I'm confused, are you staying near Regents Park or near the Tower--they are not close to each other.
I understand your pedicament because a private car or taxi will be at least 90 quid (that's with a 10% tip) to perhaps much more if you are stuck in traffic. Someone mentioned 60 quid as the cost of a cab/taxi, that might get you as far as Covent Garden.

IF your hotel is near the Tower I would get on the tube at Heathrow (they have trolleys for your luggage which you can take almost to the door of the tube carriage and most carriages are equipped with space for luggage). By starting at Heathrow, you have virtually a 100% chance of getting a seat. Take the tube all the way to Bank Station. Take a cab from there. If you are very intrepid, change at Bank for Tower Hill, if that is indeed the closest tube stop to your hotel--please ask your hotel.

The cheapest way to get to the Regents Park area from Heathrow is to take the tube straight in to Picadilly Circus and either take a cab from there or change to the Bakerloo line to the Regent's Park tube stop. I don't think there's a cheaper way to do it (maybe by bus but there would probably be more changes). Changing tube lines is not extra charge as long as it's the same onward journey.

An excellent online planner is www.journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk--once you know where your hotel is, you can use this before you leave to get acquainted with the various tube, bus and train options in and around the city. You can search by fastest route, cheapest, fewest changes, etc.

And, oh, BTW, get an oyster card for discount travel on the tube.

"Dragging your luggage on the tube during morning rush is hell on earth. Back during my youth (relatively spaking) we did this a few times..never again."

Well, I just did this from Russell Square to Heathrow during the morning rush hour and I'm 60. Certainly not as pleasant as a car service, but not hell on earth either. Of course, I only had one backpack and one daypack to deal with. There's no way I'd pay the kind of prices you're talking abut just to get to the airport.

I am nearing 6-0 and not that fit but I've done the tube in from Heathrow and the whole time I just keep thinking about the money I'm saving. I admit I usually stay very near Holborn tube which means no changes and a very short walk from the tube.

cathinjoetown: &quot;<i>I'm confused, are you staying near Regents Park or near the Tower--they are not close to each other.</i>&quot;

They are two different posters - Lindathenurse is staying near the Tower and Clea is staying near Regents Park. (sometimes you need a scorecard)

BTW, those directions for the tube are not correct - the Piccadilly line does not go to Bank. To get to Bank from LHR they would change to the Central line at Holborn. But why go to Bank anyway? If one was to take the tube in from LHR they would go to Hammersmith, walk across the platform, and catch a District line train to Tower Hill.

tower: Why would one want to pay &pound;50-&pound;60 one-way into central London when justairports will take you for about &pound;30 give or take and about &pound;55 R-T?

janis:

&gt;&gt;&gt;tower: Why would one want to pay &pound;50-&pound;60 one-way into central London when justairports will take you for about &pound;30 give or take and about &pound;55 R-T?&lt;&lt;&lt;

The OP will have a friend with her....I assume they would split the taxi fare...amounting to about 25&pound; each...probably slightly less for a return to LHR...making it less expensive than the shuttle.


stu t.

tower: Once again - We are not talking about a shuttle . . . . . . A <u>Car Service</u> does not charge per person, but per car. In my math &pound;30 for a car service is less than &pound;50-&pound;60 for a taxi.

Don't know how to make it any more understandable . . . . .

I appoligized for piggybacking on another post, but when I read the cost from LHR to central London, I almost stopped breathing.

Thanks Janisj and YK, with one piece of luggage I will try the tube, but will check my lotto ticket before I leave!

Cathinjoetown, thanks for the helpful link!

Clea

Clea - if you're taking the tube, you can go to tube's website and use the &quot;journey planner&quot; tool. You can type in your final destination, and it'll tell you what the best route is.

If you're going to REgents Park tube station, you CAN take the tube all the way from Heathrow - but you'd need to change in Piccadilly Circus which I think involves steps. However, taking the tube all the way is the cheapest method.

If you don't mind spending a bit more, then look into the option of Heathrow Connect to Paddington + tube to Regents Park.

CLea, I suggest checking the esxact address of the hotel on www.streetmap.co.uk or similar sites, and looking to see what the nearest tube station might be. It might not be Regent's Park - the term might be used for quite a wide area.

Connections may be easier than trying to get to Regent's Park tube. For instance, if it's nearer stations on the Circle Line (which is entirely possible), you can take the tube to Hammersmith, take a few steps across the platform for an eastbound District Line train, change at Earl's Court (same platform again) for an Edgware Road or High St Kensington station, and change to the Circle (same platform again). Slow but cheaper than Heathrow Express + onward tube or taxi travel.

janisj--Thanks for correcting me about the tube directions. Lindathenurse, hope you diregard my post and read janisj's directions.

Janisj:

You are right..I've been talking taxi vs. shuttle..was not considering car service which I did not investigate during our planning stages...yes, you have made that quite clear...

&gt;&gt;&gt;Don't know how to make it any more understandable &lt;&lt;&lt;

Then again, have you noticed that this forum has become a much more testy place..which is much too sad.

Stu T.

tower - several of us tried (multiple times) to explain that a car service was cheaper. You posted at least 3 times that a taxi would be cheaper and easier. After the 3rd time I just figured a 2 x 4 upside the heard was the best way to get your attention . . . . . .

make that upside the <u>head</u>

Exactly what I mean....and I don't feel the need to be addressed with this kind of moderate rancor,..a rather unattractive streak which you've shown before on these postings. I don't peruse this forum with a magnifying glass...much to busy to do so...I only post when think I can be of some service, or if I have a legitimate question, and as a few minutes daily respite from my writing deadlines and associated research. When I'm wrong with information, I'll readily admit it, which in this case I did. You seem to be the resident London expert...I wish I knew that before booking the taxi with my hotel..so be it and thank you for your service.
Janis dear, if you feel the need for further remarks (I don't) please write to my e-mail or regular address which I freely post here from time to time...


2724 Angelo Drive
Los Angeles 90077
[email protected]

OK everyone, thanks very much for your help. After consulting with my friend, we have agreed to use a service to take us from Heathrow to the hotel. I am investigating companies now, thus far the best rate is 37 pounds from airportscars.co.uk. I am awaiting a response from another company.

At this point I don't recall if I've already checked justairports.com so I'm going to check with them again!

Thanks very much for your most kind assistance!

Thank you for the info on just airports. My daughter and I took the Heathrow Express last summer and enjoyed the adventure of transfers, etc. However, I didn't realize we could hire a car for approximately the same price. Since we are headed to an apartment this year, this sounds like a good alternative since it would deliver us to our door. I have bookmarked and will consider using a service this year.