regalind

I arrive at Heathrow from the US at 10:45pm. From what I've seen about ground transport to London, it looks ok if I'm able to get on a bus/train before midnight - is this going to be likely with my late arrival? And if not, what are other suggestions for getting into London?

janisj

At that time of night I'd pre-book a car service like just airports.com.

janisj

At that time of night I'd pre-book a car service like justairports.com.

janisj

sorry for the double post -- but he link is correct in the second one -- autocorrect is a biatch

regalind

I'm likely staying in London 3 days then heading out to the countryside. Another thought I had is to get my rental at Heathrow when I arrive, drive to Waterloo Station -I'll be staying nearby, drop off the rental there until I'm ready to head out of town later in the week. I'm thinking the cost will be similar to hiring a car service. Thoughts??

Ackislander

Do you know London well?

Do you have a lot of experience driving on the other side of the road and negotiating traffic calming installations? Waterloo is very congested.

Can you do it after a long flight presumably to a different time zone time.

Do you expect to be able to drop off a car rental at Waterloo at that hour?

The cost of a car service as a percentage of the cost of your whole trip will be trivial.

regalind

Those were all concerns I had as well. I figured at midnight on a weeknight congestion would be less and rental agencies would be 24/7. Perhaps I'm trying to be a little too creative in my thinking here

Cathinjoetown

Not a great idea, imo. Also, add London congestion charge to rental cost:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cong...ing/17097.aspx

janisj

>>Another thought I had is to get my rental at Heathrow when I arrive, drive to Waterloo Station -I'll be staying nearby, drop off the rental there until I'm ready to head out of town later in the week.<<

Where would you drop the car near Waterloo? There is no free parking and it would cost a ton.

The congestion isn't in force at night but that is the least of your worries.

PatrickLondon

No, no, no. Jetlagged, after dark, in a country driving on (presumably) the "wrong" side of the road, with all sorts of traffic rules you might not be familiar with, and little or no local knowledge of how to get to your hotel or where to park when there? Sounds like a recipe for trouble.

laurie_ann

I have been in that same position several times arriving on the daytime flight from Chicago or New York. I have never made the tube in time before it shuts down. There are buses that run all night from the airport. Check the aiport website for more information. But a car service is the best that time of day. (And the one I always used in the year we lived there was justairports.com.)

regalind

I've bit the bullet and will likely be hiring a car service if I'm not able to catch the tube. I'm assuming this is something I can do once I'm there as opposed to hiring it ahead of time.

janisj

>>I'm assuming this is something I can do once I'm there as opposed to hiring it ahead of time.<<

No, you can't. A car service must be pre-booked, which is why I specifically posted 'pre-book a car service'.

If you don't pre-book, and miss the tube you are limited to a very long night bus ride or a VERY expensive taxi from the rank.