Jhstubbs

We are flying into London on March 31, 2011. There are 4 of us in our family. Just wondering if it is best to take the Heathrow Express or a cab? We are staying over by St. Paul's Cathedral. First class is $146 or Second class is $94 for the 4 of us. Is there a big difference between the two classes and is it worth it. The website says it is only a 15 minute ride. The only reason I am thinking about the First class is usually we have found it is not as crowded. Also, this would only be a one way ticket because we are going over to Paris later.

Here again, should we just simply take a cab? How much do you think that would be and would it take a tremendously longer time to get into town?

avalon

Book justairports private shuttle service . It will be less expensive than eithe the HEX or a taxi

janisj

"<i>Heathrow Express or cab for 4?</i>"

<u>Neither</u> one.

A car service - Justairports mentioned above, or http://www.london-transfers.com/

Get a quote from both. Either would be better and much cheaper than a cab or the HEX (plus the Hex only gets you to Paddington and you'd still have an expensive cab journey from there to St Paul's)

Odin

Or take the tube from Heathrow and change at Holborn to the central line St Paul's or Bank station.

janisj

sure - the tube is an option. But my guess is the OP doesn't want to schlepp the bags on the tube after an overnight flight. And <u>exactly</u> where they are staying will make a difference re tube options and how much walking is involved. "Over by St Paul's" doesn't tell us enough.

I take the tube -- but for a group of 4, a car service easy, economical and door-to-door.

Jhstubbs

Thank you for the great advice. Never even thought of a car service. I received a quote from both and it sounds like they are just a few pounds different from each other. This does sound much better than schlepping our bags around the tubes. (We are staying at the Cheval Calico House on Bow Lane. It looks nice and they have been great to work with- don't know much about the area, however it is right close to a tube stop.)

Does anyone know if either car service is better than the other? (london-tranfers or Justairports)?

mztery

I've used both london-transfers and just airports and I find Just Airports WAY more professional and reliable. it has been a couple of years since i used either one, though as we now use the tube.

janisj

Both are totally fine. You can pick whichever gave you the best quote (I've used both more than once).

I really like Ray Skinner - but have been totally satisfied w/ justairports too.

janisj

Oh -- meant to add -- that location will be quiet at nights and weekend, but you are just around the corner from St Mary-le-Bow where they do lunch time concerts and w/i a short walk of St Paul's

PatrickLondon

Bow Lane is an interesting location. Ordinarily, one wouldn't think too much to the idea of staying in the City unless you were there on business, since it's the finance and legal district, and not primarily residential. But there are some small enclaves of "normal" life there, one of which is Bow Lane - it's a little lane full of shops, pubs and so on, though as Janis says, quiet at weekends and in the evenings. Another such area, if Bow Lane should prove too quiet, is between St Pauls and Blackfriars, down Carter Lane/ St Andrews Hill/ Black Friars Lane

Jhstubbs

It's funny that you should mention that about that area because I was thinking the same thing. We actually just changed it this morning to a lovely flat in the Notting Hill Gate area. Much closer to some little shops, a couple of nice pubs and a very beautiful residential area. This will suit our needs much better.

Thank you for the great advice on the transportation from Heathrow everyone. Now I'm off to the France forum to ask the same question about Paris-(Charles de Gaulle airport)!

alanRow

<<< But my guess is the OP doesn't want to schlepp the bags on the tube after an overnight flight. >>>

Or didn't know about the Tube option from LHR - I suspect many guidebooks don't cover it very well and give emphasis to the HEX even though most people here know it's one of the worst options.

PalenQ

Buy a round trip ticket on the Hethrow Express to London and then during your whole time in London you can use the tickets to get 2 for 1 entries at many expensive attractions.

You have to print vouchers before from the 2 for 1 London site but with a paper train ticket like that it is my understanding then you get 2 for 1 the whole time until returning to heathroq

one reason that taking the Heathrow Express may be a money-savings option.

Jhstubbs

alanRow:

What is the tube option? Our intent is to use the underground travel card anyways so it seems like it would be almost easier (and more economical) to just use the tube? Maybe we should just use that? You mentioned that most people from there think the HEX is the worst option, why?

PalenQ:

I will also look into the 2 for 1entries. That sounds interesting too. Is there a specific website for that?

PalenQ

Days Out Guide - London attractions with train tickets | London ...
Get 2FOR1 entry into top London attractions, theatres and restaurants when you travel by ... We're offering 2FOR1 entry to over 150 top London attractions, ...
www.daysoutguide.co.uk/ -

Now this was debated recently and no one could defininitely determine whether the Heathrow Exress was a national rail ticket, which i believe it must be - but i guess the only way to know would be to contact the 2 for 1 folks - if so could reap immense benefits.

I am looking for a definitive answer meeself

Odin

If staying in Notting Hill, the Heathrow Express to Paddington would be an option, take a taxi from there. Or from Heathrow on the tube, change at Earls Court and take district or circle line northbound 2 stops to Notting Hill station.

avalon

The HEX for 4 people will be almost double the cost of a shuttle

janisj

Now that you've changed to Notting Hill, the tube probably isn't your best option. Unless you are on a really tight budget, a car service is best for a party of 4.

The HEX or Heathrow Connect + a taxi willcost much more.

BUT -- where <u>exactly</u> is the new flat? Some owners take real liberties describing their locations - especially where Notting Hill is concerned.

The Tube is great for your day-to-day travel around London -- but sometimes not for your arrival/travel in from the airport. factors like exhaustion/confusion, luggage come into play. A car service lets you sit back/relax and be delivered right to your front door.

Jhstubbs

We are not on a tight budget fortunately so I do believe that it will be better for our family to just do a car service. That actually sounds the best to us and the easiest. We travel pretty light so we really only ever have carry-ons tom deal with.

The apartment I had mentioned before is in the Notting Hill Gate area. It is right off Campden Hill road and Kensington Place. I have Google-mapped the area and looked at their street view scenes of the area. Not really far from the Notting Hill Gate tube stop.

KayF

Heathrow Express is the most expensive option from Heathrow and only gets you to Paddington anyway. We would never recommend that travellers take it, there are better options. The tube is the cheapest way to travel and we have travelled many times to all the London airports and managed with suitcases. There are steps but unless you are on your own and have 4 huge bags, it's not that hard and saves a lot of money. The Heathrow Connect is another train that travels from Heathrow but it stops a few times on the way. It's a bit cheaper than the HEX. Other options are a taxi (expensive) or a car service.

Kay