prmetime

I'm hoping for some guidance here from those of you in London. We will be arriving at LHR on August 26 around noon. My original plan was to take the Picadilly line to Russell square tube station and then take the short walk to the hotel. As of now, it appears that the job action by the tube staff will likely interrupt this plan. Is my best affordable alternative to take the Heathrow Express/Connect and then take the tube to Russell Square if possible? If the tube is completely shut down what is your best guess on the cost of a taxi to my hotel from Paddington station? TIA.

alanR

As you say "we" and the Tube isn't available I would say "car service".

Someone like justairports or blackberry cars though there are numerous recommendations in this forum

stut

If it does go ahead (there are still talks) then yes, get yourself to Paddington. The 205 bus service from Paddington to Whitechapel travels along the Euston Road, close to Russell Square, and has been heavily reinforced during recent strikes. Naturally, the train and buses will be much busier than usual.

Hard to guess taxi prices, as it depends on congestion.

visualAd

HEX to Paddington and a Black Cab. Black Cabs can use the bus lanes which will speed things up. Order your cab in advance using a service like Halo or Comcab though as you will have a long wait during a tube strike. Don't expect a fast journey, central London is often very congested during a tube strike.

If you are able to get on, my second option would be the 205 bus or the no 98 to Russell Square from Edgware road (short walk from Paddington).


Depending on how much and how robust your luggage is, if you are able, you may want to consider walking. The distance is 2.5 miles if you take George Street (which avoids Oxford street); I did the walk to Goodge Street which is nearby a couple of times and it took just over an hour.

jerry a. laska

If it is just you then HEX to Paddington and taxi or bus after that. If it is two or more of you then I would suggest a car service.

prmetime

Thanks for the recommendations. I had googled car services prior to this but was quoted 3 times or more what blackberry cars and justairports quoted me. Given the predicted weather of rain and wind, I think one of these services is definitely the way to go if there is a tube strike. I believe the union will let the public know on Monday.

prmetime

Thanks to all of you who made recommendations. Just one more reason to love FT!

Now, can someone help me out with the weather forecast?

Clint Bint

As the OP highlighted affordable I'd recommend the Cinderella HEX service - Heathrow Connect.
Same line,slightly slower train,every 30 minutes instead of 15 minutes and a third of the price.

UKtravelbear

^^

For some reason the HEX has a hold over many FT members (just like the GEX) when the connect and southern services respectively cover the same routes for not much more time but a lot less money.

prmetime

Just a datapoint in the event someone else finds themselves in the same situation:

1) Heathrow Connect - £10.10 each (plus cost of bus, taxi if not walking)
2) Heathrow Express - £37 for two using Mastercard promo (plus cost of bus, taxi ...)
3) Car service - £ 42 for two from LHR to my Bloomsbury area hotel.

Of course, YMMV.

stut

Of course, a car service on a strike day may be extremely slow, and much harder to book than normal...

Microwave

My worry as well... Black cabs may be expensive, but in a situation like this that extra money can pay off in convenience / time saved.

Swanhunter

Having seen how clogged the Euston/Marylebone Road gets on strike days I would strongly recommend a black cab or bus so you can access the bus lane.

Mizter T

Even then I'd expect slow progress. A black cab might well take a route to the south of Marylebone/Euston Rd through Marylebone, Fitzrovia etc (e.g. via Wigmore Street).

Like stut says, there will be extra buses on route 205 (for what it's worth, some of the extra buses that get laid on don't have smartcard readers which means passengers travel for free - that'd make it marginally more affordable!).

antichef

Brolly and topcoat needed!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2643743