Best way from Heathrow to Strand Palace Hotel
Aug 4th, 2011, 05:45 PM
#1
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Best way from Heathrow to Strand Palace Hotel
Later this month I'm going to London. I'm staying at the Strand Palace Hotel. Is there a way to get from Heathrow to my hotel by Tube with luggage around 7:00 a.m.? My plane gets in about 6:30.
I've read debates on another thread as to whether or not there are at least a few steps in every Tube station. Some said yes. Some said no. I'm a retired woman and I doubt I can manage stairs with my suitcase. Escalator or lift (of course) would be fine. Any experts on the Tube out there?
I've considered taking the regular train (not Express) to Victoria Station and then taking a cab. But I would prefer the Tube if possible. If I can get within a couple of blocks from my hotel that would be great. Covent Garden is close but I heard it's a madhouse early in the morning.
I've read debates on another thread as to whether or not there are at least a few steps in every Tube station. Some said yes. Some said no. I'm a retired woman and I doubt I can manage stairs with my suitcase. Escalator or lift (of course) would be fine. Any experts on the Tube out there?
I've considered taking the regular train (not Express) to Victoria Station and then taking a cab. But I would prefer the Tube if possible. If I can get within a couple of blocks from my hotel that would be great. Covent Garden is close but I heard it's a madhouse early in the morning.
Aug 4th, 2011, 05:54 PM
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The tube is just not going to be all that easy...you won't be able to take a direct train from Heathrow to the nearest tube station which is Charing Cross....and even fronm there it's a couple of block walk. You can take the tube to a variety of places and then take a cab but I'm thinking here and really can't come up with an alternative all that easy. For example, you can take the Picadilly line from Heathrow to Picadilly Circus and switch to the Bakerloo line for one stop to Charing Cross but with baggage, I just don't know. Why not arrange a car service....maybe somebody else has a better suggestion...I'm usually a guy who doesn't mind taking the tube out of Heathrow but this is a rough one.
Aug 4th, 2011, 06:18 PM
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I too dread the tube stations when I have luggage. The Piccadilly line will get you pretty close at the Leicester Square station, even closer at Covent Garden. There will be no stairs at the Heathrow end, escalators if I recall correctly.
This is what Wikipedia has to say about the Covent Garden station: "Covent Garden station is one of the few stations in Central London for which platform access is only by lift or stairs..."
So, there is a lift, an elevator, and there may be a few stairs but I find when I approach stairs in the tube with bags an obliging young man always turns up within moments to help. I don't recall ever having to struggle for long. Then when you get outside get a taxi for the rest of the trip, not at all far. That's what I'd do.
This is what Wikipedia has to say about the Covent Garden station: "Covent Garden station is one of the few stations in Central London for which platform access is only by lift or stairs..."
So, there is a lift, an elevator, and there may be a few stairs but I find when I approach stairs in the tube with bags an obliging young man always turns up within moments to help. I don't recall ever having to struggle for long. Then when you get outside get a taxi for the rest of the trip, not at all far. That's what I'd do.
Aug 4th, 2011, 06:57 PM
#4
There is no train that will get you anywhere near your hotel.
The most direct tube route would be Piccadilly line to Covent Garden. But that would leave a slog of a walk.
Even the stations that have no stairs generally have <u>long</u> walks underground. By FAR the easiest way would be a pre-booked car service such as justairports.com That will run about £30-£35. No long walk at LHR, no fighting the crowds at Covent Garden, and it would be door to door. . . . . OR cut back on the luggage so you can manage the walks and the tube stations.
The most direct tube route would be Piccadilly line to Covent Garden. But that would leave a slog of a walk.
Even the stations that have no stairs generally have <u>long</u> walks underground. By FAR the easiest way would be a pre-booked car service such as justairports.com That will run about £30-£35. No long walk at LHR, no fighting the crowds at Covent Garden, and it would be door to door. . . . . OR cut back on the luggage so you can manage the walks and the tube stations.
Aug 4th, 2011, 09:20 PM
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I took a shuttle from the Strand Palace to Heathrow last year, but I don't remember the name of it. It was arranged by the concierge. Maybe it was this one:
http://www.london-airports-shuttle.c...w_transfer.php
The cost, 21.33 GBP sounds about right. I know it was several pounds less than the cost of a car hire. There was only another couple, who they picked up first, and me. We went straight to the airport--no other stops.
You could also use the form on the Strand Palace website to contact them and ask which shuttle they use. Or you could ask them to make the arrangements for you.
http://www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk/contact-us.html
http://www.london-airports-shuttle.c...w_transfer.php
The cost, 21.33 GBP sounds about right. I know it was several pounds less than the cost of a car hire. There was only another couple, who they picked up first, and me. We went straight to the airport--no other stops.
You could also use the form on the Strand Palace website to contact them and ask which shuttle they use. Or you could ask them to make the arrangements for you.
http://www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk/contact-us.html
Aug 5th, 2011, 03:57 PM
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Tish, you'll be arriving very early, no rush to get to the hotel. If you take your time and take the Piccadilly Line that I mentioned above to Covent Garden you'll be about ¼ mile from your hotel. If you don't have too much stuff it should be an easy walk. I've been through the Covent Garden tube station a number of times and I don't recall it being difficult to navigate.
Aug 5th, 2011, 05:55 PM
#8
"<i>Is there a way to get from Heathrow to my hotel by Tube with luggage around 7:00 a.m.? My plane gets in about 6:30.</i>"
If you land at 0630 you won't be on the tube by 07:00. Lots of long haul flights land in the early AM so immigration queues can be very long. But even by 7:30 or even 8:00 the tube will be absolutely fine -- as long as you don't overpack.
I almost always take the tube no matter where I'm staying, but I only even have a carry on rollaboard bag and not some 28" steamer trunk.
If you land at 0630 you won't be on the tube by 07:00. Lots of long haul flights land in the early AM so immigration queues can be very long. But even by 7:30 or even 8:00 the tube will be absolutely fine -- as long as you don't overpack.
I almost always take the tube no matter where I'm staying, but I only even have a carry on rollaboard bag and not some 28" steamer trunk.
Aug 5th, 2011, 06:26 PM
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Just for the record....the tfl web site lists the walk from Convent Garden station to the Strand Palace at 12 minutes...several buses run along the Strand and will stop pretrty close if not right in front of the hotel (don't know where the exact location of the bus stops are) so....as an example the Picadilly line train to Hammersmith and then the #9 bus from Hammersmith bus terminal...I assume it's right near the station and that's the start of the line...you can put your bag right in the ract in front or there's a little alcove designated for wheel chairs...nice ride by Kensington Palace, Hyde Park Corner, Picadilly, Haymarket through Trafalgar Square onto the Strand...you'll be on the same side as the hotel although I'm just not sure if the bus stops right in front or you have to walk a block or two. Since your room almost surely will not be available, no need to rush.
or
Picadilly line to Green Park and #9 bus there.....
or
Picadilly line transfer to District line at Hammersmith or Barons Court to Victoria and #11 bus which runs along the Strand. You go past new Scotland Yard, Westminster Abbey, Palace of Westminster past 10 Downing Street along Whitehall past the House guards into Trafalgar Square and then to the Strand...
I think, though, most will not recommend taking a bus especially during the AM rush hours although taking the #9 from its origin at Hammersmith should not be too bad by the time you get to the Strand but it may take a while due to morning rush hour traffic but some nice sites on the way.
or
Picadilly line to Green Park and #9 bus there.....
or
Picadilly line transfer to District line at Hammersmith or Barons Court to Victoria and #11 bus which runs along the Strand. You go past new Scotland Yard, Westminster Abbey, Palace of Westminster past 10 Downing Street along Whitehall past the House guards into Trafalgar Square and then to the Strand...
I think, though, most will not recommend taking a bus especially during the AM rush hours although taking the #9 from its origin at Hammersmith should not be too bad by the time you get to the Strand but it may take a while due to morning rush hour traffic but some nice sites on the way.
Aug 6th, 2011, 02:26 AM
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Travelingtish, I can’t help you with private transportation, but I just returned from a four night stay at the Strand Palace and I loved the location. If you are interested in the museums and sites I visited while staying there, check on my name and a current thread on the subject will come up.
Enjoy your stay in London…
Enjoy your stay in London…
Aug 6th, 2011, 04:41 AM
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To avoid stairs on the Tube you could take a National Express coach (highway bus) from Heathrow to Victoria Coach Station (£5.00) and a taxi from there to your hotel. The taxi fare shouldn't be too bad for that short ride.
If "cheap as you can" is paramount, then pack light - a carry-on bag plus a day pack - and take the Tube. Do you think you can handle the stairs with a smaller bag?
If "cheap as you can" is paramount, then pack light - a carry-on bag plus a day pack - and take the Tube. Do you think you can handle the stairs with a smaller bag?
Aug 6th, 2011, 04:52 AM
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For tips on packing light, read the articles under the "Packing" heading on this page: http://tinyurl.com/2qykmr.
Aug 13th, 2011, 08:02 PM
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Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. My rush is only to leave my luggage in the luggage room of the hotel and get on with my plans for the day. I know I won't be able to check in until several hours after I show up at the desk.
Aug 13th, 2011, 08:25 PM
#14
"<i>I know I won't be able to check in until several hours after I show up at the desk.</i>"
While check in isn't guaranteed until afternoon -- very often (probably as often as not) a room will be available when you arrive. Only if the hotel was fully booked the night before do you usually have to wait.
While check in isn't guaranteed until afternoon -- very often (probably as often as not) a room will be available when you arrive. Only if the hotel was fully booked the night before do you usually have to wait.
Aug 17th, 2011, 04:38 AM
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Hi travelingtish. You mention that you are flying into Heathrow Airport, but then you say that you are thinking of catching a train to Victoria Station (not the Express).
It is actually not possible to catch an overland train from Heathrow Airport to Victoria Station, so it seems to me you are perhaps getting confused with the Gatwick Airport trains that do terminate at Victoria Station.
The trains from Heathrow Airport (the Heathrow Express and the Heathrow Connect) terminate at Paddington Station.
If you are flying into Heathrow Airport, and you do want to avoid stairs, and you also want to end up as close as possible to the Strand Palace Hotel then I would suggest you catch the Heathrow Connect train from the airport into Paddington Station, and then catch a number 23 bus from outside the train station to the Strand itself. There is a bus stop only about 100 metres from the hotel.
The Heathrow Connect takes less than half an hour from the airport to Paddington Station and costs £8.50 one way. You can also catch the Heathrow Express which only takes about 15 minutes, but it costs £18 when you buy your ticket at the airport (or £23 if you buy it on the train).
When you get to Paddington Station there will be no stairs, escalators or lifts required and the bus stop to catch the number 23 is just outside the station (right near the McDonalds on Praed Street). It is easy to find. The bus will take 30-40 minutes to get to the Strand and will take you past Marble Arch, onto Oxford Street, down Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus, past Trafalgar Square and onto Strand. It is a good way to get a feel for London as it is quite scenic.
The other alternative which others have mentioned here that is also a good option is to catch the underground from Heathrow Airport to Covent Garden. The line from the airport is the Piccadilly Line and it will take you to Covent Garden without having to change lines. It takes 50 minutes and will be your cheapest option. When you get to Covent Garden you will catch a lift to street level and then you can walk through Covent Garden itself down to Strand and to your hotel. Again, there will be no stairs and it should be quite easy to do.
It is actually not possible to catch an overland train from Heathrow Airport to Victoria Station, so it seems to me you are perhaps getting confused with the Gatwick Airport trains that do terminate at Victoria Station.
The trains from Heathrow Airport (the Heathrow Express and the Heathrow Connect) terminate at Paddington Station.
If you are flying into Heathrow Airport, and you do want to avoid stairs, and you also want to end up as close as possible to the Strand Palace Hotel then I would suggest you catch the Heathrow Connect train from the airport into Paddington Station, and then catch a number 23 bus from outside the train station to the Strand itself. There is a bus stop only about 100 metres from the hotel.
The Heathrow Connect takes less than half an hour from the airport to Paddington Station and costs £8.50 one way. You can also catch the Heathrow Express which only takes about 15 minutes, but it costs £18 when you buy your ticket at the airport (or £23 if you buy it on the train).
When you get to Paddington Station there will be no stairs, escalators or lifts required and the bus stop to catch the number 23 is just outside the station (right near the McDonalds on Praed Street). It is easy to find. The bus will take 30-40 minutes to get to the Strand and will take you past Marble Arch, onto Oxford Street, down Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus, past Trafalgar Square and onto Strand. It is a good way to get a feel for London as it is quite scenic.
The other alternative which others have mentioned here that is also a good option is to catch the underground from Heathrow Airport to Covent Garden. The line from the airport is the Piccadilly Line and it will take you to Covent Garden without having to change lines. It takes 50 minutes and will be your cheapest option. When you get to Covent Garden you will catch a lift to street level and then you can walk through Covent Garden itself down to Strand and to your hotel. Again, there will be no stairs and it should be quite easy to do.
