London Victoria to Heathrow
 

Getting the tube from London Victoria to Heathrow, I can get the Circle or District Line and change to the Picadilly Line at a number of stations.<BR><BR>Is one route better than another to avoid carrying luggage far at the chanegover point?<BR><BR>Does the same route work after arriving at Heathrow as well?

The question has disappeared. Fodors mistake?<BR><BR>Choices include taxi, tube (need to change lines once), minicab. Tube to Paddington then Heathrow Express is possible, also. The Airbus is not convenient because you need to take a bus (preferred) or tube to Bayswater Road.

I change at Gloucester Road but this is probably a bad choice. This is because the District and Circle lines are shallow and the Picadilly line to Heathrow is deep. South Kensington is a better choice.<BR><BR>

Dave: Take the District line from Victoria to Hammersmith and pick up the Picadilly line there. Not stairs or escalators - you just walk to the other side of the platform. <BR><BR>that is the easiest way to get from Vic to LHR by tube.<BR><BR>Hiroshi is very enthusiastic about London - but a lot of his advice is not terribly practical (sorry, H.)<BR>

Janis<BR><BR>Thanks, that's just the answer I was looking for. Will the same change be best going from Heathrow to Victoria?<BR><BR>Also, at Victoria, if a Circle line train comes is it best just to let it go and wait for a District line train foe the convenience?<BR><BR>Thanks for your help.

Dave - yes, it is the same each way. And do skip the Circle line train. The overhead signs announcing the oncoming train, and lablels on the front of the train will clearly tell you if it is Circle or District. <BR><BR>Circle line will just mess you up because it splits from the District route and heads up towards Paddington. If you get a brain &quot;cramp&quot; and get on a circle train by mistake, get off at the next station and wait for a District train.

Thanks Janis, am I right in thinking South Kensington and Gloucester Road and are a bit of a nuisance for changing at?<BR><BR>Anything to make the journey easier!<BR><BR>Thanks again.<BR>Dave

See, I knew my advice was bad. I have been suffering a long time and knew that my route was not the best.

Dave, if you don't already have a Tube map, then go to tubeguru.com so that you can see what Janis means about taking the District Line to Hammersmith.<BR>Don't get on a Circle train.. look at your Tube map and you will see that if you get on a Circle train , the last place that you can transfer to the Picadilly line is Glouster Road.<BR>The District Line is what you want. Make sure your District train is marked as going towards Ealing Broadway( or to Richmond) <BR>When you get to Hammersmith make sure that you transfer to a Picadilly train marked &quot; Heathrow&quot; and not to one marked &quot;Uxbridge&quot;.

Sorry, Dave ( do I sound like H.A.L. speaking?!)go to http://www.thetube.com/guru/index.asp

If your luggage is light, I think you may save time by taking the Circle line or District line, which ever comes first. If my suitcase is heavy on my next trip, I will try Janis' kind suggestion of waiting for the District line and changing at Hammersmith owing to the lack of stairs and shorter walking distance.

I am more than happy to change at Hammersmith on the District and appreciate the advice given.<BR><BR>I am just curious to know why getting the Circle line and changing at Gloucester Rd or South Ken is a no no.<BR><BR>I am looking at a tube map and it looks like the sooner you get on the Picadilly line the better. Two sections of the District line from Victoria don't go as far as Hammersmith.

For ease of changing trains without having to schlepp yourself and your luggage up and down stairs and over bridges that cross over train tracks, change at Hammersmith as Janis has advised.

Dave:<BR><BR>At Gloucester Road, there are 39 steps up from the Circle Line platform to the lobby level at which you get the elevator down to the Picadilly Line. Then there are another 39 steps from the elevator stop down to the Picadilly platform. I know, I've counted them many times. It can be exhausting even if all you're carrying is a guidebook.<BR><BR>V.<BR><BR>

I better not ask how many ceiling tiles are in Gloucester Road station!

If I recall my experience correctly, the best thing to do when you get to the dockyards is to sign up for a time for the Victory tour. Then wander the other exhibits while you await your assigned time.

If you have a chance, take the harbor tour; it's very interesting. And it gives you a chance to sit down.

How my reply landed under this thread instead of the HMS Victory thread, I have no idea. Sorry.

Dave, just be aware that there is no elevator at Victoria Station so you will have to schlepp your luggage down some stairs to get to the tube platform.