Thanks all. Having looked at bus timetables (plus Elizabeth line), unfortunately it means lots of potential waiting time to connect between the two because it's Sunday and it's only 1 train/bus every 30mins and looks I'd just miss the bus so have to wait 30 mins for the next one. So I think I'm going to risk the pods, and worse case if I can't get through the gate and see an alternative way of getting round it, I'll jump back in a pod and get a black cab.

Unfortunately the item can't be passed through the gate, and I may have to have a chat with the person I'm meeting (depends how well/badly their journey to the hotel goes) so I can't really ask a cab to wait for me.

Great ideas, thank you all. Apologies for sounding like such a numpty. my brain is fried at the moment. :-(