Robespierre

The Oxford Tube ordinarily makes stops at Shepherd's Bush, Notting Hill Gate, and Marble Arch on the way from Heathrow to Victoria Coach.

www.oxfordtube.com/on_and_off_london.php

I just emailed them to inquire whether this route would pertain on the 25th December.

Stand by.

janisj

And just which of those would be walkable from Knightsbridge?? Heck - Victoria Coach station is closer than Marble Arch which is at the opposite side of the park, and the others are even farther away.

Just book a car service and ignore all this foolishness about buses and non-trains. A car service will be faster, cheaper, and you'll know for sure you can get to your hotel w/o a hike through wintry London streets.

Robespierre

Victoria is closest to Knightsbridge.

For the benefit of anyone who might read this thread to plan a trip to London on the 25th: the Shepherd's Bush stop is a half-block form the Kensington Hilton and the Marble Arch stop is across Oxford Street from the Thistle.

Disregard any "do it my way" advice and use the information to make up your own mind.

NeoPatrick

While I agree that there may be more than one way to do this, was I right in understanding that two tickets on the bus to Victoria would cost 50 pounds, probably considerably more than a car service would charge to take you right to your hotel?

Can anyone explain a single advantage in paying more to only get part way to your hotel? What am I missing here? If there's an advantage, I'd be curious as to what it is.

W9London

TfL has just produced public transportation info around Christmas.

As in previous years, Heathrow Express will be replaced by bus service.

Considering you still have to get a taxi from Paddington to Knightsbridge (note GBP4 surcharge on Christmas Day), I still think your best bet is to book a car service from the airport.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...aflet_2007.pdf

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/6574.aspx

janisj

W9London: &quot;<i>I still think your best bet is to book a car service from the airport.</i>&quot;

And you'd be right. Everyone who knows what London is like on Christmas Day agrees w/ you

shothyme77

Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions. Two quick follow ups:
1) Is there a reliable car service you can recommend?
2) Still looking for ideas of things to do and places to eat(ethic is fine) for the 25th and 26th?

NeoPatrick

Regarding car services that aren't really expensive, JustAirports.com seems to be one of the most popular and most reasonable (if you pay cash rather than with credit card). If they are marking it up for the holidays, you may want to call SwissCottageCars at 011-44-207-431-2700 (if you dial 101-6868 before that whole list of numbers, it will be a very cheap call). You need to give them your flight number and time, and the actual address where you're going and they will give you a quote and set it up. Swiss Cottage Cars is actually a large conglomeration of car service that is not geared to tourists -- so they are more likely to be very reasonable and not yet booked for Christmas. They have a website now geared at tourists, but will charge you more booking it that way.

Normally either company should be about 25 or 30 pounds to take you directly to your hotel, but all bets are off since it's Christmas Day.

NeoPatrick

Regarding where to eat. As mentioned, mostly hotel dining rooms are open on Christmas Day and would require reservations. Pretty much all of Chinatown is open and you can walk and pick a place. I found this -- Finch's Pub in Chelsea is open on Christmas Day -- here's their menu -- not cheap for pub food.
www.citypublife.co.uk/christmasday713.htm

On the other hand, we had no problem on Boxing Day, but we stay in Covent Garden and things were almost as usual there. We had fish and chips at Harry Ramsden's at noon, and a nice dinner after theatre that evening at Boulevard Brasserie in Covent Garden.

NeoPatrick

Ah, and here is a Timeout link for restaurants open on Christmas Day -- get out your wallet for many of them!

http://www.timeout.com/london/christ...ures/3836.html

janisj

NeoPatrick: That Time Out list is very useful. We get this question so often and besides the usual &quot;hotels/ethnic&quot; it is hard to answer.

shothyme: When looking over NP's link, be sure to note locations since transport is basically non-existant you'd probably want a place w/i walking distance.

jetstream

It's fastest to take the HEX and should be cheaper than a taxi from LHR too. It goes every 15 mins and takes 15 mins to Paddington, which is actually close to Knightsbridge, maybe another 10 minutes. Get a taxi and you cut through Hyde Park. Nice drive, a lot more scenic than the ghastly M4/A4.

janisj

jetstream: The OP arrives on <u>Christmas Day</u>. The HEX will be a substitute bus and there will hardly be any taxis. The bus will take much longer than the train's usual 15 mins. And - two HEX tickets plus a taxi from Paddington if they can get one will cost more than just booking a car service all the way.

(Even if it WASN'T Dec 25, a car service would still be cheaper than the HEX + a taxi)

jamikins

Listen to janisj!!

NeoPatrick

&quot;(Even if it WASN'T Dec 25, a car service would still be cheaper than the HEX + a taxi).&quot;


Gee, do you think we could get that permanently posted somewhere? I can't believe how many people consistently take that route themselves or suggest a couple taking the HEX, then changing at Paddington with their luggage, getting a taxi and then going to their hotel which invariably is more hassle, costs more, and generally takes longer total than a nice car service direct from Heathrow to their hotel. I just can't imagine what possible attraction there is to that method. But as already mentioned it CAN'T happen on Christmas Day anyway -- even if you WERE trying to create more work for yourself and spend more money.