Brazilla

Wilson Chauffeur Service

Has anyone used these guys? Are they a reputable company?

Brazilla

Bump

Seamus

can't speak to that firm, but did receive excellent service from the company used by London Connections when we rented through them. David Norman, phone +44 0790 423 2782.

If it is airport transfer you seek, many here (including myself) alsa have used and endorse justairports.com

Brazilla

We have a 10 hour layover so using them for transportation and a tour of the city. Just are costly but we wouldn't have to bother with taxi, bus, tube. Just looking for anyone to tell me they're an actual company and not a PO BOX with no service at all.

Seamus

Yes, they are costly. And what you get for the price depends largely on what you plan to do. Do you have a specific list of places you wish to visit? Are you considering something like a visit to Windsor or do you wish to go into London proper?

Given that you will need to allow time to re-clear security for your connecting flight and the time to transfer between the airport and town you will be limited as to what you can fit in. You will likely spend a good part of your time sitting in traffic. Unless there are some mobility issues limiting you public transport really is much more efficient and is not at all difficult to navigate.

Brazilla

Our original concern was they navigation. There are a couple of places we plan on but basically relying on knowledgable locals to get they most for our limited time. So you say airport to city is a long haul by car?

janisj

>>So you say airport to city is a long haul by car?<<

Very. Could be an hour or more depending on time of day, day of week and where in London you want to go.

Seamus

What are the places on your list? There are a number of very experienced London visitors as well as some residents who frequent this board and are very generous in sharing their knowledge and experience. If you provide some basic info - day/time arriving LHR, your priority sights, time of departure - you will likely receive excellent guidance.

Brazilla

So, we understand its only a layover visit but we'd like to do Bucingham Palace (possibly the Guard Change) and Westminster-Abbey. Our flight lands at 9:30AM Thursday and departs 8:15PM. Probably do some drive-bys, grab a Pub lunch and head back. Typical tourest stuff.

janisj

If you land at 9:30 you will not be able to get to Buckingham Palace in time for the changing of the guard. It is at 11:30 and by the time you get off the plane, clear immigration/customs and drive into the city it will probably be after noon. (And later if for some reason you must retrieve your bags and store them at Left Luggage. )

You might be able to tour Westminster Abbey - there are often fairly long lines at mid-day but they move fairly quickly. But you certainly don't need to pay a guide to get you to Westminster Abbey. It would be faster and MUCH cheaper by tube.

So you could take the tube to Westminster, see Big Ben, tour the Abbey, have a late lunch, walk through St James's Park and to Trafalgar Sq then back on the tube to the airport.

Brazilla

That's some great information!
Are the tubes easy to navigate?
What's the distance between the Abbey and the Palace?
The bags will transfer to the connecting flight to Stockholm so we'll only have our backpacks.
Anything else of interest in that area?

HappyTrvlr

www.limo.co.uk. Eddie Manning provided excellent service from Heathrow to London. We requested additional stops and he was agreeable, easy to work with. See what he can do for do and your layover.

janisj

>>What's the distance between the Abbey and the Palace?<<

A very short walk.

>>Anything else of interest in that area?<<

The Abbey, Big Ben and Parliament are basically across the street from each other and the Palace is a 5-6 minute minute walk from the Abbey. Then Trafalgar Sq is about a 10 minute walk down the Mall from the Palace. And the River/London Eye are next to Big Ben . . . So everything is very close together/walking distance.

>>Are the tubes easy to navigate?<<

Very. You get on the Piccadilly line at LHR (can't get it wrong since that is the only line that serves the airport). Exit the train at Hammersmith. Walk a few feet across the same platform (no stairs, literally directly across the platform) and get on the next District line train. 8 stops later you get off at Westminster and when you come out on the street there is Big Ben in front of you and Westminster Abbey Across the street.

Then returning to LHR depending on where you happen to be at the time, you can get on the Piccadilly line at Green Park (near the Palace) or Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square (both are near Trafalgar Square) and ride all the way to the airport without changing trains.

I personally would NOT book a driver/guide for this.

Brazilla

You guys are swaying our decision as we look into the London Pass Cards. Is there an express line for the Abbey as the LPC doesn't have one.

Brazilla

You get on the Piccadilly line at LHR (can't get it wrong since that is the only line that serves the airport).

We show an express into Paddington. 21mins?

janisj

DO NOT buy the London Pass. It is very expensive and you only have a short time in London so no way you'll get any value out of it. (The LP is seldom a bargain for any visitor, but <i>especially</i> not for just a few hours in the city)

The queue usually moves pretty quickly

janisj

Didn't see your last post - we were posting at the same time.

NO! That is the Heathrow Express train -- very expensive and only gets you to Paddington which is a long way from where you want to be. I was talking about the <u>tube/Underground</u> (like the NYC subway - NOT a mainline train.)

You don't want to take the HEX.

Brazilla

I c you've been very helpful Janis. Thank you so much.
Now, I have to get from ARN to Stockholm wthe luggage. Working on that now.

ElendilPickle

Here's a link for the Underground and London transportation in general: http://www.tfl.gov.uk

Lee Ann

Brazilla

You guys have been so helpful. I need to start another thread on my next problem.