The site www.LondonTown.com offers transfers from Heathrow to Central London at 13 GBP per person in shared tranfers and 19 GBP in private car tranfers. Is this reliable? Can I buy it?

Hi Simone, I noticed that the quoted prices at londontown.com are exclusive of VAT so your actual costs will be 17.5% higher.

If you're travelling solo and don't mind a (possibly) longer trip into town via other hotels, I think the shared transfer price (13 GBP plus VAT) is a really good deal. Definitely not so if you're a group of two or more. Go with per car not per person price scheme.

We frequently use justairports.com. Private car for 2 plus luggage into town is 24 GBP (from LHR) and 19 GBP (to LHR). Cash. I highly recommend them. They get good reco's on this site.

I've booked other services thru londontown.com with no problems to report. Haven't done a car service tho. Hope someone else chimes in with experience with JK Travels, the company offering the service at londontown.com.

Tnk you obxgirl. I´ll use them.

Hi Simone,

I don't know the company you are talking about but the price minus VAT per person sounds about right. I only used this kind of a shuttle when I was traveling with my frail 75 year old mother. It was quick but I was surprised by a million hotel stops and cabbed it on the way back.

No need to buy this type of shuttle before hand there is a desk or several desks for this right where you pick up your bags if memory serves. If you wait until you get there than you can see how much patience you have for hotel stops before your drop off.

If you don't have much luggage I would just hop on the tube. Seemed quicker to me I have done it a number of times. Never timed it though.

What time/day of the week are you arriving? If it is during a weekday morning commute - the tube will be much faster than any transport by road. And save you enough money for a nice lunch.

If it is on a Sunday morning - then a car service would be about as fast or maybe even faster than the tube.

A shared shuttle (HotelLink) is great IF you are one of the first couple of stops. The problem is, if you are the last stop you could easily be talking about 2 or more hours before you got to your hotel.

Another suggestion for JustAirports. I've used them several times. My friend used HotelLinks from the airport to our hotel and it took her two hours due to the number of stops the shuttle made enroute.

How hard is it to get into the tube with a BIG wheeled luggage plus a not so small wheeled carry on?

LOTS of people take the tube with waaaay too much luggage. Not fun, but doable. But remember - most tube stations have looooong escalators, semi-long underground walks, and at least some stairs.

(Are you sure you need a <b>BIG</b> wheeled luggage <b>plus</b> a not so small wheeled carry on. That is a LOT of luggage.)

If you are schlepping that much - just fork over for a private car service. Any other mode will be a struggle.

Very good price, less, less than a taxi.

How important is money? How important is comfort? Do you want to see London as it is or from a taxi window. I also expect that there are bus services available. What is the current 'tube'fare? Heathrow to Green Park.

Hi Simone, I think GSteed has posed the relevant questions, balancing cost, comfort and time. I wouldn't take the tube with the luggage you've described. If you're going on your own, I'd be inclined to take the 13 GBP shared transport. It'll be a longer trip (probably not 2 or more hours). If there's two of you, I'd definitely go with justairports.

There's a long standing and often heated debate on this forum between those who pack light and those who don't. You can probably guess which camp janisj cheers for.

If you are curious about handeling your luggage walk around your block a few times. If its not a hassle it will be no hassle on your trip.

Lets Go Europe suggested that in the 1985 addition . If you don't look forward to shlepping aruond the block you will be stuck when traveling.

Simone, I am no expert on London, but would never attempt public transportation anywhere with that much luggage! Actually I'll try to talk you into packing much lighter, but maybe you have your reasons for needing so much?

Last month, I schlepped a 26&quot; wheeled suitcase (I was carrying some Arizona souvenirs to friends) from Heathrow to Marble Arch via train and bus, from Marble Arch to Gatwick via bus and train, and (empty) back to Heathrow via train, bus, and Tube (and bus). It wasn't hard to do, but if the &quot;not so small wheeled carryon&quot; can't be carried over your shoulder, I wouldn't suggest using bus or Tube.

Everybody,
Tnks for all infos. That´ll be 2 of us and I think I´ll go with justairports.
I read that after 20 minites of landing hour, they charge 20 l per minute. I don´t think I´ll be able to clear in this time (immigration, customs, luggage, etc). Do we have to book before we arrive or we can buy in the airport?
I always carry a lot of luggage, mainly on this trip because we are taking a cruse from Dover for 14 nights.
As to is it worth it to pay for a cab? Yes, it is, if it is a reasonable price. I´m Brazilian and our money is real that worths approx 3 times less than euro and 6 times less than GBL. That means the cab is TOOO expensive, but if there is not another way, we shall take it.

Hi Simone, Perhaps you misread the info regarding waiting time. From the justairports website:

&quot;Airport meets - 40 minutes free waiting from the actual landing time, thereafter you will be charged 25p per minute.&quot;

I've always been able to make that 40 minute window. Doesn't mean things don't happen, I'm only saying I've never been charged for waiting.

You will need to book ahead with justairports. You can call them directly or reserve online. I call directly. I recall someone here reporting that they had trouble getting an email confirmation for an on line booking.

Definitely ask for the cash price, it's much lower. The drivers who've picked us up have always allowed us a few extra minutes to get cash from an ATM (located very close to the point he will meet you) but we usually get bring enough to cover the cost of the ride in case the ATM isn't available.

I thought most car services require you to book ahead. If you use a standard black cab from the taxi line, the fare will be astronomical!

Simone: If you decide on a car service (justairports, Swiss Cottage or any others) you <b>must</b> book ahead. They are only licensed to pick up people w/ advance bookings -- they can't pick people up at the curb like a regular black cab.

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I noticed that the quoted prices at londontown.com are exclusive of VAT so your actual costs will be 17.5% higher.
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a car service/taxi that quotes cost ex-VAT...i would steer clear. i have never seen this (over many years of traveling in and out of heathrow almost weekly). for me this is a sign that they are not very straightforward.

Simone, I just returned from London, having 2 weeks there visiting my son &amp; his family. We stay on the northern side of London, at a place called Archway, not far from Highgate &amp; Hampstead Heath (two lovely places for shops &amp; restaurants), and also close to Islington (another great place to eat out in), and we also use a licensed mini cab service called &quot;Airport Direct&quot;, and I think the cost of 2 persons plus airport luggage was 26 GBP from the northern side of London to Heathrow, and that was in a very clean people mover van, and the driver even wore a suit, and upon arrival at Heathrow he even collected a trolley to put our luggage on. We have used this company time and time again, and always pleased with promptness and politeness.

&gt;a car service/taxi that quotes cost ex-VAT...i would steer clear. i have never seen this (over many years of traveling in and out of heathrow almost weekly). for me this is a sign that they are not very straightforward.&lt;

walkinaround, Londontown.com quotes the price exclusive of VAT. Seems to be a quirky feature for all of their services.

The website for the company Simone referred to, JK Travels, quotes their prices VAT inclusive.

I don't want to unnecessarily malign a business I've never used.