Heathrow Express is closed Easter Sunday - Best Alternative?
 

We're arriving in London on Easter Sunday. When I tried to buy tickets for the Heathrow Express a message came up saying it would be closed that day and that an alternative would eventually be posted. Does anyone have any suggestions.
Thanks

You can take the tube.

Yeah, the underground is the next alternative. It may take longer (about 50mins, depending on your destination), but at least it is cheaper!

Where you are staying, how many there are of you, what's the age breakdown, any disabilities, how much luggage you are carrying, when you are arriving on Easter Sunday?

There are several possibles apart from the HEX but without knowing the above we can't make good guesses as to what the *best* option will be for yu

We're arriving at 11:30 am. There are three of us, two adults and one teenager. We're staying at the HI in Kensington. Would like to see the countryside on the way into London rather than take the tube, but would go with what's quickest, safest, easiest, etc.
Thanks for your help

There is no countryside between HR and London. And the tube doesn't go underground until it is nearer the downtown part of London -- but not any great scenery either.

If I initiate the reservation process for April 8 at HeathrowConnect.com, it shows regular trains throughout the day.

But both the HX and Connect dump you at Paddington, so you still have to work out transportation to Kensington.

The Tube is almost as fast, infinitely cheaper, and takes you to Gloucester Road station, a six-minute walk (according to TfL) from your hotel.

Yes, the Tube would be cheaper but given the need to move yourselves and baggage from the Tube stop nearest your hotel to the hotel itself would you consider using a car service?

I agree about the lack of countryside unless you consider bricks and mortar to be in that category.

BTW the service suspension apparently has to do with planned engineering works, not the religious holiday.

Countryside between LHR and London :D :D

For getting to your hotel w/ 3 passengers, I would take a car service (approx £30 or so - not per person but total). justairports.com is about the cheapest - and if you pay cash there is a substantial discount. And that is door to door w/o schlepping bags at all.

2nd choice would be the tube (even IF the HEX was running that day. The train is fast but then you have to take the tube or a taxi)

Countryside between LHR & London :-) Please excuse my laughing!! It's city and more city all the way :-) Much of it underground if you take the tube. Not exactly scenic by any means (above or below ground for that matter).

With three people (and related luggage) I'd use a car service, but that is just my opinion and you did ask for suggestions. Otherwise the tube is your alternate choice I'd say.

As a follow on and not to discourage you from taking the Tube in any way but just another piece of info: the Tube starts out at Heathrow and that's the good news.

The not-so-good news is that the cars are not equipped in any way, shape, or form, for baggage so you either pile it onto seats or at your feet.

I KNOW this is a MINOR point for some and yet for others when they see people taking up public transport seats with luggage they go ballistic.

I honestly think that the Heathrow Express being closed is a blessing in disquise for you. Assuming the three of you were going to take the Express then a taxi to your hotel from Paddington, I can pretty well assure you that you can get a private car to meet you, take you directly to your hotel and the entire time will be less than the Express/taxi/transfer combination and the price will be LESS as well.
I suggest you either call Swiss Cottage Cars at 011-44-207-431-2700 or go online and book with JustAirports.com, but pay cash for better savings.
Not only will the total trip be easier, but will probably save you time and money as well!

On Easter Sunday I suspect they'll be lots of space on the Tube

Yes, Alan is probably correct that there will be more space to put your luggage on the seats than usual.

If money is an object, Tube Oyster Fares from LHR to Gloucester Road are hard to beat: £3.50 0700-1900 M-F, £2 other times.

Cash fare on the Tube is £4.

Are you still going to rent a car for 9 days?

Since the tube starts at Heathrow, there is never a problem finding a place for the luggage -- the train is empty when you get on. The issue is that some locals may give you dirty looks later on along the route as the train fills up and becomes more crowded. As far as I'm concerned, let them give the dirty looks. Lots of locals use the tube to get to and from the airport with their luggage so this is not a "tourist" thing. And others are right that on Easter Sunday the tube will probably be pretty uncrowded.

I still stand by my suggestion of getting a car service, however. It could be the best 30 pounds or so you'll spend on the entire trip.

On Underground cars, there are doors on both sides. The ones on the left side (as you face in the direction of travel) are unused on most runs.

So the entire side of the car for a distance of six feet or so (fore-and-aft) is available to stack suitcases. Thus situated, they are of no inconvenience to the other passengers.

Here is the layout around the tube station, so you can make up your own mind whether a short walk is worth $60 to you: http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/Dow...cesterRoad.pdf

Instructions for getting to the hotel: turn left outside the station, walk to the main set of traffic lights and you will see the Hotel across the street, on the left hand side.

Hey, I might change my mind if the hotel is as close to the tube station as you say. I was assuming it wasn't a short walk, but maybe my image of where the HI in Kensington is way off.

Living by the "do as I say not as I do rule", I actually have turned to usually taking the tube from Heathrow to my rental flat -- as it is about a block from the Covent Garden tube station which is a direct shot from Heathrow and even has an elevator (plus about 11 steps).

The Piccadilly line trains are equipped with a place for luggage - not racks or anything but there is space by the door for suitcases - it is the people who insist on sitting in the middle of the car with their huge suitcase in front of them (thereby blocking the walkway) who deservedly get the ditry looks.

Putting luggage on seats anywhere is the action of a lout. Putting luggage on Piccadilly Line seats is the action of a bloody stupid lout.

If that's how you intend behaving here, stay at home.

Okay, so I'm not sure what a lout is, but I do get the idea. Are all Brits this welcoming? Perhaps we'll spend more time in France.

Robespierre - I know that you pride youself on accuracy so I thought I should express some tentative disagreement with the statement:
"On Underground cars, there are doors on both sides. The ones on the left side (as you face in the direction of travel) are unused on most runs. There are exceptions, but on the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to Gloucester Road, they are not used.

So the entire side of the car for a distance of six feet or so (fore-and-aft) is available to stack suitcases. Thus situated, they are of no inconvenience to the other passengers."

I may be mistaken, by I think that the left doors (as you face the direction of travel) are used from Heathrow to Gloucester Rd

I hate to tell you this but people who put their luggage on subway trains IN THE US get just as many dirty looks, especially if the train is already crowded.

We always stay at the Gloucester Rd. stop and we always take the tube in from Heathrow, unless everyone in your party has more luggage than they can pull by themselves,take the tube, put the bags by the door as there is room and climb the 10 or so steps up to the elevator. Once outside the tube stop if it takes you 6min. to walk to the HI Kensignton I'll eat my shorts.

Ponyup - stop off at the pub on the way and extend the time - we can then learn about the short eating!

If we do the "Just Airports" transport do you know if we need to make reservations or can we just walk up to a counter and ask for a ride? I've gone to their web sight but am still not sure. I know my husband would feel much more comfortable with being dropped at the door of our hotel.

Don't think we'll have a report on the "short eating" Sorry to disapoint ;-)

You need a reservation for any car service, including justairports. These companies are not shuttle operations, they do not have desks/counters at the airport. You call/e-mail to reserve and a driver is waiting for you when you arrive. It's pretty simple.

Thanks Lori, Sounds great. Do you know if there is a similar service at the Eurostar station in Paris?

There is no reason to do a car service in Paris -- even from the airports as taxis are just as cheap and efficient. Certainly no reason to do one from Gare Nord in Paris (the Eurostar station) just go outside and get a taxi from the regular line. Have your destination written on a piece of paper for the driver.

The car services like JustAirports meet you at Heathrow as you come into the "lobby" from clearing customs. There will be a driver with your last name on a sign. You go with him and he will help you with the luggage and take you directly to your hotel.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You have all been most helpful. Your advise is greatly appreciated and has helped to relief our apprehension of traveling. I know we will have a wonderful trip to London and France.

Robespierre said

"On Underground cars, there are doors on both sides. The ones on the left side (as you face in the direction of travel) are unused on most runs. There are exceptions, but on the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to Gloucester Road, they are not used."

To quote him from anoher thread "you are incorrect"

facts to back this up are that - of the 14 stations on the Pic line which I counted (am not counting Turnham green becuase it was off peak) only five used the doors on the right (as you face forwards) the remainder used doors on the left.

I know that am I taking this too extremes but i jus waned to make sre that Robespierre knew the actual facts becase I am sure that he would be disapointed if his misinformation was not corrected

Thanks for clearing that up, wombat. The statement had me scratching my head as I was sure I remembered moving myself and my luggage from side to side of the train from Heathrow to Covent Garden one rainy morning when the train became very crowded. It seemed every time I'd move to one side, the doors on the other side would open up. Thought maybe my memory was failing me.
Incidentally, I usually stand for most of that route, straddling my luggage and taking as little space as possible. After a transatlantic flight, I really don't mind standing on the train.

"...jus waned to make sre..."

Yeah. Right.

Ever notice that Robespierre doesn't like to be corrected even when he might be wrong or is wrong.

Go to bed, janis. It's late.

Thanks for pointing out the typos - I stand corrrected on my typos!