I am traveling from the airport to Green Park during late rush hour. I assume the underground would be the way to go. I would guess that I have two choices, the express to Paddington and switch (once or twice) or just take the local direct to Green Park. Is that a pain in the *(^ in the mid (maybe late) morning. Express, Local, cab, etc??

The last thing I'd do is take the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then switch to another underground line. That switch is not a simple or short one. And any time you saved by taking the express will be eaten back up by doing the switch. If it's just you alone, then take the Picadilly line right to Green Park. You still have some stairs and a bit of a walk, but not a big deal compared to the change at Paddington. I'd never take a taxi from Heathrow, you can get a private car service for a whole lot less than a taxi.

Being flippant are you staying at the Ritz?

Either way, I'd reccomend either booking a car for the whole journey or the express then a cab. May I reccomend a very reasonable, reliable, car service (and before any comments I receive no commission or associated monies from its commendation), AIRCARS 2000 (www.aircars2000.com). For around fifty pounds (one-way) they will organise your journey with the minimum of effort , a nice way to arrive, relaxed.

Of course there are numerous other firms, but I feel this one represents really excellent value.

I can only speak for myself..I take the express then a cab to wherever.

The most highly recommended car service has twice, once just today, failed to meet a friend of mine!

Sorry, after an 8 hour flight, I am not about to hoof it to the tube ,at rush hour, have to stand with luggage so it is not lifted then drag my bag along to whatever hotel!

Sometimes a 10 pounds either way is not worth the stress to your poor tired body!

Mistakes do happen I'm sure, but from my experience, having used them on countless occasions, I have never ever been let down, or even picked up late!

I enthusiastically second Patrick's recommendation of the Piccadilly line to Green Park. On my last three trips to London, I've taken the tube from Heathrow to Knightsbridge, which is a couple of stops before Green Park on the Piccadilly line, and I've been amazed at how convenient and inexpensive it is.

I appreciate jody's concern about the need to keep an eye on your luggage on the tube, but, to my mind, that isn't a real issue on this trip, for the following reason. If you get on the train at Heathrow, you'll be boarding at either the stop the train originates from, or at the next stop (depending on which terminal you fly into). That means the train won't be crowded when you get on, so after you put your luggage in the recessed area that's provided for that purpose (next to the door), you can take a seat right next to it, so you can easily keep an eye -- and, if it makes you feel better, a hand -- on your luggage for the whole trip.

As for carrying your bag up the stairs, I'd be more concerned about that if you had to make any transfers en route. The beauty of going to a stop on the Piccadilly line (like Green Park) is that you can go straight there from Heathrow without having to transfer. It's true that you'll have to carry your bag up the stairs at the Green Park station, but if you pack reasonably light, that shouldn't be too much of a problem. (I'm a not-terribly-fit middle-aged woman, and I've carried my bag up and down the stairs at the Knightsbridge station many times.) And while it would certainly be more convenient to have a car-service or cab driver carry your bag into the hotel for you, to my mind carrying your own bag is a small price to pay for the cost savings of taking the tube versus any of the other options.

One caveat: the hotel where I stay is right around the corner from the Knightsbridge tube station, and I've been fortunate that the weather has always been decent when I've arrived in London. If the place where you're staying is a long walk from Green Park, and/or if it's pouring rain when you arrive, that might be enough to make me forget about the savings and opt for the convenience of door-to-door service instead.

As previous post,the underground won't be crowded at Heathrow,so you shalln't have problem to store the luggage by the door.

Depends on whick terminal you arrive, To the Express can be a very long walk.

I stayed at Hilton Green Park last November,even arriving airport around 5 PM, it was quite easy to get on the tube. From Green Park Station to street level, there are only few steps.

If you're going to spend 50 pounds on a car serice you might as well hop in a black cab - you'll spend about the same.
We just returned from London and spent 30 pounds (4 of us travelling) for a hired car to get from Heathrow to Bayswater and believe it or not 20 pounds to get from Bayswater to Heathrow for our return. There are many private car services out there for a lot less than 50 pounds. We used Classic Cars and E Cars.

50 pounds for car service from Heathrow is very high! I used www.justairports.com and paid 24 pounds from LHR to Mayfair in December.

I travel there frequently on business and stay at an hotel on Piccadilly. It is more convenient in my view to go from inside the terminal via the Piccadilly Line and sit close to a door if you have luggage. Trains come very very frequently in peak hour. Green Park Station is very close to Piccadilly Circus so if you want to go to hotels or locations in Mayfair the stop before Green park may be better. Travelling on that line has taught me that Hammersmith is also a good location for a short train commute into Central london from better value hotels.

How much time does the ride take on the Piccadilly line to Green Park from Heathrow? I'm staying at the Washington Mayfair so this sounds like the best option for me.

Thanks

Gekko, the ride takes about 45 minutes. I tend to be compulsively early about getting to airports, so I usually allow an hour for the ride from my hotel to Heathrow, and I'm always there earlier than I planned to be.

For the Ritz Hotel, Browns Hotel & Mayfair Holiday Inn the local tube to Green Park is the best bet. You should have no problem getting on the tube with your luggage at Heathrow . I would take a car service on my return to the Airport from the hotel . Its will be crowded and harder to bring your luggage down the long & steep escalator. It's much easier going up!

HI
Just a week or two ago I did the Heathrow to hotel via Tube thing, though my stop was not Green Park, but Goodge St which was less convenient because I had to change. It was raining so I didn't want to do the longer walk from direct stop Russell Square.

I was on a budget trip and whether the taxi would have been 24 pounds or the 40-50 that I estimated, I didn't want to spend that. So, I managed on the Tube. Returning to the airport at trip's end, I did walk to the Russell Square stop, and additional 10 minutes or so, and since my bag was heavier with a few gifts and books, I did do some wear and tear on myself by the time I was seated on the train. Also, leaving from central London meant that I got onto a semi-crowded train (at 10:30 am) and at first couldn't find a seat near the end of the car where my bag was, so I stood for a while.
I agree with the advice that if you're going to use the taxi one way, for me it would be the return to the airport.

I've done the Pad'Express train and then taken a cab from there (on a different trip) and find it to be a compromise in expense and convenience between the Tube and a cab. I will say that within H'row, getting to the Pad' Express is simple and involves no stairs. It really depends on how important the 15-20 pound differential is to you.

Take the Picadilly Line, don't think twice. Everyone glares at everyone else on the Tube - since it goes to the airport, people are gonna have bags on board. Like others have mentioned, you'll have a seat - so no problem.

Might be a bit of harsh reality though - seeing what ordinary Londoners have to go through on a daily basis . . .

If you can't afford a chauffeur drive/executive transfer or a black cab, then book an ordinary minicab - around 25GBP, it's faster than the tube which can be a nightmare.

I plan on taking the tube to Hyde Park Corner from Heathrow. If you want to save some cash thats the way to go. I would not worry about any locals getting annoyed - they might but who cares - its the airport line and its expected.

I am astounded that so many people recommend cabs and the Heathrow Express.

First off, a cab, if you pre book should cost less than GBP50. Try Addison Lee, a well renowned firm. I took a taxi from Blackheath to LHR the other morning and it cost less than GBP50. You are only going to the westend so it should be less.

the heathrow express is one of the biggest rip offs in London. It costs 15 pounds for a single (25 return). It only goes every 15 mins and the train always seems to have just left as you get down to the platform! It then drops you in paddington where you have to walk 4 ages to get to the tube or taxi rank. Also, if you have lots of luggage it is a pain as you have to wait for the lift as they still havew those dreadful airport trolleys at LHR which don't go on escalators.

the tube is a bit of a walk at LHR but you will get a seat mid morning getting on at LHR. in terms of crime i think there is very little difference between the heathrow express and the tube. crime is not really a problem in london - one just needs to be aware.

Even if I could afford to stay at the Ritz and needed to make this journey i would take the tube! any other way either is cost prohibitive or more of a hastle.

I was wondering how long it takes on the tube from Heathrow to Green Park.

Thanks

sl_logic, The trip normally takes 30 minutes or so. However there's currently some repair work being done between Acton Town and Heathrow which results in passengers being bussed to the airport. According to the tube website that will increase the trip by 30 minutes.

There was this post recently too which indicates the weekend delays will continue for a while:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34470026