Today's Washington Post travel section reports that Heathrow Express is offering a 50 percent discount for groups of two adults or more buying round-trip tickets online. The deal applies only to "express class" tickets (the normal class of service, as opposed to "first class," I believe). First half of the trip must take place by September 5th. Booking and info at: www.heathrowexpress.com/summer.

WaPost story:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...072206304.html

And once they reach Paddington how do they get to their hotel?

even w/the discount it is still a very expensive way to get into London -- unless one is staying right AT Paddington.

alanRow and janisj are both assuming everyone landing at Heathrow is staying in central London.

Paddington is very handily placed for Marylebone, Euston, Kingscross or St Pancras.

There is a lot more to the UK than London you know.

We used a similar deal when we visited England in 2007. Since we stayed in Bayswater, it worked out well.

Lee Ann

Fashionista: "<i>alanRow and janisj are both assuming everyone landing at Heathrow is staying in central London.

Paddington is very handily placed for Marylebone, Euston, Kingscross or St Pancras.</i>"

The deal is only for <u>round trip</u> tickets meaning one would have to go back through Paddington. And, even for getting to another station for onward travel -- the HEX is a very expensive way to get into London.

Even at a discount, the HEX really only makes sense if one is staying at Paddington (or w/i walking distance).

"<i>There is a lot more to the UK than London you know.</i>"

well, duh (Doesn't make the HEX an economical option though)

Well duh What if your flights are too and from Heathrow?

I fly in and out of Heathrow because it has much better options than my local airport and I get better prices

I walk from my house to the railway station, take the train Marylebone - short walk to Paddington then Heathrow, then the world. I find it very good value, with the offer its £15 return.

Duh.

Now you're just stretching -- Marylebone is not a short walk to Paddington w/ luggage. It is a least a mile.

Plus a car service is cheaper

<<< Paddington is very handily placed for Marylebone, Euston, Kingscross or St Pancras. >>>

It's barely handily placed for Marylebone, it's certainly not handily placed for Kings Cross / St Pancras which are on a DIRECT Tube line from Heathrow. Euston is a 10 minute walk from Kings Cross / St Pancras.

So basically the HEX is useful for people heading to the Paddington area. Even then the Heathrow Connect is a cheaper option and does give you the option of changing to the Central Line at Ealing Broadway for places like Notting Hill / Bayswater / Queensway / Lancaster Gate / Marble Arch / Oxford Street / The City...

<<< There is a lot more to the UK than London you know. >>>

And exactly how does going to Paddington help? It's not useful if you are going to Scotland, Northern England, North Wales, the Midlands, Southern England, East Anglia...

And even if you are going to the Bath area, southern Wales it's as quick to get a coach direct from LHR. Only if you are heading to the SW of England does Paddington become a possible choice - but then most people would take the bus to Woking / Reading and connect there.

OK, well the London you visit is a parallel universe to the one I visit. Easy walk with luggage in my world.

And my case was MASSIVE and I was wearing six inch black peep toe suede platforms. No stamina these modern day travellers.

"Marylebone is not a short walk to Paddington w/ luggage. It is a least a mile."

Cobblers. 700 yds if that. 15 min max if you're a VERY slow walker along Melcombe Pl, Lissom Grove, Chapel St, Praed St. One of my regular commute routes.

Ah - but flanner -- how many first timers would be able to find/figure out that route? Most can't work out which exit to take from tube/train stations let alone deal w/ the Lisson Grove > Marylebone > Old Marylebone > Chapel St jog . . .