Just thought I would let you all know I tried the new Heathrow Express rail-link earlier this week.

It was great.

It takes 15mins to get you to/from Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3. And an extra 5 minutes to/from T4.

The train is great with video screens showing the latest BBC news, and there is loads of room.

The train arrives at Paddington. Cost is single �10 (Express Class) �20 (First Class), which is a bit steep, but well worth it for the time saved.

You can buy your ticket from machines which accept foreign currency as well as sterling or on-board.

My advice, if you are arriving/leaving central London for Heathrow give it a try. It is a nice relaxing and QUICK way to get to the airport.
MF

You now use the heathrow express to get between terminals 1, 2 & 3 and terminal 4. Its a bit of a walk, but is better and less cramped than the bus. The other advantage if you are staying at the Hilton, is that the lift up from the platform brings you out at the entrance to the link bridge.

Thanks Tim, I didn't know there was a lift to the Hilton, the lift I got brought me out at the BA Ticket Sales/First Class Check-in area, which I thought was pretty good.

But direct access to the Hilton as well is even better.

Perhaps we should add that the connection between terminals 1,2,3 and T4 is obviously free.
MF

I may not have been very clear, but you are right, the lift brings you out infront of the BA first class area, and beside the entrance to the Hilton link bridge. However, you do still have a short (ish) walk to the hotel.

One problem I found with using the express between 1 and 4, was that the entrance to the platforms were near one end of each platform, but at opposite ends between T1 and T4. i.e. you got onto one end of the train at say T1 because the entrance was at that end of the platform, but when you got off at T4 the exit was at the other end and hence had to walk the length of the plaform first.

Watch out for those lifts - they break often! I was stranded in one for 35 minutes on Nov. 4th, fortunately having just arrived at Heathrow rather than having a plane to catch. Plenty of air, 9 other people to talk to, and a bloke on the intercom who kept reassuring us that someone would be there "soon" to free us. Use the escalators if you can manage it. You can leave your luggage cart and one end and find another when you get off.

When I got out I asked the Heathrow Express person for free tickets as compensation. She said "sure!" and gave me one free ride plus one free upgrade to first. IMHO, first is nice but definitely not worth the �10 extra cost. It's not like they give you a cup of tea or anything. Standard class, though, is now the best way to get to London.

As for the Hilton bridge - about a quarter mile, flat, free luggage carts at both ends. Great place to stay if you have an early morning flight from T4. Pretty nice otherwise too. Not as good if you have a car, since the lot is run by a separate firm & is expensive, probably to keep airport parkers from filling it. Avoid the Brasserie restaurant - they think they serve fine continental food, but the chefs aren't up to it.

Terrific TIp Merry Flyer... I'm also wondering if cost wise it matches the nice
old fashioned cabs that go from Heathrow to
London?

B-A should give miles for riding the train!
Even if it's 10 or 50!

I don't remember what it cost me by cab from Heathrow to central London. The last two times I went to London I took it as a day trip by the train from Paris. Love the Underground... it's crowded yes but people are less pushy than a certain city's train system. Also love the Transit museum!
CATMAN

What is the difference between Express Class and First Class?

phil

Heathrow Hilton has a special rate of 120GBP including 14 days parking if you are using the airport. 500 HHoners point only however.

Catman - I can't tell you exactly how much a cab from Heathrow to central London would cost (see my posting in the BA section), but a 2 mile cab ride from my local tube station to my (then) home generally cost up to �5 - the Heathrow express will be a LOT cheaper than any cab ride from the airport into London!

That's what I wanted to know Baobab. I can use the money I save on a cab to buy a friend or two a London souvenier (or another two or three big Harrod's shopping bags with cats all over them for me! GOT TWO ALREADY!)

Or I can go to a pub and have a real English ale!

Thanks for the info Baobab! CATMAN

I used the Heathrow Express last March when it wasn't finished yet. You had to take a bus from the terminal to the station about a mile outside of the airport. After that you were on the high speed train to Paddington. Even with the bus segment it was fantastic. Now that it is completed I'm sure it's the "Only Way To Fly!"

Catman--cost comparison depends upon how many in your party. Cost was 10 pounds per person into Paddington, and then Cab to final destination. We were at MayFair inter-Continental, which cost us about another 8 pounds (4 people with luggage). So, done that way, it cost about 50 pounds for 4 of us.
When all 4 of us took cab from MayFair to Heathrow to return, it cost us 45 pounds with tip, but we were very cramped into a cab for 45 minutes or so. The train was great,clean and lots of room. Would probably do the train next time both ways, with enough time.

The very cheapest way for you to get from Heathrow to the Mayfair InterContinental would have been the tube: the Piccadilly line runs from Heathrow through Green Park station (among others) The InterContinental is around the corner (about 100m) from Green Park station.

Probably not a great idea if you have much luggage, though... and definitely avoid the Piccadilly line during rush hour.

our decision on that nov-weekend-trip was the tube:

- we had only handluggage
- arriving Saturday / leaving Sunday: no workday-rush hour
- the workday from 9AM valid ticket (go as you please) is 24 hours valid on weekends (for follow up sightseeings), I think it was about 6� for 2 days from LHR-zone (including riding unlimited doubledecker-buses on the top - for me the even better thrill than the tipical London taxi.
- reminding me of my 9 months as a student trainee in London in 1963
- gets you right into the real London local feeling
- direct Piccadilly line/stop to our Knigthsbridge hotel (Connaught).

Rudi, amen. As a suburbanite in the US I find it a real treat to ride the tube in London, warts and all. Last time I was in London (for my Concorde adventure) I rode the tube out to LHR and stopped at Hammersmith Tube station on the way---did a quick shop at Tesco to get rid of my last few GBP on tea, sweets, etc.