Heathrow to Trafalgar
Dec 15th, 2003, 06:55 PM
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The fastest, easiest and cheapest modes are not the same.
The cheapest would be the tube -- Picadillly line from LHR to Green Park, Picadilly Circus or Leicester Square and then transferring to the Jubilee line (green Park), the Bakerloo line (Pic Circus) or the Northern Line (Leicester SQ) to travel one station to Charing Cross. Of these Green Park would be my choice.
Fastest would likely be the Paddington Express and then a taxi to the hotel - but this would be a lot more expensive.
A car service would not be faster - but would be easiest taking you from terminal to hotel w/o having to schlep your luggage.
The cheapest would be the tube -- Picadillly line from LHR to Green Park, Picadilly Circus or Leicester Square and then transferring to the Jubilee line (green Park), the Bakerloo line (Pic Circus) or the Northern Line (Leicester SQ) to travel one station to Charing Cross. Of these Green Park would be my choice.
Fastest would likely be the Paddington Express and then a taxi to the hotel - but this would be a lot more expensive.
A car service would not be faster - but would be easiest taking you from terminal to hotel w/o having to schlep your luggage.
Dec 15th, 2003, 07:27 PM
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Is saving money or speed more important to you? Both are important to me, especially if I have a bag to carry.
I would take the Heathrow Express (13 pounds a piece) to Paddington station then take yellow or green line south/east to the Embankment station then transfer the Charing Cross station. Walk to your hotel from there.
I am looking at a Tube map and that appears to be the closest to wear you are.
You could take the tube the whole way and save $ but it will take longer.
I would take the Heathrow Express (13 pounds a piece) to Paddington station then take yellow or green line south/east to the Embankment station then transfer the Charing Cross station. Walk to your hotel from there.
I am looking at a Tube map and that appears to be the closest to wear you are.
You could take the tube the whole way and save $ but it will take longer.
Dec 15th, 2003, 11:04 PM
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Ask a Londoner for a route to Trafalgar, and you'll be given directions to Spain.
And to add to the fun, the nearest tube station to the Thistle Trafalgar Square (which isn't in Trafalgar Square) isn't Charing Cross (which used to be called Trafalgar Square) anyway.
If you can manage your luggage up the steps and the 100 yds down the road, the easiest - and almost always fastest - route is the tube straight to Piccadilly Circus. Then get the streetmap from the hotel's web site and walk down Haymarket.
If that's a pain, get the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then get a cab (about £10, and make sure you have a £1 coin when you get to Paddington to get a trolley. You get the £1 back when you return it at the taxi stand. From the train to the taxi it's a level, barrier-free, 50 yard walk). But from 0800-1000 you may have to queue for up to half an hour. And as there's more than one of you, the cab plus two HEX tickets will almost certainly work out more than a private car from Heathrow.
If you take the HEX then blanch at he cab queues, take the Bakerloo line tube to your hotel. Don't mess with the Circle (yellow) line, as it's dreadfully unreliable. Or the District (green) line which goes the wrong way for you.
And to add to the fun, the nearest tube station to the Thistle Trafalgar Square (which isn't in Trafalgar Square) isn't Charing Cross (which used to be called Trafalgar Square) anyway.
If you can manage your luggage up the steps and the 100 yds down the road, the easiest - and almost always fastest - route is the tube straight to Piccadilly Circus. Then get the streetmap from the hotel's web site and walk down Haymarket.
If that's a pain, get the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then get a cab (about £10, and make sure you have a £1 coin when you get to Paddington to get a trolley. You get the £1 back when you return it at the taxi stand. From the train to the taxi it's a level, barrier-free, 50 yard walk). But from 0800-1000 you may have to queue for up to half an hour. And as there's more than one of you, the cab plus two HEX tickets will almost certainly work out more than a private car from Heathrow.
If you take the HEX then blanch at he cab queues, take the Bakerloo line tube to your hotel. Don't mess with the Circle (yellow) line, as it's dreadfully unreliable. Or the District (green) line which goes the wrong way for you.
Dec 16th, 2003, 02:50 AM
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I have used a street atlas that marks your hotel under its old name of Royal Trafalgar Hotel, and the walk is easy. Piccadilly Line to Leicester square station, up the escalator and I am afraid some stairs, cross the road, walk the pedestrianised road along the north side of Leicester Square to MacDonalds on Whitcomb Street, turn left (south) and your hotel is on the next corner on the left. As a normal walk that might take eight minutes, perhaps ten with bags. Charing Cross tube station is not so near as Leicester Square. Piccadilly Circus station is much the same distance, but has many exits, and the walk is through streets with cars, whereas that from Leicester Square tube is on a pedestrian route through the square.
As has been said, from Heathrow to Trafalgar you would take a bus to Portsmouth, and a boat for 24 hours.
Please write if I can help further. Welcome to London.
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Message: What is the fastest and easiest way to get from Heathrow to Trafalgar? A private car is too expensive. We're staying at the Thistle Hotel Trafalgar.
Author: flanneruk
Date: 12/16/2003, 03:04 am
Message: Ask a Londoner for a route to Trafalgar, and you'll be given directions to Spain.
And to add to the fun, the nearest tube station to the Thistle Trafalgar Square (which isn't in Trafalgar Square) isn't Charing Cross (which used to be called Trafalgar Square) anyway.
If you can manage your luggage up the steps and the 100 yds down the road, the easiest - and almost always fastest - route is the tube straight to Piccadilly Circus. Then get the streetmap from the hotel's web site and walk down Haymarket.
If that's a pain, get the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then get a cab (about 10, and make sure you have a 1 coin when you get to Paddington to get a trolley. You get the 1 back when you return it at the taxi stand. From the train to the taxi it's a level, barrier-free, 50 yard walk). But from 0800-1000 you may have to queue for up to half an hour. And as there's more than one of you, the cab plus two HEX tickets will almost certainly work out more than a private car from Heathrow.
If you take the HEX then blanch at he cab queues, take the Bakerloo line tube to your hotel. Don't mess with the Circle (yellow) line, as it's dreadfully unreliable. Or the District (green) line which goes the wrong way for you.
[email protected]
Dec 16th, 2003, 06:37 AM
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Hi Peggy, we are a family of 4 and we are arriving at Heathrow early on a Sunday morning in February. We are also staying at the Thistle Trafalgar. On previous trips to London we have used car services, but this time I have decided on the tube for a few reasons. First, the price of the car services has been going up and I hate to throw that money away! Second, the hotel is easy to reach via the tube - no changes in line required - although I am not happy to hear about those stairs! And third, we are traveling at a time when the tube should be relatively quiet and not crowded. I should add that my kids are used to rolling their suitcases through city streets, they did the same last year in Italy (Rome, Venice and Florence) and the year before that in Paris! Everyone has to be able to transport their own bags - that's my travel rule! Susan
Dec 16th, 2003, 08:00 AM
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About the Leicester Sq tube station - Most visitors use it a LOT because of its proximity to the 1/2 price booth, Soho, The Nat'l ans Nat'l portrait galleries and St Martins in the Field.
But with luggage it will be a pain. The stairs are not huge - BUT they are usually VERY congested with folks rushing up and down on both sides. Even w/o luggage they can sometimes be difficult to negotiate unless you are pretty forceful.
And jet lagged, schlepping luggage it might not be a very good first introduction to London. If you can afford a car service - go for it. If not I would consider going one stop farther to Covent Garden where there is a lift (elevator) to street level and then hail a cab for the short ride to your hotel.
But with luggage it will be a pain. The stairs are not huge - BUT they are usually VERY congested with folks rushing up and down on both sides. Even w/o luggage they can sometimes be difficult to negotiate unless you are pretty forceful.
And jet lagged, schlepping luggage it might not be a very good first introduction to London. If you can afford a car service - go for it. If not I would consider going one stop farther to Covent Garden where there is a lift (elevator) to street level and then hail a cab for the short ride to your hotel.
Dec 16th, 2003, 06:44 PM
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Sunday morning would probably be the least crowded time - so it would likely be OK then. But for your return trip back out to the airport (unless it is also on a Sunday morning) - you might want to think about going to another station by cab. During your stay you will use Leicester Square frequently so you can decide if it is too crowded . . . . .
Dec 17th, 2003, 08:36 AM
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Friday afternoon/evening is especially crowded in the Leicester Square/Picadilly Circus area (as well as at most tube/train stations)
For you return to the airport you might want to consider a mini cab. You can wait to book it until after you are in London and your hotel can probably recommend a good local one.
A mini cab will cost much less than a black cab and a little less than most airport car services.
For you return to the airport you might want to consider a mini cab. You can wait to book it until after you are in London and your hotel can probably recommend a good local one.
A mini cab will cost much less than a black cab and a little less than most airport car services.
Dec 17th, 2003, 08:51 AM
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I'm making this same trip in March, and I'm staying at the same hotel. I'm planning on taking the Tube, since it will just be me and 1 rolling case. The Tube Journey Planner says that I need to change trains at Hatton Cross, but isn't that stop on the same line that goes to Leicester Square? I'll be travelling around 9am. Will the train be mobbed with commuters?
Dec 17th, 2003, 12:15 PM
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Black cab equals metered taxi that can be engaged at taxi stands or hailed on the street. The cabs are not necessarily painted black.
Mini cabs and car services are the same thing. They are unmetered cabs that can only be engaged by advance arrangement. They are not necessarily mini in size.
Both are licensed by the corporation of London.
A tube journey planner is a planner for underground train journeys that can be accessed on the London Underground website, http://tube.tfl.gov.uk/
Mini cabs and car services are the same thing. They are unmetered cabs that can only be engaged by advance arrangement. They are not necessarily mini in size.
Both are licensed by the corporation of London.
A tube journey planner is a planner for underground train journeys that can be accessed on the London Underground website, http://tube.tfl.gov.uk/
Dec 18th, 2003, 06:51 AM
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Ron,
Thanks for your explanation regarding the London cabs as well as providing the website for the London Underground. For those of us that are Mass Transit Challenged (MTC), this site looks like it offers invaluable assistance.
JoeG
Thanks for your explanation regarding the London cabs as well as providing the website for the London Underground. For those of us that are Mass Transit Challenged (MTC), this site looks like it offers invaluable assistance.
JoeG
Dec 18th, 2003, 10:59 AM
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You're welcome, Joe. Since I hate to leave an error of mine uncorrected, even if it is irrelevant, the taxi licensing body is the Greater London Authority (GLA), not the Corporation of London.
It is good to be reminded that there are MTC people around, since those of us who have used public transport all our lives have a hard time understanding why there is so much agonizing about how to use the London underground. You can be assured you will not be alone as a novice. There is always a crowd of confused people blocking the entrance to the tube station at Heathrow. And when you get confused doing a transfer in a station, simply step aside, consult your tube map, check the signs, and continue.
It is good to be reminded that there are MTC people around, since those of us who have used public transport all our lives have a hard time understanding why there is so much agonizing about how to use the London underground. You can be assured you will not be alone as a novice. There is always a crowd of confused people blocking the entrance to the tube station at Heathrow. And when you get confused doing a transfer in a station, simply step aside, consult your tube map, check the signs, and continue.
Mar 7th, 2004, 08:00 PM
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We, too, are agonized MTC people. We have never in our lives used mass transit and, quite frankly, we are perplexed with the Tube station map and different lines. I'm trying to become familiar with it but I am challenged in map reading also(MRC). I'm also subliminally prone to do things I shouldn't and I"m afraid if I hear "Mind The Gap", that's exactly what I'll trip and fall into. The dreaded Gap. Anyway, we will be arriving at Heathrow at 6:00 a.m. Is this going to put us in the middle of morning rush hour in London once we clear customs and retrieve bags, etc.? I'll try to be the confused tourist who at least knows to step aside and let people pass. 
Is there a picture of a tube station train schedule on the Web so I know what I will be looking at? I'm a visual learner more so than text. Thanks!
Nancy
PS: Peggy, I note you have stayed at the Thistle Trafalgar - any comments? We are staying there also.
PSS: I hope this thread is still going. If not, I'll repost it.
Is there a picture of a tube station train schedule on the Web so I know what I will be looking at? I'm a visual learner more so than text. Thanks! Nancy
PS: Peggy, I note you have stayed at the Thistle Trafalgar - any comments? We are staying there also.
PSS: I hope this thread is still going. If not, I'll repost it.
Mar 8th, 2004, 04:47 AM
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I wouldn't worry about a schedule, if by that you mean a timetable. Just
(a) decide which line you need and which direction in terms of the map: northbound=towards the top, southbound=towards the bottom, westbound=towards the left, eastbound=towards the right
(b) find the platform for that line and direction - signs are clear and colour-coded for each line
(c) take the next train from that platform: there are indicators hanging above the platform which tell you what its final destination is and how many minutes you will have to wait for it, but you only need to worry about the destination if you're travelling beyond the central area (as some lines divide in the suburbs) or if you're on a platform used by the Circle Line (as those are shared with other lines).
Even if you do make a mistake, just get out at the next station, cross over and take a train back.
(a) decide which line you need and which direction in terms of the map: northbound=towards the top, southbound=towards the bottom, westbound=towards the left, eastbound=towards the right
(b) find the platform for that line and direction - signs are clear and colour-coded for each line
(c) take the next train from that platform: there are indicators hanging above the platform which tell you what its final destination is and how many minutes you will have to wait for it, but you only need to worry about the destination if you're travelling beyond the central area (as some lines divide in the suburbs) or if you're on a platform used by the Circle Line (as those are shared with other lines).
Even if you do make a mistake, just get out at the next station, cross over and take a train back.
Mar 8th, 2004, 09:05 AM
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DanandNan-
You might get more responses if you post a brand new thread. You can also type in "London Tube" on the search box above. There have been many threads in the past explaning the Tube. It is not as bad as you think.
You might get more responses if you post a brand new thread. You can also type in "London Tube" on the search box above. There have been many threads in the past explaning the Tube. It is not as bad as you think.
