does it shrink to fit between other busses? Just wondering.
Drink plenty of beer and pass out on the floor
layz is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.