London tube vs. cab

Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 08:59 AM
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London tube vs. cab

After arriving at Paddington Station with luggage, should we take the tube to Victoria Station, which is near our hotel, or cab it from Paddington to Radisson Vanderbilt on Cromwell? We are coming in from Oxford.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 09:24 AM
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I believe there is a direct bus service Oxford-Victoria Station that is cheaper than train and faster if you're going to Victoria. Tube can be very crowded and may have to negotiate steps, etc.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 09:26 AM
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A cab would be much less hassle. Victoria Station is not very "luggage friendly." We normally fly into Heathrow and take the tube into London, but our last trip we landed at Gatwick and took the Gatwick Express into Victoria and changed to the Circle line. Lots of stairs and lots of people. We wish we had taken a taxi.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 09:30 AM
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Definitely take a cab, its really worth it. My husband and I made the mistake of taking the tube to our hotel and regretted it. We only had one suitcase each, but there were A LOT of stairs and people. It will be a little pricey, but totally worth it.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 09:52 AM
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I made a mistake--the hotel is near Gloucester Road Station. But if there is a bus from Oxford to Victoria Station that would be the best, then cab to our hotel.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 09:55 AM
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My husband and I did take the tube once with our luggage (actually when we arrived and when we left). We had one suitcase each and it wasn't too bad. When we were leaving it was really really crowded though, and that made it more difficult. Next time we plan on taking a cab, definitely worth it.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 10:04 AM
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Just to offer a counter-opinion. I've taken the tube every time, staying in various parts of London, and have no regrets about it.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 10:25 AM
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Tekla: from Oxford you have a few decent options. Just how much luggage are you talking about??

Anyway - the Oxford Tube (an express bus from Oxford) goes to Victoria Coach Station. But that is a 2+ block walk from Victoria Tube station. So if you plan on taking the tube to your hotel you'll have to deal w/ the walk and then the stairs/escalators and walks w/i the tube stations. So if you are schlepping a lot of stuff - you could take the Oxford Tube and then catch a cab from Vic. Coach Station..

If you opt for the train to Paddington - the tube station is right there - but you'd still have to schlepp through two tube stations. So train to Paddington, cab to hotel would be my choice.

But my actual choice would be to have light enough luggage so I could use the tube easily . . . . .
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 11:24 AM
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A taxi from either Victoria or Paddington to the Radisson Vanderbilt is around 10 GBP.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 11:25 AM
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The website for the express bus from Oxford is:

http://www.oxfordtube.com/

The prices and stops are given on the site.

You can depart the bus at Notting Hill Gate and take the tube, Central or District, to Gloucester Rd. or take a cab which would be a shorter ride than from Paddington.

If I recall correctly, both Notting Hill Gate and Gloucester Road stations have relatively few steps, maybe 20, to negotiate.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 11:31 AM
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Forget about Victoria, which is a complete red herring (and a really lousy place to go to by bus if your final destination is Gloucester Road).

Forget about the buses from Oxford, unless you're trying to save every last penny, since they go nowhere near your hotel. They only got into this thread because you confused everyone by going on about Victoria (GIGO, as they say).

Your hotel is a few yards from Gloucester Road tube. Which is on the Circle line, a few stops from Paddington. Which would sound fine to anyone who wasn't on the Circle Line this afternoon. Even when it's working properly, you're going to have to haul cases up stairs at Glucester Road.

Unless you're doing this holiday for a penance, or running short of cash, get a taxi from Paddington.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 03:52 PM
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OK flanneruk---tell me what you REALLY think! I'm not into doing penance and money isn't the issue--being OLD is! I think we will go with your suggestion--take the train in from Oxford to Paddington, get a cab to the hotel. We will pack light, but age can make a small case look like a big trunk--especially with stairs involved. Thank you everyone for your ideas.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 05:06 PM
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I will make a correction to my post. You can't take the District Line from Notting Hill Gate to Gloucester Road without making a change.

To flanneruk: you do know, of course you do, that the Oxford Tube does make a few stops other than Victoria. Notting Hill Gate is at least as convenient as Paddington for a cab. Some of us actually use the buses because we find the itinerary more enjoyable than the train even if taking longer. Not because we want to save every last penny.

Tekla, just how OLD are you? My wife, in her late 60s with diabetic neuropathy in both feet, reduced vision and needing a cane manages her 26 inch hard sided suitcase in most circumstances. Not on the tube tho.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 05:28 PM
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jsmith--I'm in my late 60s (very late) and my husband is in his 70s. It's not actually the age so much, it's the blasted arthritis that makes me want to know ahead of time about the easiest routes. Thanks for your input.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2005, 06:57 PM
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I understand completely. I just hate it when people use age alone as an excuse. As a driver for the ACS Road to Recovery Program, I see so many people who are really suffering but bravely going on with their life that when I read some of the bitching about minor things it really irks me. Enjoy your trip.
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