Heathrow to London
Jul 18th, 2011, 08:56 AM
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Heathrow to London
We're five people traveling from Heathrow to central London. Since the Heathrow express is 18 pounds per person adn then we have to get a cab to the hotel, I imagine that we can get a van for the same price or less. Any thoughts or referrals?
Jul 18th, 2011, 09:26 AM
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Jul 18th, 2011, 10:36 AM
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We always use www.justairports.com Be sure to book in advance, just jumping in a black cab at Heathrow is ridiculously expensive!
Jul 18th, 2011, 03:10 PM
#4
The HEX is seldom the best way to travel in to London. One of the above mentioned car services is better for sure.
But where are you staying? If you can handle your luggage, the tube can be faster and is definitely cheaper.
Just depends . . .
But where are you staying? If you can handle your luggage, the tube can be faster and is definitely cheaper.
Just depends . . .
Jul 18th, 2011, 04:55 PM
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In the past have used www.justairports.com but on recent trip used www.exclusiveairports.com and were quite pleased. Price was about 30% lower than justairports, service every bit as good and vehicle actually nicer - plus able to book and pay online using credit card.
Feb 2nd, 2012, 04:09 PM
#6
Why wouldn't the Heathrow Express to Paddington be a good option for two people - or would it? Our final destination from LHR is the Elephant & Castle tube station. We could also take the tube to Leicester Square and transfer, but isn't HEX faster? Am I missing something?
Feb 2nd, 2012, 04:28 PM
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Don't use a car service or "just airports." It's "just a pile of money." Take the Tube. You'll get in very early in the morning and it takes less than 45 minutes to most places. If you like, one of us can describe the most direct route.
Save your mine for beer.
Save your mine for beer.
Feb 2nd, 2012, 11:04 PM
#8
<B>ellen75005:</B> "Why wouldn't the Heathrow Express to Paddington be a good option for two people - or would it?</i>"
It wouldn't -- UNLESS one is staying right AT Paddington (and most would not stay at Paddington). The HEX is very expensive and then one has to take either the tube or a taxi to their final destination. A car service costs about what the HEX costs -- and it takes you all the way to your final destination. Not only is a car service's total cost less - there is no luggage schlepping like to/from the HEX or on the tube.
For Elephant & Castle, if you take the HEX there is also a long tube ride and much luggage schlepping, or a VERY expensive cab ride. Neither is a good idea IMO.
The tube all the way in from LHR would involve a transfer at Piccadilly Circus from the Piccadilly line to the Bakerloo line to E&C.
Whether to take the tube or a car service mostly depends on if you can manage you bags (how far will you have to walk from E&C tube station?) And if a car service fits in the budget. I assume the budget is fine since you were considering the expensive HEX.
It wouldn't -- UNLESS one is staying right AT Paddington (and most would not stay at Paddington). The HEX is very expensive and then one has to take either the tube or a taxi to their final destination. A car service costs about what the HEX costs -- and it takes you all the way to your final destination. Not only is a car service's total cost less - there is no luggage schlepping like to/from the HEX or on the tube.
For Elephant & Castle, if you take the HEX there is also a long tube ride and much luggage schlepping, or a VERY expensive cab ride. Neither is a good idea IMO.
The tube all the way in from LHR would involve a transfer at Piccadilly Circus from the Piccadilly line to the Bakerloo line to E&C.
Whether to take the tube or a car service mostly depends on if you can manage you bags (how far will you have to walk from E&C tube station?) And if a car service fits in the budget. I assume the budget is fine since you were considering the expensive HEX.
Feb 2nd, 2012, 11:09 PM
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Ellen, you might save 20-25 minutes by going HEX/Bakerloo rather than Piccadilly Line/Bakerloo (but bear in mind the HEX only runs every 15 minutes anyway). Up to you whether that's worth the additional £13pp or so. For two people, a car service door to door wouldn't cost much more than using the HEX.
Feb 3rd, 2012, 12:54 AM
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I've found justairports even for 2 people cheaper than the HEX and a taxi to my destination. Sorry I do not care for the tube for even getting aound London.I am willing to spend a bit more rather than schlepping bags along stairs and platforms then still having to get to my final destination!
Feb 3rd, 2012, 01:08 AM
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I can understand your reluctance to use the tube after a long flight shlepping bags, especially on the route you're taking and in terms of your final destination. Quite understandable. (Now I, travelling as a single person and quite used to shlepping my bag have no trouble with the tube in from Heathrow because you certainly can't beat the price and even though I usually stay relatively close to Paddington, one tube stop away or could probably walk, I still prefer the tube but that's me.
However, to totally swear off the tube for the rest of your site seeing is in a way short sighted once you get to see London traffic and the outrageously expensive cabls. I like riding the bus and I have been caught at almost any time of the day on a bus trying to get say from the area of Parliament square to Leicester Square to hit a theatre and have often said the you know what with it and just walked the last 5 or 6 blocks and cursed myself for not simply hopping on the tube at Westminster a couple of stops as crowded as it might be at 5 PM or so and believe me I can list from a to z some of the disadvantages of using the tube, esdpecially in the summer but in terms of time to get from one part of London to another, there's no comparison between the tube and most any other form of surface transport.
Even business executives dressed in their business attire who clearly are well off ride the tube to and from work and recreation. Once you get the hang of it, you will learn to put up with it.
However, to totally swear off the tube for the rest of your site seeing is in a way short sighted once you get to see London traffic and the outrageously expensive cabls. I like riding the bus and I have been caught at almost any time of the day on a bus trying to get say from the area of Parliament square to Leicester Square to hit a theatre and have often said the you know what with it and just walked the last 5 or 6 blocks and cursed myself for not simply hopping on the tube at Westminster a couple of stops as crowded as it might be at 5 PM or so and believe me I can list from a to z some of the disadvantages of using the tube, esdpecially in the summer but in terms of time to get from one part of London to another, there's no comparison between the tube and most any other form of surface transport.
Even business executives dressed in their business attire who clearly are well off ride the tube to and from work and recreation. Once you get the hang of it, you will learn to put up with it.
Feb 3rd, 2012, 02:21 AM
#13
Thanks everyone for the quick replies. I don't mind a bit of schlepping (we'll have one suitcase each). I usually take the train into Paris from CDG, but the ease of a car service door to door is appealing.
We do plan to use the tube/buses during our week (some of you were very helpful with my Oyster/Travelcard questions). The walk to the apartment from E&C is 8 minutes which is fine after a day of sightseeing, but we may opt for easy the morning we arrive
.
We do plan to use the tube/buses during our week (some of you were very helpful with my Oyster/Travelcard questions). The walk to the apartment from E&C is 8 minutes which is fine after a day of sightseeing, but we may opt for easy the morning we arrive
.
Feb 3rd, 2012, 04:22 AM
#14
The walk to the apartment from E&C is 8 minutes which is fine after a day of sightseeing, >>
ellen - are you judging this on time/distance alone, or do you actually know the area?
i wouldn't stay at the Elephant and Castle if you paid me.
ellen - are you judging this on time/distance alone, or do you actually know the area?
i wouldn't stay at the Elephant and Castle if you paid me.
Feb 3rd, 2012, 04:50 AM
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Ellen, where is the apartment?
I worked in the area for 10 years, and a lot depends on exactly where an address is. Elephant and Castle is basically a 1970s shopping centre as close to Soviet-style as you'll get these days, surrounded by a set of huge traffic junctions on the borders between a number of other areas, some gentrified (basically, north and west of the tube station), some not, some awaiting complete redevelopment. It's an area that ought to be up and coming, but isn't quite.
I worked in the area for 10 years, and a lot depends on exactly where an address is. Elephant and Castle is basically a 1970s shopping centre as close to Soviet-style as you'll get these days, surrounded by a set of huge traffic junctions on the borders between a number of other areas, some gentrified (basically, north and west of the tube station), some not, some awaiting complete redevelopment. It's an area that ought to be up and coming, but isn't quite.
Feb 3rd, 2012, 09:30 AM
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The Tube - I have done it, didn't have to wait in line or wait at all. There's a new train ready to go and you might be on the platform 30 seconds. I was so glad I did this. What an amazing way to immerse yourself in the city immediately. Plus, the Tube is a must see and great fun.
Feb 6th, 2012, 02:14 AM
#17
We decided to book a car service - I did justairports.com. As of now, the weather next Sunday looks good, but there's a walk from the tube to the apartment, so not knowing the area, we decided not to schlep. We'll use the tube the rest of the week, though.
Our apartment is actually closer to the Kennington tube, on Iliffe Street. Yes, definitely off the beaten path and not picturesque, but the apartment itself is lovely and we're only going to sleep there, essentially. As long as the tube runs, we're fine with it.
Our apartment is actually closer to the Kennington tube, on Iliffe Street. Yes, definitely off the beaten path and not picturesque, but the apartment itself is lovely and we're only going to sleep there, essentially. As long as the tube runs, we're fine with it.
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