MariaPat

I am travelling with three older women in March to London. What is the best way to get from Heathrow to Bina Gardens via train/tube or bus? Second question: Two of the women have food preferences - one is a vegetarian and the other does not like spicy. Can any of the foodies give me some suggestions as to places that are moderately priced and can help me with these requirements? Third question: Two of us enjoy antiquing very much- where should we start and what days are best? We will be IN London for 6 days. THX! Maria

JamilaZ

The nearest stop to Bina Gardens is Gloucester. I'm not sure how to get there from Heathrow, but you can check the London Transporation website at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/. Click on Journey Planner. As for low cost restaurants with your specifications, check out Pizza Express. It has several locations. They serve pastas & various kinds of pizzas (not like pizza hut at all). You will also see many cafes around that will work for you. The food halls in major department stores such as Harrods and Harvey Nichols will be nice too. As for your third question, there is a famous market that is held every Saturday. I can't remember what it's called. I'm sure someone on this forum will.

jfm

up to the top...

Patrick

Saturday antiquing is at Portobello Market, in the Notting Hill area. When you get near the end of it, just past the railway overpass is a small S&M Cafe, which is for "sausage and mash" it will suit you all. Yes, vegetarian sausages as well as mild ones, with choices of various mash and gravies. Really good, different, and cheap.

With four of you, I'd highly recommend making a little splurge and hiring a car to meet you at Heathrow and take you right to Bina Gardens. Check out www.justairports.com

jody

Either a hire car or or Heathrow Express and taxi won't cost much more than taking the tube for 3 people. From Bina Gardens , in addition to Patrick's suggestion, you are only a few blocks from the King's Row and numerous antique shops and centers, Fulham Rd ,even closer has some nice shops. If you are there on a Monday morning, go to Covent garden antiques market.

There are many places right around your area to eat, I'm sure you can find something that would suit all the parties.

jody

Also check www.antiques-web.com.uk for shows that might be on near you. The Chelsea town Hall, a few blocks from you , has fairs several times a year. The Rembrandt hotel has shows about every 2 months or so. If there is a fair at the Horticultural Grange in St Vincents Sq, nr Victoria Station, which is a short distance , I'd really reccomend going. We've never gone there without finding something we couldn't resist!

rhkkmk

the tube with older people and suitcases is not a good idea--imo

i think either a bus to central london or more preferably treat yourselves to a large taxi....

food is easy...english food is generally bland so if you shy away from some ethnic food you should be fine....unfortunately some of the least expensive food in london is ethnic....food generally is outrageous in price in england...plus the exchange to the $$ is bad just now...
many brits are veggies so that too is no problem/....one of their favorite dishes is jacket potatoe with all the trimmings and it is reasonable and very good....

jody

OHHHHHHHHH,
I don't know your dates ..but there are some good shows on! If you are there for the Olympia..Go For It!! You might not be able to afford to buy but it is great fun to see all the goodies!

http://www.antiques-web.co.uk/cgi-bin/gbaw-fairs.pl

Where2Travel

If you do want to take public transport from Heathrow to Bina Gardens, note the stop you need is Gloucester Road (not Gloucester as JamilaZ mentioned which would get you a long way from where you need to go). On the tube this is relatively simple since both stations are on the Piccadilly line. This would be the cheapest way to go as well. However, if you have luggage you may decide this is not worth the hassle since you would also have a walk after arriving at Gloucester Road or a short taxi journey. Do you know what Terminal at Heathrow you arrive into?

Jody mentions the Heathrow Express won't cost much more than taking the tube. This isn't true as the Heathrow express (at £15 per person) would probably cost you more than a private car for 3 people and you end up at Paddington (some way from Bina Gardens).

If you want a hassle-free trip to your hotel, most people would opt for a private car. People here recommend a couple of companies as being reliable and inexpensive but I always get the tube (I live in London) so I don't know much about them.

m_kingdom2

Alfie's antique market in Lisson Grove (or thereabouts) is open weekdays only, and has everything in a low-middle price range; also try Gray's in South Molton St. W1, again open weekdays, for slightly higher end antiques.

I'd also second the suggestion of Portobello Market, however, you must haggle, and bear in mind that all the dealers there are making a large mark-up on prices, and rely a lot on casual buyers i.e. those unfamiliar with the real value of items.

janis

You've got the answer for transport to the hotel -- tube if you don't have much luggage, car service if you do (or if the walking and stairs in the tube would be aproblem for you)

One point about Portobello RD - definitely go there if you are in London on a Saturday. But you must get there EARLY. Plan on being there by 7 a.m. (earlier if you can manage it) and leave by 10 or 10:30 a.m. After that it is simply too crowded to see anything, or even walk comfortably.

Robespierre

It sounds like this will be a London-only jaunt, but for the benefit of anyone else contemplating a similar expedition where you will be acquiring a BritRailPass, remember that it is valid for the Heathrow Express.

In that case, the preferred method would be to take the LHRX into Paddington and a taxi or tube from there.

carolyn

If you will be using the Gloucester Road tube stop, there is an ASK Pizza restaurant in the small adjacent shopping mall, and the food is pretty good as well as reasonable. Not at all like Pizza Hut, as someone said above.

Also, there is a Waitrose grocery located in that shopping center where you can pick up takeaway food and the wonderful British cookies, candy, and snacks. My favorite is Cadbury Fruit & Nut bars; their chocolate is much better than that in the U.S. (higher butterfat content as I understand it).

jody

Heathrow Express is 13GBP per person, taxi from Paddington to Bina Gardens , no more than 10 GBP..at least in my experience..I value the convenience and the travel time! Most car services run about 40 GBP..if you pay by CC..if Cash ,less..but then you either have to bring pounds or try to get them at the airport , another thing to do while jet lagged.

M-k2, Alfies is always great fun for us..how could I have forgotten it. Also Gray's antiques Mkt , a very short distance from Bond st tube station is worth a stop. I've always mamanged to find something I NEEDED. There is a wonderful silver dealer there, whose name other than Peter, escapes. And if you are at all interested in majolica, they have wonderful pieces..if you can afford them!

Patrick

Jody, I really don't understand why getting cash out of an ATM when jet-lagged is a problem. But if we assume for a moment that it is, how do you suppose these people are going to pay the taxi when they get off the Heathrow Express if they don't get cash?

Convenience and travel time? The one time I did the Heathrow Express, counting the time I waited in the mob getting off it with me at Paddington to get a taxi, then spending over half an hour in the heaviest traffic to get to my flat -- it took just as long as when I take a car service. And with the car service you don't have to transfer when you get part way there. I can't imagine how "time or convenience" is really any better with Heathrow Express AND a taxi than a car service all the way.

And 13 pounds times 4 people is 52 pounds not counting the additional taxi ride. Just Airports seems to be quoting 30 or under direct to a central hotel if paying with cash. That's a pretty big savings.

By the way, am I misunderstanding that "traveling with three older women" makes a total of four people?

rj007

I agree with janis in getting to Portobello Road early. We got there around 7 AM - no crowds. By time we left around 10 we passed through huge throngs of people headed towards the shops.

Robespierre

I've never run into a problem getting a taxi at Paddington - maybe it's a time-of-day dependency or something. In most cases it isn't an issue, either because I can walk to my hotel or I'm taking the Tube onwards.

But if I'm in a hurry to get to a meeting in the City, LHRX + Tube is the fastest and most reliable way to go. Not recommended for older women with baggage.

jody

Patrick, I go to my BofA on Park Avenue in Winter Park, and my foreign currency teller, Richard, gives me as many pounds or Euros as I want..deducts it from my checking or savings account and we have a very pleasant conversation about my trips and his. It might cost me $5. 00 dollars more than an ATM , but I can get off the plane,onto the express, and get in a cab with money in my pocket.

I'm sorry you have had trouble getting to your flats..I guess I have been exceedingly lucky.. in 40 years of traveling to London, I've never experienced that.

jody

Sorry..I clicked too soon. I've dealt with several car services for friends. And they are wonderful..Ray skinner has called me back several times to check on details for them. But I prefer to take the express..and have no worries about traffic tieups,missed connections, late arrivals, etc. A few dollars does not make that much difference in the whole scheme of things...at least to me. I want off the plane and on my way..the faster the better!

Each to his own!

I'm even stopping having a car service picking me up here in Orlando when we come home. We have the world's worst taxi service..but even though the cost is about the same..by the time they meet us, then go for the car..I could be in a cab and half way home. Of course that is probably the fault of the car service facilities at MCO. Then I can always hope that we'll get bumpted and it's hard to reach them to change a pickup!!

Patrick

Jody, you are right. To each his own. Which is exactly why I'd much prefer to be met as soon as I come out of customs by a driver who whisks me away in a car immediately and takes me right to my flat. I personally don't like that long walk to the Express, and I dislike the hauling my luggage out to the taxi line and waiting for a one, then fighting the traffic to my flat -as much traffic or more as I'd have the whole way -- we never hit major traffic until we get into the city. Now admittedly my flat in Covent Garden is a long way from Paddington so that may be the problem. The car service has never taken me more than an hour Heathrow to my flat -- and the express took just as long with much more "hassle" and less comfort, and costs the two of us more. Sorry. I just don't get it, but glad you're happy. (I suspect you are talking about traveling alone, so that really does make sense money wise). It's really fine that you prefer the Express and then taking a taxi, but I don't get explaining your reasoning for doing so as being either more economical (for 4 people) or more convenient or even quicker (door to door, unless you happen to be going almost next door to Paddington).

Your idea about getting the money at home is fine. But I don't get why a person taking a car service can't do that, but a person taking the Express can? You seemed to indicate one of the problems with a car service was having to get money. Or is that not what you meant? I still don't get that.