Jinky

What time should we catch the train (Bloomsbury area - Russell Sq or Holborn station) to catch an 11:45am flight from Heathrow to Paris? Also, how early do you suggest we be at Heathrow for that flight?

Thanks

alanRow

A few hundred yards from Bloomsbury there's the Eurostar that gets you to central Paris in just over 2 hours. No need to fly.

For Heathrow you need to allow an hour to reach Heathrow from Bloomsbury, and 2 hours for check-in, ritual humiliation and sexual assault.

janisj

alanRow is right -from Bloomsbury you could be in central Paris before your flight even departs LHR. And at the CDG end you have another hour to get to your hotel. This is a situation where flying makes no sense at all.

Have you already booked the flight? Hope not. But if you have - then you'll need to be on the tube by 0815-0845

Timetolivenow

It's an hour from Paddington Station to Heathrow and 3 hours before departure time. 7 am should be plenty of time. I agree that the Eurostar is the way to go and very little stress and great train stations. You can catch a few more winks both before departure and on the train.

Odin

If you have a non changeable/non refundable air ticket, it might not be possible to change to Eurostar. We have no idea what the rest of the itinerary is and how it came to be that there is a flight and not a train booked to Paris when staying in central London.

If you have checked in online and have your boarding pass and as in the case it seems of most Americans, only have carry on luggage, an hour to an hour and a half before departure to arrive at the terminal is fine, but check with the airline you are flying on for their specific guidelines.

PatrickLondon

>>It's an hour from Paddington Station to Heathrow<<

?? If you're going from Russell Sq or Holborn, you take the Piccadilly Line and don't go anywhere near Paddington; though admittedly, I'd allow an hour for that to Heathrow, even though it shouldn't take quite as long as that.

That's if it really is impossible to take the Eurostar, of course.

janisj

Timetolivenow: This is the second time you've posted something about LHR/Paddington connections that is incorrect or doesn't make sense.

First of all, as Patrick says, Paddington would not be involved w/ a journey from Bloomsbury to LHR. But second -- if one was silly enough to go via Paddington - from there to the airport takes less than 20mins.

Jinky

Uggh, I'm sorry, not Paris. <b> We are catching a flight to Amsterdam.</b> (we are going to Paris later in the trip, so it has been on my mind)

We already have the (non refundable) plane tickets..

Thanks to those of you who replied to my question I am assuming it's the same (save for the suggestions about Eurostar)

janisj

yes

alanRow

London to Amsterdam without sexual assault, ritual humiliation, being stuck cheek to jowl in a small tube and with no worries about luggage allowances or whether the luggage travels with you

http://www.seat61.com/Netherlands.htm

Jinky

Alan, maybe you didn't read my post. <b> we already have non refundable plane tickets</b>

Jinky

Oh, and thanks janisj

Timetolivenow

Janis it includes getting to the station, waiting for the train and getting to the airport. I prefer Paddington, so I am correctfrom that perspective. I also prefer to build in extra time if this is your first time. So what station would they take?

janisj

"<i>Janis it includes getting to the station, waiting for the train and getting to the airport</i>"

That is entirely different than what you posted. "<i><blue>It's an hour from Paddington Station to Heathrow </blue></i>"

W/ your clarification it is a bit more accurate.

"<i> So what station would they take?</i>"

They would most likely take the tube from Holborn or Russell Sq -- depending on where exactly they are staying. A mainline train would be involved.

flanneruk

"So what station would they take?"

Holborn or Russell Square, as Patrick's already said.

Trekking out of your way to Paddington to get to Heathrow takes longer, costs more and adds at least one more potentially disruptive uncertainty than just getting on the tube in Bloomsbury and getting off at the relevant LHR terminal.

Almost as inane as suggesting someone arrives at LHR for an intra-European flight three hours before take off. I leave my Cotswold house, boarding pass in hand, three hours before takeoff for flights to the Continent, drive 30 mins to my Park & Ride, get the hour-long bus and, if (like the poster) flying BA, drop my bags off and saunter through T5's exceptionally efficient security still with an hour to hang round the shops before getting on the plane.

If you don't value your time,and like wasting money, by all means take a pointless tour of NW London and get to Heathrow before BA will even accept bags for your flight.

But don't assume posters are as feckless as you.

Jinky

Taking a KLM flight. Maybe we'll just hire a car :/

janisj

OOPs -- really need to preview

That should have said >>A mainline train would <u>NOT</u> be involved<<

janisj

"<i>Taking a KLM flight. Maybe we'll just hire a car :/</i>"

I sure hope you don't mean hiring a car and driving(!) A car service - sure. That can make sense.

But the tube journey from Bloomsbury to LHR could not be more straight forward. Plus it would likely be as fast or faster than a car.

Where exactly are you staying?

Jinky

Yes, a car service We are staying at the humble Arosfa for 3 nights. We did a budget hotel in London so we could splurge on nice apartments in Paris and Amsterdam.

If the tube is fine, I'd really rather do that, I just don't want to miss the flight and want to make sure we get there in time

PatrickLondon

KLM flights to Amsterdam leave from Terminal 4. The tube would get you there in plenty of time if you leave your hotel around 0830-0845 and walk to Russell Square station. There is the question of getting your luggage on to a rush hour train, and how much tutting you're prepared to put up with. Personally, I err on the side of caution when it comes to timing, and usually end up rather bored (but at least not stressed out) at the airport.