Originally Posted by
Xeno
In two weeks I will do MIA-LHR then take a bus to Oxford. I just did a quick run through LHR two weeks ago where I switched to terminal 3 to catch SK to ARN that went very well in no small measure due to advice in this thread.
The bus -
http://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/main.php?page_id=24 - to Oxford apparently departs from central bus station, bay 14A (terminal 1 & 3) or terminal 5, bay 11. Any advice on making this work well? Could someone in the Yotel lounge assist with tickets or probably better just to purchase online?
Do I need to be alert to anything when I leave Oxford early on a Saturday for a 9:40 am departure to MIA?
You can use the bus (I know the 490 does it, but I think others do, too) for free to transfer between T4 and T5. Takes about 10-15 minutes plus time waiting for the bus (might be 10 minutes). HEC can also get you to Heathrow Central for free. However, the trains only run every 30 minutes, so even at the extreme end of the bus waiting time, the bus is faster.
When boarding a bus at T4, note that the routes stop there in both directions. Fortunately, the ones you'd want are signed for Heathrow Terminal 5, so knowing which one to get on is easy. (Don't get on a 490 that says Richmond Pools on the Park, for instance.)
Not sure about tickets, but I would not expect help from in the Yotel. Online is probably easiest. Do note that immigration at T4 has been pretty awful on my last couple of arrivals, so if you're pre-booking a specific bus, allow plenty of time to get through UKBA. (And now I've virtually guaranteed that you'll breeze through in five minutes.)