Cab vs Express from Heathrow to London City?
 

We (the family of 3) are arriving in the morning in Heathrow and spending one night in London at Club Quarters Gracechurch before collecting our rental car and heading for Wales. I had been planning on taking the Heathrow Express to the closest Tube stop to our hotel and hoofing it from there. Then I thought, 'Well, maybe just to Paddington and cab it from there.' But as I look at the ticket prices for 3, it seems to come out about equal to a cab ride straight from Heathrow. Can anyone tell me if I'm correct in my thinking, or if I'm misguided? Thanks for your help!

You are correct in your thinking, but even better deal will be a private car hire.

www.londontown.com

Any particular private car hire company you recommend?

There are several threads about cabs and trains form london airports on here.

Heathrow Express terminates at Paddington Station, which is served by numerous Tube lines.

Heathrow Connect will take you from the airport to Paddington for £6.90 pp - then a cab ride for less than £10 all in should get you to The City.

There really isn't a Tube station within reasonable walking distance of Club Quarters if you have any significant luggage. That's not to say that it <u>can't</u> be done - many undoubtedly do it. But if you don't mind the Tube, why not just ride the Piccadilly to South Kensington, then the Circle or District to Monument?

Check out the cash rates at www.justairports.com.

&lt;&lt;&lt; There really isn't a Tube station within reasonable walking distance of Club Quarters &gt;&gt;&gt;

Both Bank &amp; Monument stations are within a quarter of a mile of Club Quarters. With Bank you can get the Heathrow Connect to Ealing Broadway then a tube direct to Bank

It's a useful place to stay - if a bit quiet at weekends as you've got 2 main choices of Tube line which will get you to most tourist attractions without have to change anywhere

Heathrow Express/Connect does not link to tube. Cab fare from Paddington to the City would be more like GBP15 than 10. (If you're arriving weekday morning 8-10am thereabout, there is a shared taxi scheme from Paddington).

With three people, it would make more sense to get a car service, esp if you have luggage. The closest tube station to Club Quarters would be Monument and Bank. I know Club Quarters--the rooms are clean but quite small. There aren't much restaurants open after dark, but there is a big M&amp;S across the street. Also don't miss Leadenhall Market.
BTW, I hope you're not picking the car from the hotel or from that area... Navigating thru central London can be quite tough, esp with traffic and mainly one-way streets.

&quot;Heathrow Express/Connect does not link to tube...&quot;

Are we thinking about the two train services from LHR that terminate at Paddington Station?

That station is served by the Hammersmith &amp; City, Bakerloo, Circle, and District Underground lines.

Club Quarters or anywhere even remotely near it would be a GAWD awfuk place to collect a car. And even more so for a trip west towards Wales.

Where are you picking up the car - because I really can think of almost no less convenient place for 1) a rental car and 2) one night in London.

And I 100% definitely would ONLY consider a car service over any combination of tube/train/taxi. A car service like Justairports is your best bet. (The tube really doesn't &quot;connect&quot; w/ the trains at Paddington. There is a tube station there as well as a train station. But w/ luggage, getting from the train platforms to the tube platforms will be a true ordeal)

oops -- :) &quot;gawd awful . . . .&quot;

You got it right the first time.

Nice one janisj :-)