1travelbug

Hi all...my teenage daughter and I will be travelling from London to Paris via the 6:18 AM Eurostar from St Pancras Station. I'm trying to figure out the easiest and most practical way to get there by 5:15 AM as we need to arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of departure. We are staying in Kensington on Queen's Gate, about 1 1/2 blocks south of Cromwell Road and in-between the Gloucester Road and S. Kensington tube stations. My options as I understand them are to take the Piccadilly line tube (requiring a very early morning walk in the dark with our rolling carry-ons), Uber (site says they can't guarantee reserved Ubers?) or black cab (seems expensive at £35 plus advance booking fee and tip). Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

MmePerdu

It seems to me that the choice is between the cab (if you choose to afford it) or the tube (if you don't have too much stuff and choose not to afford the cab). My budget allows for the occasonal splurge and, for me, this would be one of those times. It simply depends on those 2 factors, budget and luggage and how YOU feel about them.

Tulips

In between the black cab and uber, there are the car services. We use Atlas Cars a lot, they are very reliable. Uber would be OK too - but as you cannot book it in advance I would rather go with Atlas Cars.

PatrickLondon

Depending on what day of the week you'd be travelling, there might not even be a tube train that early anyway. I wouldn't expect any great danger in walking from Queen's Gate to Gloucester Road in the early hours, but, granted, it's not the most pleasant thing to do when you're on a tight timetable.

Check out local minicab companies in Kensington as well:
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/taxis-and-minicabs/

(or ask whoever you're booking accommodation with if they've got any recommendations based on experience).

Rubicund

This is one of those times to opt for ease and simplicity at that time of the morning. Come out of your accommodation 5 minutes earlier and flag down a black cab on the street. No booking fee needed. If you're in a hotel get the hotel to flag one down.

bilboburgler

I'd grab a cab

janisj

I would book a car service (mini cab) - I've stayed in Queensgate a couple of times (which is South Kensington )

The will be a few black cabs out but a mini cab will pick you up at your door, and you won't have to stand out on tbe street (possibly in the rain) trying to hail a taxi.

historytraveler

Book a mini cab. Assuming you'll be able to flag a cab at that time of the morning is pretty optimistic. I certainly wouldn't count on it.

twk

We didn't have quite as far to go in 2007 (from an apartment on top of the St. James Park tube station to King's Cross), but we took a cab around 5:30 a.m. and had no problem. There was a hotel a couple of blocks from our apartment with a taxi rank in front of it, and there were cabs there every morning, early. I would think that you would have a similar opportunity in your neighborhood.

janisj

I have stood on that block of Cromwell Rd in the early AM more than once, and there are not as many cabs as one would expect.

historytraveler

I simply wouldn't risk it. A one time experience is not enough to go on and I sometimes find in these situations Murphy's Law makes an unwelcome appearance. Remove any possibilty of stress/ worry and book a cab.

1travelbug

Thank you all for your input...several of you have confirmed my thoughts that calling a minicab would be the best option, especially at that time in the morning. Looking into 2 well-reviewed companies now, Swift Cars and Cheetah Cars and will book in advance so there are no worries the morning we leave!

Nikki

I would take Uber. London is crawling with them, they show up within minutes.

SuttonLady

Don't take either a cab or Uber. Both are ridiculously overpriced. No meter running.

Take Simply Airports; they are great. Reliable especially early morning and inexpensive for car services. Not just airports either. Check them out:

http://www.simplyairports.co.uk/index.aspx

pavot

My family had to catch the first train to Paris on a Saturday morning last summer. A minicab was the best option for us.

I booked a car with Carrot Cars, and everything was perfect. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.