London, between flights
Oct 12th, 2008, 07:03 AM
#1
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London, between flights
Friday the 24th my friend and I will be in London for a few hours between flights (coming in at Stansted at 11.10 and leaving 19.00 from Heathrow) and my friend wants to see a little of London if possible - a short tour by bus or something. I've tried to read up on the internet to see if this is possible, but so far I haven't been able to come to any conclusions. Would it be terribly complicated or would it be possible with little work?
Oct 12th, 2008, 08:58 AM
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The limitations on your ability to spend some time in London will be the amount of money you are willing to spend and the amount of luggage you have with you.
If you can provide some guidance in those areas, I'm certain you will get some good advice in these pages.
The faster ways of getting from Stansead to London and London to Heathrow are the Stanstead Express at 17 pounds a person to Liverpool Station and the Heathrow Express from Paddington at 24.50 pounds each. I have no idea how much a taxi between the train stations would cost, but you are looking at a base line cost of some $152.00 at current exchange rates.
Perhaps it would be better to take the National Express bus to Heathrow, leave your luggage in your departure terminal (it will be too early to check your luggage for your flight out) and then, if you have time, take a taxi to Windsor for a few hours of sightseeing there.
If you can provide some guidance in those areas, I'm certain you will get some good advice in these pages.
The faster ways of getting from Stansead to London and London to Heathrow are the Stanstead Express at 17 pounds a person to Liverpool Station and the Heathrow Express from Paddington at 24.50 pounds each. I have no idea how much a taxi between the train stations would cost, but you are looking at a base line cost of some $152.00 at current exchange rates.
Perhaps it would be better to take the National Express bus to Heathrow, leave your luggage in your departure terminal (it will be too early to check your luggage for your flight out) and then, if you have time, take a taxi to Windsor for a few hours of sightseeing there.
Oct 12th, 2008, 09:37 AM
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<i>But at my back I always hear
Time's winged chariot hurrying near...</i>
If you take a train into Liverpool <b>Street</b> station and have an hour to take the Piccadilly Line (Underground/Tube) to Heathrow, you can see a number of sights on the way from one to the other by riding a city bus (there's space for <i>some</i> luggage at the front door). Use this map to plot an itinerary - Liverpool Street is over on the right, on lines 8, 11, and 23:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...al_bus_map.pdf
This geographic map (available at Tube stations) shows the Piccadilly Line stations:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/centlond.pdf
If you don't want to change buses, I'd suggest you ride the #23 to Piccadilly Circus. If you don't mind schlepping luggage on and off buses, then buy a one-day Bus Pass and knock yourself out.
Tip: have a Plan B in case service on the Piccadilly is disrupted.
Time's winged chariot hurrying near...</i>
If you take a train into Liverpool <b>Street</b> station and have an hour to take the Piccadilly Line (Underground/Tube) to Heathrow, you can see a number of sights on the way from one to the other by riding a city bus (there's space for <i>some</i> luggage at the front door). Use this map to plot an itinerary - Liverpool Street is over on the right, on lines 8, 11, and 23:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...al_bus_map.pdf
This geographic map (available at Tube stations) shows the Piccadilly Line stations:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/centlond.pdf
If you don't want to change buses, I'd suggest you ride the #23 to Piccadilly Circus. If you don't mind schlepping luggage on and off buses, then buy a one-day Bus Pass and knock yourself out.
Tip: have a Plan B in case service on the Piccadilly is disrupted.
Oct 12th, 2008, 01:21 PM
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Sorry to rain on your parade but if you're flying internationally you'll have to get to LHR by 16.00 and it takes quite a while to get from Stansted to Heathrow.
This website suggests allowing 3.5 hours between leaving one airport and checking in at the other!
http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/...d_transfer.htm
I'd head straight to Heathrow and relax before my next flight.
This website suggests allowing 3.5 hours between leaving one airport and checking in at the other!
http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/...d_transfer.htm
I'd head straight to Heathrow and relax before my next flight.
Oct 12th, 2008, 03:21 PM
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I have an idea for you:
Take Stansted Express from Stansted to Liverpool Street station (45 min ride).
Grab lunch at or near Liverpool Street station (perhaps you can even walk across the street over to Spitalfields Market).
Back to Liverpool Street station, take Bus 11 (direction: Fulham Town Hall).
Get off Bus 11 at Sloane Square. The bus route will take about 1 hour, and it passes through:
St Paul's Cathedral
Trafalgar Square
Big Ben/Parliament
Westminster Abbey
From Sloane Sq, take the tube (District line) to Hammersmith station, and then change for Piccadilly line to Heathrow Airport. Tube journey will be about 1 hour.
So, say you get on the Stansted Express at 12 noon
You arrive at Liverpool Street Station at 12:45pm
Lunch 1-2pm
Bus 11 from Liverpool Street Station
Arrive at Sloane Sq 3:15pm
Arrive at Heathrow around 4:15-4:30pm
Take Stansted Express from Stansted to Liverpool Street station (45 min ride).
Grab lunch at or near Liverpool Street station (perhaps you can even walk across the street over to Spitalfields Market).
Back to Liverpool Street station, take Bus 11 (direction: Fulham Town Hall).
Get off Bus 11 at Sloane Square. The bus route will take about 1 hour, and it passes through:
St Paul's Cathedral
Trafalgar Square
Big Ben/Parliament
Westminster Abbey
From Sloane Sq, take the tube (District line) to Hammersmith station, and then change for Piccadilly line to Heathrow Airport. Tube journey will be about 1 hour.
So, say you get on the Stansted Express at 12 noon
You arrive at Liverpool Street Station at 12:45pm
Lunch 1-2pm
Bus 11 from Liverpool Street Station
Arrive at Sloane Sq 3:15pm
Arrive at Heathrow around 4:15-4:30pm
Oct 12th, 2008, 04:43 PM
#8
It is sooo tempting - but I wouldn't. On a Friday afternoon you'll want 2.5-3 hours at LHR. By the time you get your luggage and wait for the next train from Stansted, you will be lucky to be to Liverpool Street by 1 PM - which gives you a total of 3 hours in London. One of which will be spent traveling out to LHR. So, do you want to schlepp luggage around London, on/off buses, in/out of a restaurant - for a grand total of two hours free time?
I'd just take the airport coach to LHR, then use one of the lounges there if you qualify, or shop and eat to kill the time. You'll end up w/ about 6 hours at LHR which is a long time - but not nearly as much a hassle.
(If you only have small carry ons and no suitcases, my advice would be different though)
I'd just take the airport coach to LHR, then use one of the lounges there if you qualify, or shop and eat to kill the time. You'll end up w/ about 6 hours at LHR which is a long time - but not nearly as much a hassle.
(If you only have small carry ons and no suitcases, my advice would be different though)
Oct 13th, 2008, 03:57 AM
#9
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"if you're flying internationally you'll have to get to LHR by 16.00" - only if you are flying to the US. 2 hours before your flight is ample for anywhere else - or an hour, if you'll already be checked in (will you ?).
The Heathrow Express is not £24.50 it's £16.50, or £19.50 if you pay on board.
The Heathrow Express is not £24.50 it's £16.50, or £19.50 if you pay on board.
