idak

Before our cruise, which is not until June 2015, we are arriving 3 nights before our cruise and 1 night after the cruise. We were planning on staying at the Marriott Heathrow and just take either the bus/train to go into town, is this wise or is it better to stay in town? I read the comments about Oyster vs Travel Card and one person stated that if staying less than 5 days that an Oyster card that you put money into is the better way to go, would that also be true in our case?

jamikins

Definitely do not stay at the airport and travel back and forth! It is expensive and takes an hour at least each way just to get into town. It is much preferred to stay in central London where you can enjoy the atmosphere, walk places, and use public transit to quickly get around. Staying at heathrow us not a good idea.

Yes, putting money on the oyster is better for under 5 days if you don't want to take advantage of 2for1 deals here www.daysoutguide.co.uk if you do then get a one day paper travel card at a national rail station for each day you are in London. You can buy them all at once from a manned ticket booth. You cannot buy them at heathrow or tube stations.

PatrickLondon

If you're travelling to and from Southampton by train you will use Waterloo mainline station (if you want the 2for1s you can get a London travelcard from Waterloo). From Waterloo you can get to anywhere in central London by bus and tube much more quickly than staying at Heathrow.

jamikins

Good point Patrick!

suec1

Been there, done that! Seriously, this was exactly what we did last year. As others say, do not stay at the airport for your first three days, too much time wasted getting to the sights. You might want to stay near Waterloo as that is where you can get the Megatrain to go to Southampton to get your ship. The Megatrain deal was the best deal by far, of any budget-helpers we found in London! You can get info on that and sooooo much more on Londontoolkit - google it. There are a variety of hotels in the area for most budgets. We stayed at The Sanctuary House across the river from Waterloo and took a quick taxi when it was time to go to the station.

After the cruise we did stay by Heathrow but not at soul-less airport hotel. We stayed at The Swan in Staines - very close to Heathrow (we took a taxi) and very charming. You cannot believe you are so close to a huge international airport! The inn is on the banks of the Thames, has a lovely terrace where you can sit and watch the swans and boaters. You can also get to one of the main castles - Windsor? from there but we just relaxed by the water and the next morning had a quick taxi ride to catch our flight. Enjoy your trip!

Cathinjoetown

I want to suggest something similar to suec, Windsor, for your overnight stay before your flight. The ships usually have buses going straight to Heathrow, not sure how reasonable but certainly direct. Probably less expensive would be the train/buslink from Southampton straight to Heathrow. Check National Express buses as well--www.nationalexpress.com

Get off at terminal 5 and from there take a taxi to Windsor for around 20-25£. Alternately, the #71 bus leaves regularly from T5 to Windsor. Haven't stayed in Windsor in years but think I'd choose a hotel on the high street opposite the castle.

nytraveler

For 3 days I think staying at the airport is a huge waste of time trekking to and fro that will cut into sightseeing time and also may be inconvenient if you want to see a show or have a late dinner.

After the cruise if you have only one night you might want a hotel near the airport and visit nearby Windsor instead of making the trip in and out of London.

janisj

ditto ditto ditto

>>We were planning on staying at the Marriott Heathrow and just take either the bus/train to go into town, is this wise or is it better to stay in town?<<

Staying at LHR on arrival is a <B><u>horrible</u></B> idea. Not only is in inconvenient - the added daily transport will end up costing you more than staying in the very center of London.

For you final night - either at LHR or in Windsor would work. Windsor would be my choice but there are reasons staying at LHR could make more sense.

idak

Thanks for the info, the reason we were thinking by the airport is because our transfers to/from the ship are to Heathrow. If we stay at the Park Plaza Riverbank, 18 Albert Embankment, London, GB, SE1 7TJ, would we still need an Oyster card or would it be easier just to use the Heathrow shuttle? While in town we were just thinking of using the Hop On/Off bus to see the sights, any suggestions?

janisj

>>If we stay at the Park Plaza Riverbank, . . . <<

I wouldn't. Not at all a convenient location. Nice views from most rooms -- but not near anything and semi close to the Vauxhall tube station which is only on the Victoria line.

>>would we still need an Oyster card or would it be easier just to use the Heathrow shuttle<<

What 'Heathrow Shuttle' . . . ain't no such animal. If you mean the Heathrow Express train . . . not relevant at all to that hotel's location.

Why don't you want an Oyster Card? How do you plan on getting around London for 3 days?

>>we were just thinking of using the Hop On/Off bus to see the sights, <<

If you do decide to to the H-o-H-o bus (I wouldn't but lots of people do) - that would only be one day so you'd still need to get around the rest of the time.

jamikins

I dint recommend the HOHO in London as it gets stuck in traffic and you end up wasting a lot of time. It is much better to plan your days and use the tube or bus.

idak

Does anyone know if the Heathrow Hotel Hoppa bus goes to the Heathrow Windsor Marriott and would this be a better hotel to stay at than the Marriott Heathrow for our 1 night before leaving for home?

janisj

Which terminal are you using? The Heathrow Windsor Marriott is not IN Windsor and the Hoppa does serve it but only to/from T-5. There is really no advantage to staying there <i>unless</i> you are using T-5. Otherwise - it isn't convenient to either Windsor OR to the other terminals.

I'd either Stay IN Windsor to do a bit of sightseeing (though there would be no Hoppa Service) or at the Marriott Heathrow which has Hoppa service to all terminals.

idak

The Heathrow shuttle I was referring to was Hotel by Bus shuttle service out of Heathrow.

idak

Does anyone know which terminal Virgin Atlantic would arrive at?

janisj

>>Hotel by Bus<<

That is sort of like Super Shuttle in the States. The bus drives around dropping passengers at various hotels in central London. For more than one person a pre-booked car service like justairports.com would be cheaper and definitely more convenient / faster.

But IMO you really don't want to stay at the Park Plaza

Your ticket should tell you which terminal you are using (Definitely isn't T-5 so the Windsor Marriott would be useless). It partly depends on whether you are on an actual Virgin Atlantic flight or a Delta Code Share, but most Virgin flights use T-3. (The info you need is on your booking)

PatrickLondon

Use the Transport for London visitors' guide: the bus map in there shows the tube stations and bus lines in relation to the main attractions. Using ordinary local publci transport will be MUCH more economical, and probably no less convenient or timesaving, than using a HOHO bus, even though you don't get a commentary.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/maps/visitors-and-tourists

idak

janisj replied that the Park Plaza Riverbank was not a good location, inconvenient, what about the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London, 200 Westminster Bridge Road, London, GB, SE1 7UT?
Would this be a better location?

janisj

>>Would this be a better location?<<

Yes -- it is very near the Eye and Waterloo Station, and a short walk across Westminster Bridge from Big Ben/Parliament/Westminster Abbey/westminster tube station.

It isn't 'charming' and is in the middle wot what is essentially a busy roundabout. But simply location-wise it would be mUCH better than the Riverbank property.

dotheboyshall

<i>The Heathrow shuttle I was referring to was Hotel by Bus shuttle service out of Heathrow.</i>

Thankfully it's going out of business in a few weeks time - last run is the 30th September.

Shuttle services have never worked in London - too many other options