London airport transfers
Sep 6th, 2003, 07:31 AM
#21
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Jenson, not sure I understand your question.
Holborn is on the Piccadilly Line which goes to Heathrow without a change. Be careful, some Piccadilly trains go to Uxbridge.
If you really mean Heathrow Express, the train, it leaves from Paddington Station and does require a change. Others can suggest the best way but I can't imagine going that route.
Holborn is on the Piccadilly Line which goes to Heathrow without a change. Be careful, some Piccadilly trains go to Uxbridge.
If you really mean Heathrow Express, the train, it leaves from Paddington Station and does require a change. Others can suggest the best way but I can't imagine going that route.
Sep 6th, 2003, 08:08 AM
#22
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Jsmith, So are you saying I could take the tube from Holburn station directly to Heathrow? Or do I need to take the Heathrow Express Train to get to the airport? If it's the latter, where can I get on the Express train? At Victoria Station? Sorry, I probably am completely lost....!
Sep 6th, 2003, 08:29 AM
#23
Jensen,
Holburn is on the Picadilly tube line which goes directly to Heathrow. If you don't have much luggage, it's a breeze to get to Heathrow this way. Takes about 45 minutes. As jsmith said, just make sure the train says Heathrow and not Uxbridge. On at Holburn. Off at the airport. Very simple.
jsmith was saying that it makes very little sense for you to take the Heathrow Express which leaves from Paddington (not Victoria) Station. You'd have to get from the Holburn area to Paddington and then get a separate (and fairly expensive) ticket for the express train to LHR. The trip would be more complicated, more expensive and not much faster than what was mentioned above.
Airbus might be a good option for you too.
Holburn is on the Picadilly tube line which goes directly to Heathrow. If you don't have much luggage, it's a breeze to get to Heathrow this way. Takes about 45 minutes. As jsmith said, just make sure the train says Heathrow and not Uxbridge. On at Holburn. Off at the airport. Very simple.
jsmith was saying that it makes very little sense for you to take the Heathrow Express which leaves from Paddington (not Victoria) Station. You'd have to get from the Holburn area to Paddington and then get a separate (and fairly expensive) ticket for the express train to LHR. The trip would be more complicated, more expensive and not much faster than what was mentioned above.
Airbus might be a good option for you too.
Sep 6th, 2003, 08:48 AM
#24
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Obxgirl -- thank you, very helpful. I didn't realize I could take the tube directly from Holburn Station to Heathrow. Maybe you can help with this too -- I will be in London for three full days and plan to use the tube once or twice a day. Is it better for me to purchase individual tickets each time or a travel card for the duration? If I get a travel card, will that get me to Heathrow to Holburn Station and then back again to the airport when I'm ready to leave London. I have so much to learn about all this.....!!
Sep 6th, 2003, 09:08 AM
#26
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My, My. johnian and obxgirl aren't you afraid of being ostracized for mentioning the Airbus.
Jenson, this site, http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/ will give you everything you need to know about transportation in London. The advantage of getting a travelcard is that you can use it on the buses also and if you don't have to pay another fare for a short jaunt you use it much more than once or twice a day.
Jenson, this site, http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/ will give you everything you need to know about transportation in London. The advantage of getting a travelcard is that you can use it on the buses also and if you don't have to pay another fare for a short jaunt you use it much more than once or twice a day.
Sep 6th, 2003, 10:44 AM
#27
The daily travelcards for Zones 1 & 2 (where most visitors concentrate their time) cost £5.10 for an all-day card, or £4.10 for one that's sold from 9:30 AM onwards. A weekend travelcard is £6.10 and has no time restrictions.
Heathrow is in zone 6 I think and you can pay the excess fare at Holburn and LHR right before you ride.
jsmith, why would someone be ostracized for mentioned the Air Bus?
Heathrow is in zone 6 I think and you can pay the excess fare at Holburn and LHR right before you ride.
jsmith, why would someone be ostracized for mentioned the Air Bus?
Sep 6th, 2003, 02:07 PM
#30
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Obxgirl, if you check postings about transfers from London's airports you will find the "regulars" with out of the box recommendations for Ray Skinner or Swiss Cottage car service regardless of the makeup of the group and their budget.
Sep 6th, 2003, 04:36 PM
#31
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Duh. I guess I'm one of those regulars you are talking about. If you will read the above suggestions, you will find that I have clearly stated that a car service is not the cheapest method from Gatwick. I am about the only "regular" who has posted about Swiss Cottage Cars, and you will find I nearly always say it is only advantageous for two or more people from Heathrow. If you read above, you will note my first post asked first "which airport". I guess you are incapable of reading the posts. Or could you quote any other post to the contrary????
Sep 6th, 2003, 04:42 PM
#32
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By the way, jsmith, I see your first post above stated clearly that the roundtrip for Airbus was 12 pounds. Was this for Gatwick to central London? Was I wrong in assuming that was 24 pounds plus taxi for two people. Or did you also fail to guess that the poster was talking about Gatwick. Seems like you are guilty of what you are accusing other posters of doing.
Oh, and another thing jsmith. I'd never be so crass as to suggest even in jest that one should pretend to be someone with a posted reservation and try to horn in on it. But then we all have different methods of how we travel. I chose not to do yours if that's how you operate.
Oh, and another thing jsmith. I'd never be so crass as to suggest even in jest that one should pretend to be someone with a posted reservation and try to horn in on it. But then we all have different methods of how we travel. I chose not to do yours if that's how you operate.
Sep 6th, 2003, 04:51 PM
#33
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I just wanted to add that if you buy a round-trip ticket you'll save a little on the Gatwick Express. (The British call it a "return" ticket) Also, I was sharply reprimanded by a conducter for calling it "second class". "We don't have second class in Great Britain, Madam," he said. They call it standard class. Oh.
Sep 6th, 2003, 06:32 PM
#34
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Does Heathrow Express not offer child fares? We will be picking up our rental car from Heathrow and heading to the Cotswolds.
We're doing this on a Saturday morning so I thought we'd take the tube to Paddington and the Heathrow Express to the airport. I can't determine if Heathrow offers the child fares like Gatwick. Does anyone know?
We're doing this on a Saturday morning so I thought we'd take the tube to Paddington and the Heathrow Express to the airport. I can't determine if Heathrow offers the child fares like Gatwick. Does anyone know?
Sep 6th, 2003, 06:40 PM
#35
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Heathrow Express is 13 pounds each way for adult, 6 pounds for child aged 5 to 15 in standard class (I think they call that Express class). It is 21 pounds in first class for adult or 10 pounds for child. Under age 5 is free.
Sep 6th, 2003, 07:16 PM
#36
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How long is the drive using Ray's or Swiss Cottage on a Saturday morning?
An hour?
From the looks of the posts above it would be cheaper for us (2 adults, 2 kids)to use Swiss Cottage to get to Heathrow (and back a week later) to pick up/drop off our rental car.
An hour?
From the looks of the posts above it would be cheaper for us (2 adults, 2 kids)to use Swiss Cottage to get to Heathrow (and back a week later) to pick up/drop off our rental car.
Sep 6th, 2003, 07:24 PM
#37
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The flat I rent is in Covent Garden and I don't think it has ever taken more than an hour -- even when it seemed like traffic was unbearable to get from the airport to my flat. And yes, despite the rude comments to the contrary, I agree that a 25 pound fare with Swiss Cottage Cars would be cheaper than the family going by Express, certainly if you also had to add a taxi to the Express fares. In addition, if you add in the times getting to Paddington, transfering to the train and waiting for the next one, it is doubtful that you'd save any time either.
Sep 6th, 2003, 07:29 PM
#38
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Thanks Patrick for your help!
We're staying at Windermere Hotel (near Victoria Station). I hadn't really thought about the tube line change, etc. and we'll have luggage!
Do you know if they are open on Sundays so that I can call tomorrow morning? Or do you know their business hours?
We're staying at Windermere Hotel (near Victoria Station). I hadn't really thought about the tube line change, etc. and we'll have luggage!
Do you know if they are open on Sundays so that I can call tomorrow morning? Or do you know their business hours?
Sep 6th, 2003, 07:37 PM
#39
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They will answer the phones 24 hours a day I believe. Last year I actually decided to take the tube on a Saturday morning to Heathrow, but at the last minute (when I got to Covent Garden tube station) I found out there was an accident on the line and it was closed. Passengers had to transfer to a bus to get to Heathrow. I went back to my flat, called Swiss Cottage Cars and had them pick me up 1/2 hour later -- no problem. I'd suggest you only reserve them about a week at most before you need them. Make sure when you call them that you know the address of your hotel, and know exactly where at Heathrow you need to go so they can confirm a price and the driver will be prepared.
