From Heathrow to Kensington
 

I will arrive London early in the morning at 6:00 am. First time to London and will stay in Kensington near Gloucester Road Tube station. Which is the best way to go to hotel from Heathrow ? Heathrow Express or Air Bus ?

Veronica,<BR><BR>In October, we visited London and arrived at Heathrow on the 6:30 am (?) flight from Chicago. We took the Heathrow Express --- it's a considerable distance in the terminal, but a clean, safe, easy ride to Paddington station. We bought our tickets for the Express from the ticket machine (kind of like an ATM) with our debit card. Arrived at Paddington, bought a one-day pass for the tube, and headed to our hotel --- the Millennium Bailey's (right across the street from the Glocester Tube station). <BR><BR>I highly recommend the Heathrow Express. You might want to consider getting a taxi from Paddington to the hotel, if you have a lot of luggage OR you're not sure where you're going. The tube worked great for us, but we knew where we were going and only had one bag each. (Nothing like schlepping around a strange neighborhood trying to find your hotel, looking like a pack mule with excessive luggage!)

The tube line from Heathrow stops at Gloucester Road.<BR>http://www.londontransport.co.uk/PDFfiles/undmap.pdf<BR>

The tube is a snap and easy from Heathrow to Gloucester, however, we too have arrived early and found that the train does get crowded with commuters if it is a weekday. <BR><BR>If you have a lot of luggage it will be a problem as there are lots of stairs at tube stations. I sort of remember an elevator at Gloucester but still may be some stairs.

Heathrow Express is quick (15 mins to PAddington) but relatively expensive, and you'll have to get yourself and your luggage from there to Gloucester Road, either by taxi or schlepping up and downstairs on the tube. And you might be starting to get some morning rush hour traffic by the time you get into Central London.<BR>The Piccadilly line is cheaper, direct to Gloucester Road, probably not much slower overall, but you still have the luggage/stairs question to contend with. A crowd of people trying to get to work won't thank you if you're struggling on a staircase with large suitcases.<BR>The airbus is also direct, probably the slowest of all (?45 mins to an hour?) but you won't have the luggage/stairs problem (except insofar as the bus itself might be in traffic jams). And you'd get something (if not very exciting) to look at on the ride.

Heathrow Express is quick (15 mins to PAddington) but relatively expensive, and you'll have to get yourself and your luggage from there to Gloucester Road, either by taxi or schlepping up and downstairs on the tube. And you might be starting to get some morning rush hour traffic by the time you get into Central London.<BR>The Piccadilly line is cheaper, direct to Gloucester Road, probably not much slower overall, but you still have the luggage/stairs question to contend with. A crowd of people trying to get to work won't thank you if you're struggling on a staircase with large suitcases.<BR>The airbus is also direct, probably the slowest of all (?45 mins to an hour?) but you won't have the luggage/stairs problem. And you'd get something (if not very exciting) to look at on the ride.

The cheapest way is via the tube. If you will be getting a 7 day travelcard, it in reality only costs &pound;2.10 for the extension of the zone 1 & 2 7 day card. Glouester Rd. has a lift up from the deep Picadilly tube to the District line platforms which are less than a flight of stairs below street level.<BR><BR>The Padington Express sounds great but remember it is expensive (&pound;11) and if your hotel is not in Paddington you still have to use either the tube or an expensive cab and you still have to schlep your luggage to the Paddington Express stop and from Paddington to the street or the tube.<BR><BR>Many people use various car services; not too bad if you have 4 people coming in (&pound;40 fare translates to &pound;10 a person).<BR><BR>The airbus is slow very traffic dependent but your luggage won't be a problem.<BR><BR>Personally, I opt for the tube as I rarely have all that much luggage.

Be brave! Take the tube right from Heathrow to Gloucester Rd. I did it my first time in London and was on my own. Only problem I encountered was climbing the stairs with heavy luggage. Luckily for me more then one friendly Brit helped me with my luggage when I needed it. What hotel are you staying at and do you have good directions to it? I had directions, but it took me over an hour to find my hotel and believe me when you arrive after that long flight, the last thing you want to be doing is walking the streets dragging your luggage trying to figure out where you are supposed to be!<BR><BR>Good luck!

Thanks for all the reply.<BR><BR>I will be staying in Holiday Inn Forum. Is it easy to find in Gloucester Road ? I prefer to take the tube right from Heathrow as it is mush cheaper.

https://secure.fast.net.uk/hotelink/index.html<BR><BR>Veronica: An alternative to taking public transportation - try HOTELINK (URL above). The minibus will pick you up at the airport and drive you to the hotel (you must book beforehand). As this is your first trip to London, it may be a less stressful alternative. I have taken it a couple of times (last October it cost approx 15GBP from Kensington to Heathrow). Worth considering if you have luggage.<BR><BR>Regards .. Ger

You can save some stairs if you take the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to Hammersmith, cross the platform there, and take the District Line to Gloucester Road.<BR><BR>Welcome to London<BR><BR>Ben Haines<BR><BR><BR>

Here's a London map website. Type in the address of the Holiday Inn Forum and it will show you where it's located in relation to the Gloucester Road tube station. www.streetmap.co.uk<BR><BR>I tried to do a link to the tube stop --- we'll see if it works. <BR><BR>http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?grid2map?x=526250&y=178750&zoom=1&is p=187&ism=500&arrow=y?93,61<BR>Good luck, Marla

When you come out of the tube on glouster rd turn left the hotel about a 3 min walk Have fun

Two things: First, the airbus no longer goes to Kensington, which is a shame as it was a cheap, frequent way to travel. We've taken the tube from Heathrow to Gloucester Road many times, if you get on early enough (before rush hour, which you should be able to do, getting in at 6:00 a.m.) you can go to the end of any car where you'll find a slot for luggage next to the seats. It's only one short flight up from the District line after you take the elevator up to that level when exiting the Piccadilly line at Gloucester Road. One more thing--take a RIGHT when you exit the station. You'll see a flower stall right outside on the corner. Turn right again and walk one short block. Cross the narrow street and you're at the front door of the Forum. If you go left when exiting the tube you're coming to the actual Cromwell Road side (which is the address, I know), but actually the back end of the hotel. You can only get into the hotel's pub from that side and the doors won't be open at that time of the morning.

Wow all this great advice really helped me I too am arriving at Heathrow and going to the Glouster tube Arriving at 9'oclock with two kids in tow and luggage but want to do the tube and be adventurous. It will also save us money. What is the extension on the card? and can you get it for just one day on your 7 day or 2 since we will need it to returnto Heathrow. Also where is the Harrington in relation to the tube Do we turn right after exiting? Thank you everyone. This is the best site.Chris