thirdgen

Has anyone hired a taxi from Healthrow to Stratford upon Avon, both good and bad experiences? I am planning to travel upon arrival in London to Stratford upon Avon and am looking for reviews of companies. Thank you.

janisj

That is nearly 100 miles -- it would cost an ABSOLUTE fortune.

I seriously doubt you will find any Fodorites who have taken a cab from the taxi rank at LHR to Stratford Upon Avon

Probably your best bet if you want a driver is to contact a car service/taxi based in Stratford. They would quote you a flat rate.

Maybe this one http://www.airporttransfers-stratforduponavon.co.uk

I have no idea about their service but they look like they specialize in airport pick ups. If you call them - drop the leading zero in the phone number.

tuscanlifeedit

I've booked drivers in England for clients and it is darn expensive. Even big spenders are willing to take trains between certain towns in England.

I don't think you could get a taxi to take you to Stratford. Most taxi drivers want to be home at night.

You could certainly get a car service to do it. It will just cost quite a bit.

flanneruk

"absolute fortunes" are very relative.

My house is about 20 miles, and 15 minutes, closer to Heathrow than Stratford is. It costs me about £80 - £90 to get a taxi: an option no more heart-attack-inducing than getting the train, driving or spouse A driving spouse B to the direct bus. We regularly use all these alternatives, depending on the circumstances and who's paying.

There's absolutely no problem hiring a taxi off the rank at Heathrow. For a max 90 minute, probably about £250, journey (there are no fare rules, and fares are entirely negotiated except that the queue marshall will stop you negotiating with more than a couple of cabbies), a significant proportion of cabs in the queue will jump at the opportunity - though a significant proportion will refuse.

The only London-based people specialising in this kind of trip will be chauffeur operations charging roughly the same as black taxis off the rank. Stratford itself will have a number of firms regularly doing this, and widely patronised by our neighbours: no-one in Greater Greater London thinks £100 is an "absolute fortune". They'll charge about half: just google "heathrow taxi Stratford"

anne_hathaway_16906

The replies above are all valid. It is likely to be very expensive. Do you drive? Are you comfortable driving in the UK? If so then the best solution may be to get a one way car hire from LHR to Stratford upon Avon. There is a Hertz concession at Stratford train station so you could pick up a Hertz car at the airport, drive all the way here, drop your luggage off at your chosen hotel and then drop the car off at the station. The town is small so you are likely to able to walk back from the station to your hotel.

I don't know the price, but I am sure if you check Hertz online you will find it will come to less than a taxi.

And it might all be a bit quicker.

janisj

Sorry but I would NOT recommend driving after an overnight flight. You will be exhausted, possibly sleepless, and almost certainly jet jagged.

BigRuss

Evidently, Londoners are happy to spend $160-$380 on taxi rides. If you're not, consider another way.

nytraveler

Well the price doesn;t seem bad given the distance.

Perhaps the OP was unaware of that.

Or just has a lot to spend.

Smeagol

Dependant on what time you land ( and indeed if it is an overnight flight you may not want too) its a very easy drive to SUA from Heathrow. I have done it in about 1 hour 20 minutes........ During rush hour it will be more like 2 but during the day and weekends no more than 1 hour 30 mins. I suspect hiring the car is waaaay cheaper. If money isn't an issue then of course book a taxi.

janisj

Smeagoll: A HUGE difference is you live there and are acclimated to both the driving and the roads. Someone arriving for the first time, after an overnight flight - driving would be next to madness. IMO . . .

Smeagol

Which is why i said you may not want to IF you have arrived overnight... However if they have arrived from say the east coast on a day time flights it's an option......

alanRow

<i>Healthrow</i>

Heathrow

And to be really pedantic - stop talking about "Stratford" before OP ends up at Westfield instead of Anne Hathaway's Olde Worlde Tea Room.

thirdgen

Thanks so much to all. I have flown to Europe many times & know my limits: I wil not be a good driver after an overnight flight nor do I want to change on the Tube & then British Rail.Thanks for the tip about private car services; I think the price range is 115-130 pounds (don't have that very handy British symbol) so we will go for that.Now the issue is finding a reliable company. Flanneruk, can you tell me what service you use.

Nancy2361

I was just in London and had a gorgeous day at Stratford. Check into National Express - bus traveling from Heathrow to Stratford was about 18 pounds. I have taken many trips on the National Express - station is at Heathrow and you can check schedules and prices online. Buses are clean, safe and punctual. Hope you have a wonderful trip.

janisj

Smealgol: >>However if they have arrived from say the east coast on a day time flights it's an option......<<

In theory yes - but the 'day time' flights land at LHR late at night so probably even worse

Smeagol

Best time though for Traffic..... . We landed at 10 pm last week, we were home in record time....if only it was like that ALL the time!!!!!
Thirdgen, I will be interested to see who you find , ( although nancy's idea of a National Express is a good one but of course if you are happy to pay to car service much quicker)
Good luck hope you get it sorted.

yodababe

I second the National Express idea. We use them when we travel without cars in the UK, they are very good, ample room for bags, and quite cheap. If you get a return ticket you can save a few pounds too. Just be sure to check to see if there is an express service, that can save you some time.

thirdgen

I was hoping the bus would be a relaxing and inexpensive solution but the shortest time is over 4 hrs. We will hire a private car but have not yet decided which company. Thanks to all for your advise. I wil let you know what company we choose.One final word to alanRow: contribute more than spelling corrections.

janisj

Thirdgen - he did. Stratford is an entirely different place than Stratford-upon-Avon. You would not be happy if you ended up in Stratford . . .

PatrickLondon

>>You would not be happy if you ended up in Stratford . . .<<

It's not the outer darkness; but granted, it's not Stratford-upon-Avon.