What is the best place/terminal to meet up with other travelers (family) who arrive at the same time, approx. 10:30 AM, but at different terminals? We'd like to go into London all together, if possible. My husband and I arrive at Terminal 2 (United) and son and family arrive at Terminal 5 (British Airways). We’ll all have to go through customs, but none of us will have checked in baggage (I believe).

Also, anyone have suggestions for the 5 of us on transportation methods into London? Our hotel is Thistle, Kingsley (yes, we switched to this hotel from the last time I posted). It appears easy to take the underground, the Piccadilly line from Heathrow, to the Holborn station, as it’s the closest to the hotel, then a 5-10 minute walk. Am I reading the underground lines routes correctly, in that the Piccadilly line goes to where we want to go, without any line changes? Is there any reason not to do the underground transport? Would another transportation method be better? Thanks.

>>Our hotel is Thistle, Kingsley (yes, we switched to this hotel from the last time I posted). It appears easy to take the underground, the Piccadilly line from Heathrow, to the Holborn station, as it’s the closest to the hotel, then a 5-10 minute walk. Am I reading the underground lines routes correctly, in that the Piccadilly line goes to where we want to go, without any line changes?<<

Yes

>>Is there any reason not to do the underground transport? <<
There would be if you are encumbered with luggage that you can't carry up and down steps and escalators yourself. You'll be out of the regular rush hour, and if everyone has luggage of carry-on size, it shouldn't be a problem.

There are separate tube stations for the different terminals, so my suggestion would be for whoever comes into T5 to take the tube to the station for Terminal 1, 2 and 3, and for you all to meet on the platform there (it's a central platform serving both directions, so all you have to do is agree to meet, say, about halfway along, or by the lifts - there are some photos of the platform on the web if you do an image search on Google ).

There's a lot of traffic on the main roads immediately outside Holborn tube station, by the way, so keep your wits about you when you come out of the station to cross the road.

I'm guessing that organising a car pickup for five people at two different terminals may be a tall order, though that would be more comfortable, albeit expensive and more time-consuming. Or you could have two cars, and meet at the hotel.

We've used Expressways when we've flown into Heathrow to get us into London. For 5 people we felt it was very economical, convenient and they were very reliable. I also liked the fact that we could book online. With kids I felt that was a better option than underground transport with luggage. I guess it just depends on what you're comfortable with.

We did this exact same transit last fall (Heathrow to the Thistle) and it was easy enough - we had one large bag, one medium, and two carry on size and we're 60! I know there was not an elevator or escalator in Holborn but it was doable and not having to transfer lines was a plus. The roads in the area are busy but with google map directions, it was not overwhelming.

We found the Thistle a bit "meh" but London hotels are just so pricey. There are plenty of nice restaurants nearby so you don't need to pay the high prices for breakfast at the hotel and it was great to be so close to the British museum. There is a street not far from the hotel (pedestrian?) that has many restaurant choices - Greek, Italian, French and others we did not try and is not crazy busy - I can look for the name of it if you want.

There are escalators at Holborn for the main haul up to the street, but, as elsewhere on the tube, there are about a dozen steps up to get to the lower-level concourse.

Patrick and IDtoTX
It's possible that we'll do the tube option since it seems easy enough, but I will check into the Expressways transport too. If it works better and is easier, then we'll do that instead. We won't have cars so that will not be an option. I think the tube station stairs will be manageable. And, thanks for the alert/concern for the busy street at Holborn station.

Sue
I switched to the Thistle with breakfast included because it had everything we were looking for in lodging. I'm sure we'll be happy there, and it did get great reviews! But I would like the name of the street with the different restaurant options nearby, if you remember it. We'll probably want some kind of meal shortly after settling in. Probably go to the British museum too. It will make for an easy first day in the city. Also we will get a google map in hand for directions coming out of Holborn. Thanks.

Patrick,
Forgot to say. I like the suggestion of getting everyone to the central platform (at T1,2,3) and agreeing on a central spot to meet there. We'll look at the map and choose something. Thanks.

Sorry but I would NOT plan on meeting on the tube station platform. There is no guarantee either flight will land on time and the Immigration queues at either terminal could be short or VERY long. (Customs is a no-issue - it is immigration that takes time). Even w/ identical landing times there could be an hour or more difference reaching the T 1-2-3 tube station.

If one plane is 30 mins early (frequently happens) and the other is 30-60 minutes late (also common) it could easily be more than 2 hours before you'd see each other at the tube station.

I have organized meeting up for a car service w/ different arrival terminals. BUT it was T-2 and T-3 which are very near each other (walking distance) and even then there was a glitch.

I would 100% recommend each party get to the hotel on their own -- the Piccadilly line is easy peasy as long as you

oops - lost the end . . . >>easy peasy as long as you can handle your luggage<<

Charlotte Street was where there were many choices of places to eat - probably about a 10 minute walk from The Kingsley. There are also several choices just right around the corner - we ate breakfast at the place on the corner - split a full English" for about 7GBP, I think.

I can't really criticize the hotel - it just didn't have much charm but the location worked quite well. On an earlier trip we had stayed at the Sanctuary House near Westminster and liked it much better (but their prices had gone up from the time of our earlier visit).

janisj
I think we will need a plan B. If after checking the arrival board and clarifying that both flights are in, we'll wait at the designated underground tube platform area for a certain length of time. If not in, then after a certain length of time, we'll proceed independently to the hotel. And I miss-spoke, I did mean immigration, not customs, and it can take some time. But hopefully not too long. I'm glad the Piccadilly line presents little to no problems. Thanks.

Sue
I'll make a note of that street. I appreciate you looking up the name.

Honestly - I think Plan A should be to just meet at the hotel. The tube station isn't the most comfortable place to wait - a few metal benches but not many.

There are just too many variables

How would you "clarify that both flights are in" from looking at a single Arrivals board? It wouldn't show arrivals at another terminal, would it?

You would likely have to go online to check arrivals at another terminal.

I think Janisj has it right. The easiest and surest place to meet up is in a hotel: The location is unambiguous; the timing is flexible; and you were all going there anyway.

I understand the appeal of meeting up at once. But the chances are probably less than 50% that it will go exactly as planned.

I briefly considered doing that very thing last month in Terminal 2 when my sister was scheduled to arrive at the same terminal just 10 minutes after my flight. But there were just too many variables, esp RE immigration -- it simply wasn't worth pursuing, in my opinion.

Janisj and Tedgale,
You've both given me logical reasons and good information that I should follow, I know. But I still want to try to meet up at the airport, if possible. So I have to give the central platform meeting point suggestion some amount of time to see if it could work.

But, I assumed that all arrivals from all terminals were listed on the arrivals boards. Really hadn't thought that through.

Does the Heathrow airport have free or at least access for passengers for WIFI? Most airports do. I'll go to the website and find out.

Yes there is free wifi at Heathrow.