Heathrow Central Bus Terminal - parking?
May 4, 2016, 7:24 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: London
Posts: 1,117
If you want to try and pick someone up, then it'd be a case of them being ready and waiting at the drop-off zone outside either terminal 2 or 3 - though of course, as the name implies, these areas are intended for dropping off not picking up, and are policed accordingly. Otherwise do what the airport would like you to do and park in the short stay car park.
Alternatively, they could get a tube or bus out of the central area, e.g. to Hatton Cross or Hounslow West, and you meet them there. Or you could park in the T2/3 long-stay car park which is free for up to two hours and either head in to meet them, or they could get the shuttle bus out to you. (The car park shuttle buses only serve the terminals, not the central bus station.)
May 4, 2016, 7:46 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,438
There's nowhere to (legitimately) stop/wait/park at or next to the central bus station - it's basically in the middle of a roundabout, with only buses and coaches being allowed access in to the middle.
If you want to try and pick someone up, then it'd be a case of them being ready and waiting at the drop-off zone outside either terminal 2 or 3 - though of course, as the name implies, these areas are intended for dropping off not picking up, and are policed accordingly. Otherwise do what the airport would like you to do and park in the short stay car park.
Alternatively, they could get a tube or bus out of the central area, e.g. to Hatton Cross or Hounslow West, and you meet them there. Or you could park in the T2/3 long-stay car park which is free for up to two hours and either head in to meet them, or they could get the shuttle bus out to you. (The car park shuttle buses only serve the terminals, not the central bus station.)
If you want to try and pick someone up, then it'd be a case of them being ready and waiting at the drop-off zone outside either terminal 2 or 3 - though of course, as the name implies, these areas are intended for dropping off not picking up, and are policed accordingly. Otherwise do what the airport would like you to do and park in the short stay car park.
Alternatively, they could get a tube or bus out of the central area, e.g. to Hatton Cross or Hounslow West, and you meet them there. Or you could park in the T2/3 long-stay car park which is free for up to two hours and either head in to meet them, or they could get the shuttle bus out to you. (The car park shuttle buses only serve the terminals, not the central bus station.)
May 4, 2016, 8:15 am
#4
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If you want to try and pick someone up, then it'd be a case of them being ready and waiting at the drop-off zone outside either terminal 2 or 3 - though of course, as the name implies, these areas are intended for dropping off not picking up, and are policed accordingly.
May 4, 2016, 8:21 am
#5
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It's difficult these days... The first round of classic near-CTA parking spots (the Texaco on the Bath Road, for example) were clamped down on years ago. But now, with Uber in the mix as well, it's really not easy. IIRC the Tesco at Bulls Bridge isn't a bad place to wait for the CTA (it has a Costa, I think) if they can call you for a 10-minute pickup.
May 4, 2016, 9:14 am
#7
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Obviously these are pretty much all controlled by resident parking permit, but if you stayed in the car you could simply drive off if you saw a traffic warden. The aggravation is still considerable though, particularly if you can't time your arrival fairly precisely, and certainly doesn't stack up when measured against the cost of a single tube journey.
May 4, 2016, 11:41 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: London
Posts: 1,117
Perhaps surprisingly, the residential streets in the vicinity of Heathrow are by no means comprehensively covered by controlled parking zones, though I think all the really obvious streets just off Bath Road near the tunnel from the CTA are controlled now.
Both of the car parks at Hatton Cross and Hounslow West are pay-and-display rather than barrier on entry and exit, so one can just mooch in the car park without paying, albeit with an eye out for a car park warden (of which I don't think there are any on site full time). Or alternatively wait elsewhere nearby then drive to the car park when your person arrives at the station (or calls before going Underground at Heathrow).
There's a large Tesco off Fagg's Road in Feltham just south of Hatton Cross which also has a coffee place I think. However there's one awkwardness re Hatton Cross tube station car park - it can only be accessed from the eastbound A30 (Great South West Road), also worth noting it's quite a sudden turn off so I'd suggest looking at Google Streetview first.
I also found Hounslow West tube station car park a bit fiddly, in that at first glance the entry point seems to have no-entry signs - in actual these cover the station forecourt which is bus-only access, but again I'd suggest quickly checking it out on Google Streetview first.
Anyway seems like the OP has gone for the best solution!
Both of the car parks at Hatton Cross and Hounslow West are pay-and-display rather than barrier on entry and exit, so one can just mooch in the car park without paying, albeit with an eye out for a car park warden (of which I don't think there are any on site full time). Or alternatively wait elsewhere nearby then drive to the car park when your person arrives at the station (or calls before going Underground at Heathrow).
There's a large Tesco off Fagg's Road in Feltham just south of Hatton Cross which also has a coffee place I think. However there's one awkwardness re Hatton Cross tube station car park - it can only be accessed from the eastbound A30 (Great South West Road), also worth noting it's quite a sudden turn off so I'd suggest looking at Google Streetview first.
I also found Hounslow West tube station car park a bit fiddly, in that at first glance the entry point seems to have no-entry signs - in actual these cover the station forecourt which is bus-only access, but again I'd suggest quickly checking it out on Google Streetview first.
Anyway seems like the OP has gone for the best solution!