Tube or train from Heathrow with luggage?
 

We are arriving in London on Sunday 29/06 from Cape Town. We are wanting to do a bit of sightseeing of London (our stay is very short so we have to make the most of our time). Is it best to tube or train it into London, where do we get off and what do we do with our luggage - family of 4 with 3 suitcases?? Thought of doing the London Eye and hop on hop off bus.

I'm not sure if I understand you. Will you just have a stopover at Heathrow, or are you actually staying overnight?
If you just have few hours, then leave your luggage at the airport. I'm not exactly sure of the location of the place at the airport, but I'm sure if you ask, you will be pointed at the right direction to where the luggage storage is(for a fee of course).
The Heathrow Express is 15 minutes to Paddington station. It will be expensive for a family of four. The R/T ticket costs around 20BP per.
The Underground would be the cheaper option, but it will take just over an hour to get to the center of the city. This willl cost around 4BP per person for a R/T.
You should be able to get the "sightseeing bus" brochure at the airport, maybe even where you leave your luggage for storage.
Also remember, you will need at least 2 hours to check-in and get through security at Heathrow when you get back. Personally I would give myself 2.5-3 hours for an international flight. Heathrow is famous for long lines and back-ups.

Now all that said, if you are staying overnight, well...... you will need to do some research as to what hotel you want, etc...etc...
Have a great trip!!!

I don't quite understand your post. You are arriving from Cape Town and then what? Are you just passing through to somewhere else or staying in London? Obviously, if you are staying in London, go drop your bags at the hotel. If you are only passing through, you might check with the airline that you are continuing on to see if you can check bags early with them. The train stations in London used to let you leave luggage, but I don't think they do anymore. Someone in the UK can answer this for sure. The tube is your cheapest way into London, but the Heathrow Express to Paddington is the fastest. A little more information would be helpful.

ok sorry for the lack of info! We are staying outside of London with family for 3 days on our way to Italy. I just thought that we should get straight to London itself and do a bit of sightseeing before taking the train to our family that evening. But my concern is our luggage - we can't leave it at the airport, so ideally Paddington would be the best? Any idea of what the tube/express would be one way? If we take the tube, we can get off at Green Park where the Big Bus Co. has their head office. Or if we train it, can we get off at Victoria and leave our luggage there?

Heathrow Express will get you to Paddington Station, not Victoria. You could leave your luggage there, or take the tube to Victoria, as I'm assuming that's where your evening train leaves from, and leave the luggage there. You don't have to go to the main office of the tourist bus. You could buy a ticket at any stop, either through a ticket agent, or if not available, on the bus.
For more info on the Heathrow Express go to:
www.heathrowexpress.co.uk
For info on the tube go to:
www.thetube.com
Have a great trip!

If you get the train, ie the Heathrow Express this will take you to Paddington station. You would have to get a tube/taxi from here to where you wanted to go.

If you get the tube from Heathrow you can go direct to Green Park on the Picadilly Line from Heathrow for £3.70 each (children cheaper).

If you want to go to Victoria get the Picadilly Line from Heathrow and change to the District Line at Hammersmith to get to Victoria. The cost here is £3.70 per person as well. There may be the alternative of getting a coach from Heathrow to Victoria but someone else may know more about this.

Are you friends quite a way out of London? If you have three days to explore London I'd be inclined to go to your friends straight away, drop your luggage and relax on the first day, catching up etc. You then have three days to see London when you are refreshed.

Thanks AA for the great tips. Dave, we are leaving for Italy on the Wednesday morning so only have 2 days after the Sunday. I know we may be a bit tired, but thought we could "freshen" up to a reasonable state at the station, and then amble around London that day. I'm scared that if we go to the family, we'll never get out!!!

I see what you mean! And I definitely agree with maximising your time in London.

I was wondering which station you needed to get to your friends after your day in London? Is it Victoria? If so I would aim to get there with your luggage from Heathrow. I don't know what facilities there are for luggage at Victoria but will let you know if I can find out.

It looks like there are Left Luggage options at Victoria Railway station and at Victoria Coach station (the two stations are a few minutes walk apart). Brief details can be found at:

http://www.majorstations.co.uk/index...nID=5204#att12

http://www.transportforlondon.gov.uk..._luggage.shtml

Thanks Dave, you've been a great help! This is our first time to London with our two teenagers, so want things to go smoothly!! I think I would have to get to Victoria to connect with our train to the family (not sure which one to take but will find out). So now if we take the express to Paddington, do we then take the yellow line/circle line to Victoria?(by the way I went into the express website and they are offering a 50% saving off single tickets to a group of four adults travelling together on either a Saturday or Sunday - so this suits us just fine!!)

You got it, from Paddington it's a few stops on the Circle line (yellow) to Victoria.

If I were you I would find out what railway/tube station you need to get to your friend's place. I wouldn't want to suggest you leave your luggage at Victoria station if this isn't the station you need to get the train to your friends. Do you know whereabouts they live as that may determine which station you need?

mo_han1...
I'm going to Capetwon in January!! My friend there works for Vodocom,the phone company I guess?? Have fun on your trip.

Hi Dave, I must email my cousin and find out the finer details. Thanks for all your help. BeachBoi, you are going to LOVE Cape Town and the weather is GREAT in January/February. Enjoy your holiday as we will ours!!!