Hi
We are scheduled to arrive at Heathrow at 10:40 p.m. (22:40) on American, so I believe that is Terminal 3. What is the likelihood we will be able to get through customs and get our baggage that time of night and make it to catch the last train on the Tube to central London. According to the website the last train leaves Terminal 3 at 23:48. Are we better off staying someplace close and getting a car hire the first night rather than hoping for the best that we can get on the Tube?

Thanks!

to drive into London (?) or to drive somewhere else in the country. If you mean into London the next day DO NOT rent a car.

Where are you staying in London? Unless it is right AT Paddington I would not take the train at all. It is VERY expensive and only gets you to Paddington which means a taxi on to your destination which only increases the cost.

Ands I would not fret about making the tube or not. I would pre-book a car service like justairports.com It must be pre-booked so you can't just wait till you land and see if you make the tube or not. The car service will cost less than the Paddington train and MUCH less than a cab all the way in from the airport.

So at that time of night . . . a car service is a no brainer.

It may be a bit tight to get to the Tube on time. It depends on Immigration as much as, if not more than, collecting your bags and going through Customs. But given your arrival time, things should be pretty speedy, with none of the queues that can build up first thing in the morning when all the overnight flights arrive from the Middle East and Australasia. If you've just got off a transatlantic flight I certainly wouldn't recommend getting a car hire the first night - there are plenty of hotels close by that offer a ferry service to and from Heathrow. You'd also have to pay the so-called Congestion Charge for driving a car in Central London, plus the high parking charges.

>>there are plenty of hotels close by that offer a ferry service to and from Heathrow. <<

Actually none of the Heathrow area hotels offer shuttles. There is a paid Hotel Hoppa bus - that serves all of them. But it stops running around 11:30 (depending on the specific route) so can't be guaranteed.

>>You'd also have to pay the so-called Congestion Charge for driving a car in Central London . . . << Renting a car is daft -- congestion charge or no congestion charge.

Now IF you meant just staying in London that one night and then driving out in the country day two -- then it makes no sense going into central London at all. If the Hoppa has quit for the night, you'd take a cab to one of the off airport hotels. But I assumed you are actually staying IN London.

The last tube from T1-3 is 2248. The last train is 0007, then buses to Southall, connecting with trains to Paddingtom, throughout the night

Sorry, I used the wrong terminology. I meant should we get a private car/cab to take us in for the first night. We will eventually rent a car, but not until we are ready to do the rest of England - we would not rent a car for our own use inside London. I was thinking we should just stay at one of the hotels close to Heathrow for the the first night then get a couple nights in central London. But then I thought if we can get into central London for the first night at least we would already be there in the morning to start touring rather than getting up and having to take a train in then and drop luggage off at the central hotel. We do not have our accommodations booked yet. This will be at the end of March - early April. Thanks for comments so far!

I just took this flight and it got in about 30 mins early. Immigration (nonEU) was very quick; the line moved almost continuously while we were waiting to be processed. I had a car service pick us up because at that time of night, I didn't want to risk missing the last tube and didn't want to ride the night bus. When I arrive during the day, I take the tube because I won't have left for the airport at 3 am like I do for the 1040pm arrival.

Get Justairports and forget worrying!!!!NOm worries and greatm service Worth the money

>>I meant should we get a private car/cab to take us in for the first night<<

OK that is a <u>car service</u>. Like an airport limo in the states. Not limos, just regular cars. That is what justairports.com is. Do NOT under any circumstances take a regular cab. Would cost a fortune. A car service MUST be booked in advance - they can't pick up 'spec' riders at the airport.

Stay in central London. No need to check in to one hotel and then check out, travel and check in to another hotel the next morning. Honestly - by the time you wait for the next Hoppa and get to a LHR hotel you'd be more than half way in to central London. At that time of night the traffic into town won't be an issue.

Just my $.02.
Flew in to LHR from Chicago (on American) a couple days ago. Plane was delayed 1 hour, disembarking plane and travel to border control (with a restroom stop) 7-10 minutes), border control 30 minutes, walk to baggage claim 2-3 minutes, suitcase claim was an additional 10 minutes. (I was surprised bags weren't on the carousel by the time I arrived but that was the case.) Then, baggage claim to the tube is a longish walk (at least 4-6 minutes, and I'm a fast walker.) And THEN you have to buy your Oyster card (if youd don't have one from a previous trip). Oh! I'm getting anxious just typing this!

I arrived in the "prime time" hours of the morning, and we did have storms in the east which delayed our takeoff, but just piping in with my experience. I would not rely on the tube to get in to the city. Justairports.com is a great recco. Or, if there is a hotel connected to the terminals, that would be my choice. Have fun planning!