Alan_CT

We'll be coming into Paddington station mid-day from Heathrow by train, then will need to get to our hotel on Rathbone Street. The nearest Tube station is Goodge Street and it looks like to get there we'd take the Northern Line to Charing Cross, then up to Goodge Street station. Is that the best way, or is there a bus route that would be better? And how would a bus be with luggage?

Dukey1

IMO "the best" way is for you to go outside and get into a taxi.

P_M

I've taken luggage on the tube and it's a major PIA, especially if you have to change lines. I would take a taxi.

If you are taking the Heathrow Express from the airport please consider a car service instead. A fave of mine is called Just Airports. They will pick you up and take you directly to your hotel. If you do the math you will see that the cost of the train plus the cost of the taxi is about the same as the cost of the car service. Of course the convenience has value too.

janisj

I would <B>NOT</B> ever take the train to Paddington to get to Goodge Street. Makes no sense at all.

The best option would be a pre-booked car service like justairports.com from LHR to your hotel. It would be cheaper and MUCH easier/less schlepping.

BigRuss

<<IMO "the best" way is for you to go outside and get into a taxi.>>

That will cost more than a car service.

To the OP: why are you taking the H'EX to Paddington when your lodging is halfway across the city? Smarten up: take the advice of P_M and Janis.

dotheboyshall

Take the direct Tube from Heathrow to Holborn, then get a taxi for the rest of the way

historytraveler

Lately, I have had some horrible taxi experiences. My advice would be to use a car service.They'll meet you as you exit customs in the arrival hall, help with your luggage and take you directly to your hotel. It'll be easier and cheaper and you'll avoid any possibility of taxi trauma.

Alan_CT

Thanks. Car service is extremely expensive - 48 pounds. Since there were two pitches for the same service, I wonder .... But the Tube to Holborn and taxi the rest of the way would be a fourth of that. Works for me.

jent103

I've used Just Airports based on recommendations here, and had a good experience. They're not shilling for the company, just suggesting, and the car service is probably roughly the same or cheaper than HEX + cab for two people and certainly easier.

That said, the Tube is of course more economical, *if* you can handle the luggage. I pack carryon-size only and had no problems back in May; I'm in my early 30s, able to carry my own bags easily and perfectly content walking a lot. If you have more luggage than that, have mobility issues, etc, you might regret that choice. Even taking the Tube direct to Holborn, you'll have to deal with getting from the platform to the street, and I don't know how accessible the lifts are at Holborn. I stayed near there on my last trip, and remember a couple of sets of stairs and a long escalator.

If you go with the Tube, you could take it to Leicester Square and either get a bus up Charing Cross Road from there (looks like the 14, 24 and 29 all go that direction) or transfer to the Northern line at Leicester Square, get off at Tottenham Court Road, and walk less than half a mile from there (best I can tell), no taxi needed. Again, though, that could be a bad idea if you have a lot of luggage - changing lines or dealing with transfers to buses is no fun with bags. Really, it's a matter of whether your priority is saving the money or getting where you need to be with a minimum of hassle (perhaps while jet-lagged).

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms...rsquare-a4.pdf

Mimar

Yes, if you want to save money, skip the Heathrow Express and take the tube the whole way. Shouldn't be too difficult midday. But do pack light.

dotheboyshall

<i>Car service is extremely expensive - 48 pounds.</i>

How is that more expensive than the cost of 2 tickets on the HEX plus the cost of getting from Paddington to Rathbone Street?

<i>Since there were two pitches for the same service, I wonder</i>

No, totally legit, it could have been expressways or any of several other services that have recommended for the past several years

jamikins

Always use just airports and they are great. Of course the tube will be the cheapest.

Alan_CT

So, Piccadilly Line to King's Cross (some mobility issues and there's a lift) and then a taxi to the hotel, at an estimated 6 pounds 30. What do you think?

historytraveler

Be aware that the estimated taxi rate is calculated with little or no traffic problems or diversions. A £6 fare can easily run you twice that. I estimated my rates with the online taxi estimator and one fare was twice the estimate they gave the other 3times the estimate.. I think the cheapest HEX rate runs about £ 18 per person but there may be reduced rates if bought early. You do mention some mobility issues. The tube even with lifts is not always easy as jent103 pointed out and can be uncomfortable and crowded if carrying luggage.

janisj

If you have mobility problems DO NOT take the tube. Honest. And we ain't schilling for anyone.

At LHR you will have a looooooong walk to the tube station, then at Kings Cross/St Pancras you will have more long walks and have to navigate the transfer to the Northern Line. Or if you take the tube to Holborn and taxi from there you will have more steps.

How many are you and just how much luggage do you have? If there are two of you, justairports should not cost £48 to Goodge Street unless you have a LOT of luggage. But if you have that much luggage -- good luck on the tube!

Justairports should be about £35 for 2 w/ moderate luggage and paying cash.

If there are more than 2 of you - yes it could cost a bit more if you all have fuels sized suitcases.

Alan_CT

My mobility issue is limited to carrying luggage up stairs. Walking, even dragging a bag, is not a problem. We arrive to Terminal 2 and then would take the free shuttle to Terminal 5. Have done that before, not an issue.
I got the justairports price from their website.

Alan_CT

Just checked again with justairports, and it gave me 32 pounds if paid in cash. Big difference from credit, and maybe enough to sway me.

janisj

OK -- what sort of car did you ask for? I just this second plugged in WC1 in their website and clicked saloon and it came up £38.

>>My mobility issue is limited to carrying luggage up stairs.<< which is exactly what you'll have to do on the tube.

janisj

And - of course you'll do what you want . . . It just seems you got suspicious of the advice from the get go, but we are just trying to make things easier for you.

Alan_CT

I don't expect condescending lectures here, but I guess that's the nature of anonymous forums.