Just read a post --wanted to clarify-
Does it really take 1 hour by tube into Central London? I'd planned on the Piccadilly line to Piccadilly Circus, it's about 2 blocks from our hotel...
Thanks.

Yes it's about an hour

&quot;<i>Does it really take 1 hour by tube into Central London? </i>&quot; Yep - You are talking about nearly 20 miles and lots of stops.

PLus there is quite a walk to the tube station at LHR. So w/ the wait for the next train you really have to count on about 80-90 minutes from arrivals to Piccadilly Circus.

Bring a good book and/or a people-watching frame of mind. Or buy Time Out (and or a newspaper) at the airport and spend the time finding out what's on in London while you're here.

FWIW, these are my actual timings on April 10, 2008.

Arrive at gate, T3: 06:30
Airplane doors open: 07:00
Enter immigration hall: 07:10
Exit customs hall: 07:25
On tube: 07:35
Arrive at Kings Cross/St. Pancras: 08:40

(The half hour between plane arrival and doors opening was due to a gate malfunction; they had to round up some people to watch us exit the plane by the stairs and walk to the gate.)

I think it's also important to point out to lizzybirdy that any other form of transportation into the city will likely take about the same amount of time, especially if you are figuring in the time from plane landing to hotel drop-off.

To clarify my post - &quot;Arrivals&quot; meant the Arrivals Hall after clearing passport control/baggage reclaim. I didn't mean from the plane's arrival.

From exiting the Arrivals Hall to P. Circus, count on 80-90 mins.

Thanks for a very clear picture of what to expect. I thought about getting &quot;justairports&quot; but since we are right on the Piccadilly line, I wanted to take advantage of the Tube. So, it sounds like a toss --in terms of time, and much less $ by Tube.

When I'm staying really close to a piccadilly line or a district line station I'll usually take the tube. When staying elsewhere, I'll use justairports.