You're right...the tube is not comfortable, it's not luxurious and it's not all that clean.

But it's cheap and will get you from point A (Heathrow) to point B (S. Kensington) in about 50 minutes. And as indicated, if it is after 0930 and you are taking at least 2 more tube trips that day, it costs about £1.50 compared to £15 for the Paddington Express plus whatever the taxi fare is.

Thank MK. I will call.

Gee everyone. Different strokes and all that. Some people just travel differently. You don't have to justify your choices.

Are you sure that the tube ride from Heathrow in is about 1.50?

I thought that a single-ride ticket within Zone 1 alone is 2.30.

By the way, if you take the tube from Heathrow and plan to take the tube again, you should get a Zone 1-6 Travelcard, good for the entire day. It will save you a lot of money this way. Should be a bit over 5 pounds. In any case, the tube ride from Heathrow to the city center is close to 5 pounds (I think), so getting the Travelcard isn't much more expensive and it will probably save you money. I tend to forget to do this and then regret it.

Even after I've made a two/three/four hour flight between two European destinations it is rather tiring, I couldn't imagine having to step out of the airport, go on a train that I'm not familiar with, wheeling my heavy cases behind me, having to watch for my stop, change lines, and all with lots of people in the way.

For the sake of a meal, a drink (if you have to sacrifice something) take a private car or taxi (i wouldn't advise taxis in London as these are more expensive than private chauffeur drive) and arrive quickly, comfortably and with minimum fuss.

Then, of course, the tube also offers a carnet (like the Paris Metro), which gives you ten (?) rides at reduced prices. You should probably compare this with getting a Travelcard. If you plan to use the tube a lot upon arrival, I'd say the Zone 1-6 Travelcard is probably a very good deal.

Sorry xyz, I misread the 1.50. We're probably suggesting the same sort of deal with a Travelcard.

<i>&quot;Very few London residents appreciate the tube, it's not comfortable, it's not luxurious, it's not clean.&quot;</i>

I'm willing to bet that a great many Londoners appreciate it when it isn't running for whatever reason (strike, repairs, etc...) and they have to find an alternative way to work.

Coming from a country that doesn't have a good public transportation system, I can appreciate the advantages of such a system. I would take public transportation to work if it were available. And if it were clean, comfortable and luxurious, it would be prohibitively expensive as a mass transportation system.

The tube is poorly priced - you pay the same price for a round trip on the circle line (just an example of a long distance) as one stop - it's expensive. I never ever use it - too many unpleasant odours and people. Walk or take a taxi - far more pleasant.

As I remember fares...

A single from Heathrow to Central London is something like &pound;3.60

Central London singles are &pound;2

Zone 1 to 6 travelcard is around &pound;5.10 off peak.

Single day off peak zone 1 &amp; 2 travelcard is &pound;4.30

So if you're taking at least one more trip that day on the tube, it pays to get the zone 1 to 6 travel card

If you were buying a zone 1 &amp; 2 travelcard which is &pound;4.30 the zone 1 to 6 travelcard is only about &pound;1.50 more....

There are many references for car services if you do a search in the box for chauffer services (justairports.com; ray skinner, etc.) I have to agree that after about 15-18 hours all said and done between home and London, I don't want to deal with much more than getting to my hotel and certainly don't want to be lugging our luggage around after me like a reluctant puppy. We are using Just Airports/cash basis and paying about 40 gbp round trip, worth every penny in my book.

Have fun planning, there are soooo many options out there, londontown.com has car services listed at discount prices as well.

J!

Agree with m_kingdom2 that a car service is a good option. I can recommend JustAirports, I believe pick-up at Heathrow is @25GBP cash - return is @22GBP cash.

Disagree with m_kingdom2 that the tube is dirty and uncomfortable.

JoeG

There are many references for car services if you do a search in the box for chauffer services (justairports.com; ray skinner, etc.) I have to agree that after about 15-18 hours all said and done between home and London in tight quarters on an airplane, I don't want to deal with much more than getting to my hotel and certainly don't want to be lugging our luggage around after me like a reluctant puppy. We are using Just Airports/cash basis and paying about 40 gbp round trip, worth every penny in my book.

Have fun planning, there are soooo many options out there, londontown.com has car services listed at discount prices as well.

J!

oops...puter burped! Sorry for the duplication!
J!

<i>&quot;The tube is poorly priced - you pay the same price for a round trip on the circle line (just an example of a long distance) as one stop - it's expensive. I never ever use it - too many unpleasant odours and people. Walk or take a taxi - far more pleasant.&quot;</i>

I can see where a Londoner wouldn't use it for short distances, but for people commuting in from further out, or for tourists who make frequent trips in a single day, it is very economical - especially if using a TravelCard. I drive 80 miles a day to/from work and fill up my gas tank about twice a week. I'd gladly take public transportation if it were available.

KayB, I surely agree with you about the wish for good public transportation, especially in the southwest..nothing here and about the same drive to work that you have. We have our travel card for after we arrive in London and will use it generously for the tube and bus. The tube/bus system, for non-londoner's, is easy to use, relatively clean, and takes a burden off of trying to drive in a huge/new city. Quite frankly, after having lived in a city with pretty good transportation and then moving here, I really miss having the back up of a god transportation system.

o.k. have the inexpensive typing fingers on today apparently...meant the &quot;good&quot; instead of &quot;god&quot; transportation...blah...blah.

J!

Well said Kayb95. I take the tube to get out to the B&amp;B. Very easy and very cheap. 40 GBP for one car ride in London? I paid 38GBP for a London-Rome return. MK2 maybe you should stop traveling if a 2 or 3 hour flight tires you out. I fly 11 hours to London from California and I start my holiday immediately. And you are the person I see standing at the carousel waiting for your heavy suitcases while I take my one carry on bag out of the airport.

I am a fan of using the tube to get to and from Heathrow and have no trouble dealing with it after an 8 hour flight (always evening arrivals).

Here's what I did on a recent trip.

My flight arrived in Heathrow early on a weekend morning via AC.

As a member of the AC Maple Leaf Club, I took advantage of their arrivals lounge which you can get to after passing through UK immigration and customs. There, I showered, changed, had a relaxing continental breakfast, and read the papers.

Then I walked about 10 steps to the Airbus stop which is in the median just outside the Maple Leaf Club. The bus arrived on schedule and, about 45-50 minutes later, dropped me off virtually in front of my hotel door (in the Gloucester Road area). Fare was about 8GBP. There were about 7 people on the bus altogether. Traffic was not a problem. If arriving on a weekend and if your hotel is en route, this seems a great way to go.

For the return trip, and as I was staying at the Basil in Knightsbridge, I used the tube from Knightsbridge Station (Piccadilly line is a straight run to Heathrow). It was mid-morning - the tube was quite empty, clean and fast. There were about 15 stairs to navigate at the Knightsbridge end, but no biggy.

Rj007 my dear, whilst I might wait for my luggage from the carousel, you'll be waiting on a dirty platform for a tube train whilst I slip into a car and arrive at the hotel in style.

With your all carryon set-up you'll be wearing the same outfit every day of the week my dear.