The Piccadilly line (dark blue) is the only Tube line that goes to Heathrow. The closest Piccadilly station to St James's Park is Green Park, but you can take the Circle or District lines west a bit and get to a station where you can change lines. The first one is South Kensington, but I believe there are posts here about the change at Hammersmith being easier with luggage. (If you do Hammersmith, you'll have to take a District line train, not the Circle.)

I'd allow an hour myself. Probably won't take quite that long, but it's my recollection that Circle/District trains aren't as frequent (though I could be wrong), and changing lines adds a step. It took me 45 minutes or so to go direct from Holborn a few years ago.

Yes, change at Hammersmith if you start with the District Line (don't take the Circle) from St James's Park - because you only need to walk across the platform, rather than have stairs to deal with.

Oh, and make sure it's a train for Ealing or Richmond, not Wimbledon (which won't go through Hammersmith).

I agree with Janis J...the circle/district westbound trains run on top of the Picadilly line trains starting at South Kensington including Glouester Road and Earls Court but it means stairs or a lift down which isn't hard but from my own experience the easiest change is either at Barons Court or at Hammersmith where you just walk across the platform and the trains are at the same level.

Be aware there are several branches of the Picdilly line. If you're oing to either terminals 1,2,3 or 5 you take that train. Heathrow terminal 4 is a different train (same tracks though) as are several Picadilly line trains to other destinations. Also as Janisj noted, to make this change, you don't take a circle line train but a district line train.

It can be done in 45 minutes but yu have check in and the like so to be safe, I'd leave at a sloppy 0830.....

Oh sh**! My head hurts. I'll get a chauffeur!

xyz: "I agree with Janis J..."

It was jent103 who suggested that (but she plays me on TV )

Doppio: It isn't hard at all. District line train heading to Richmond or Ealing (the overhead signs will tell you what you need to know). Take that train to Hammersmith. Exit car at Hammersmith, walk across the platform and get on the next train coming through. It will be a Piccadilly line train that willend up at LHR.

If you opt for a car service ( justairports.com , etc. ) it will be door to door but you'll probably have to leave earlier.

Either way count on an hour to the terminal plus however long your airline suggests for check in. So you are looking at leaving around 08:30

Janis, thanks for the clarification. With it being rush hour and all though, I think I may opt for justairports.com, as I have seen it recommended highly here. I hate rushing around that early in the morning I just want to get a coffee, step in a car, and get whisked away to Heathrow.

Thanks to everyone for the help though.

Just so you realize the car may take as long or longer than the tube . . .

But yes, it will be more comfortable.

My role as janisj is probably the highlight of my television career.

I continue to have my vision problems. Sorry.

>>Just so you realize the car may take as long or longer than the tube . . .

Yes, but I assume if I leave by 8:30, I should get there within 1.5 hours, correct?

I would not cut it that fine by car. Traffic can be horrendous in London. There are times when it's taken me half an hour to move about 100m up the road. Trains are more reliable for this sort of thing, on the whole, don't be put off by having to get on the right line. It's all very clearly signposted and at the entrace to the platform there is a diagram showing you the route the tube train will take. There is a verbal announcement for each train, and also an LCD display on the platform. So just pay attention and you shouldn't go wrong.

If your flight is at 11, what time does checkout close?

sorry, check-in

>>I would not cut it that fine by car. Traffic can be horrendous in London. There are times when it's taken me half an hour to move about 100m up the road. Trains are more reliable for this sort of thing,

Well now maybe I should change my mind and take the tube. I have to see what time we need to be there.

Although nobody can absolutely guarantee there won't be a delay on the tube, for the most part it is reliable and 45 - 50 minutes of travel on the tube should do the trick. As I think I said above in my stupidity and visual problem with who said what (I hope I'm forgiven by all), if you leave around 8 AM, you should be at Heathrow around 9ish which should be enough time to check in and clear security....

Also bear in mind you are travelling against the rush hour flow, not with it and as you leave central London, there shouldn't be too much crowding on the train. If you have one piece of luggage on wheels along with a carry on, you should be okay. I would save the money but that's me and take the more reliable form of transport.

travel to paddington, take heathrow express. you'll pay lots, but it does take all the stress out of getting to heathrow.

don't take a car or taxi. you might get stuck in traffic. it may go fine, but it's a gamble.

...but first you have to get to Paddington and how do you do that. The reality is that unless you start out very close to Paddington, the time advantage of the Heathrow Express is very very marginal and most likely not worth the money. (bearing in mind London morning traffic can be very very roughj if you taxi to Paddington! The op is almost right on top of the tube to begin with!

Or take a train from Waterloo to Feltham then airbuses to terminals or taxis - trains are IME much nicer for folks with luggage. Feltham station is very close to Terminal 4 but quite a long bus poke from the combined terminals 1, 2 and 3 bus stop.

Of course you're forgiven, xyz (not that you have anything to be forgiven for)! I've had to do a double-take on my and janis's posts myself.

Doppio, the only tricks to the Tube are making sure you catch the right District train (just know the branch you're after - it'll say the last stop on the sign above the platform, so you just have to wait till the right one comes), remembering to change at Hammersmith, and knowing which LHR terminal you need. Not bad at all, I promise.

The most reliable way may be the train to Feltham - quicker than the Tube and much more comfy and then a taxi from there to your terminal - most reliable in terms of time - tubes can be delayed and road traffic can be gridlock at times.

More confused now than ever.

What EXACTLY would I have to do to take teh tube to get from St James station to Heathrow terminal 4? Step by step.

Waterloo, Paddington, Hammersmith, Feltham, Ealing ???. I really need it spelled out, I guess. Sorry

What about this??

http://www.londondrum.com/transport/train-journey.php?from=st-jamess-park&to=heathrow-terminal-4

Journey: St. James’s Park → Victoria → Sloane Square → South Kensington → Gloucester Road → Gloucester Road → Earls Court → Barons Court → Hammersmith → Acton Town → South Ealing → Northfields → Boston Manor → Osterley → Hounslow East → Hounslow Central → Hounslow West → Hatton Cross → Heathrow Terminal 4 - from www.londondrum.com/transport/train-journey.php?from=st-jamess-park&to=heathrow-terminal-4

1) → At St. James’s Park take the District Line
2) → Change train at Gloucester Road to the Piccadilly Line
3) → Leave the train at Heathrow Terminal 4 - from

Here goes.....

1. Descend the steps into the subway at St. James Park. Either buy or use your existing fare media to enter the tube.

2. You want the district line (green on the maps) going westbound. Schematic diagrams of the routes are present as you go down the stairs.

3. There are countdown timers which tell you how many minutes to the next train. Take any district line train marked going westbound to either Ealing Broadway or Richmond.

4. The eighth stop will be Hammersmith (you will know you're going in the right direction if the next stop is Victoria, followed by Sloan Square followed by South Kensington, Glouester Road, Ear;s Cpirt. West Kensomgtpm. Barpms Cpirt The stop after Barons Court is Hammersmith.

5.Get off the train. The District line train you're on will come in against the wall. The Picadilly line tracks are across the platform in the middle....no steps to climb or anything. Check the countdown timer again which will tell you when the next trains arrive. You want the train marked Heathrow Termina 4. When that train arrives, get on.

6. Take the train to Heathrow Terminal 4. You will know you are headed in the right direction when you start seeing stops such as Acton Town, Boston Manor, Hounslow East, Central, West, Hatton Cross. At Hatton Cross you will hear all sorts of annoucements telling passengers bound for Heathrow terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5 to get off the train and take a train bound for those terminals on the same track. Ignore the annoucements. The next stop is Heathrow Terminal 4. You are there.

It is really a piece of cake once you get on the District line train bound for either Richmond or Ealing Broadway.

The trains are marked in the front and as noted the countdown clocks will show the destination of the next train on the track and how long away it is......

I hope that helps.

Thanks xyz, very helpful. That's exactly what I needed.

Not sure why this has been so confusing to me. I have taken trains in other cities in Europe with no problem. I think because back then there was no hurry or schedule. Now that I have a flight to catch, I'm nervous about getting there on time.

Should be fine for 3 adults and one kid, all with 21" carry on bags? (+ wife has a big purse, her 'personal item')

Ooops, I mean 2 adults and one kid ^^

I'd go as I always do with Justairports and avoid the hassle it's worth the difference in money! Never had a problem with rush hour in many trips!

None (NONE) of this will be AT ALL confusing on the day . . . because . . . you will have been staying IN London already and will have used the tube multiple times before that morning.

Us explaining it long distance like this will probably confuse you unnecessarily. By the time you board that westbound District line train, you will be an old pro.

Sometimes getting all the teensy details before you are 'on the ground' is overkill.

the quickest way would be to take the Tube to Paddington station then hop the Heathrow Express which in about 20 minutes will put you right at your terminal. More expensive than the tube but a dedicated airport train. I've taken the Tube many times to Heathrow with baggage and it can be a complete hassle if trains are full as they often seem to be.

Indeed a taxi to Paddington then Heathrow Express is by far the quickest and most reliable and most comfy way to the airport from any place in central London.

I totally agree with that, but it's what I suggested earlier already.

Once I've taken the tube from Heathrow into the town, because my destination was near Hammersmith. Never again.

PalenoQ...I don't quibble about the Heathrow Express being a nice train and all that however....

From St. James Park, the op if taking the tube to Paddington either has to take a circle line train bound for Edgemere Road or the westbound District line train to Earls Court and change which means going either up or down a flight of stairs to the opposite platform for the district line train bound for Edgeware Road. And then upon arrival at Paddington walk a bit to find the track where the Hex runs. All this eats up time whereas once the op is on the westbound District line train (and train except those marked going to Wimbledon which might be running in the morning but the countdown timers are very clear), there is the quick and easy change at Hammersmith across the platform. It's a straight on ride and will take not much more door to door than 50 minutes from the time they get on the district line train at St. James Park.

I'm sorry and I don't mean to be argumentive but the few minutes sved, and that's all it is once the connections are taken into account, are simply not worth the money.

Now if they were staying at a hotel near Paddington, then there's a rel time saving. I believe a cuople of years ago I remember reading a story about two people setting off from central London for Heathrow...one via the Hex and the other via the tube. The guy on the Hex won...by about seven or eight minutes. Is it really worth it?

Of course it's Edgeware Road not Edgemere Road as I stupidly typed above....circle line (yellow on the map) to Edgeware Road (you can check the countdown timer to see if one is due) or westbound District line train to Earls Court then up and don (or down and up) to other side and District line train bound for Edgeware Road to Paddington via tube....will take at least 15 minutes if not longer...5 minutes or more to walk from Paddington underground stop to Paddington main line station...perhaps stopping to buythe ticket (although you can pay on the train)...so where is the time savings?