1

just another thing ... will i be able to use the oyster card on the metro bus X26??

2

X26 will allow you to use Oyster card. 90p from Heathrow to Croydon. Sweet. But it could be up to two hours long. There are other options but they will definitely be more expensive and could take just as long (www.tfl.gov.uk will give you a better idea because it will depend upon departure times and the options also depend upon how much lugage, how tired you are etc). I don't know about luggage limitations on x26, you could call the operator Metrobus on 01293 449191 for the safest answer.

3

Agree with #2. I use my Oyster card on the X26 from Heathrow to Cheam.

There are heaps of space for luggage on the X26s I have taken over the years.
I don't think the 'friendly' bus driver would mind if your cart a huge 10kg luggage plus your 15kg backpack onto the bus. Why a gallant young man might just help you put away your luggage on the rack.

Good luck.

4

Ops, Terminal 4?

I remember the X26 leaving from the Central Bus Station at Heathrow serving Terminal 1,2 and 3.

Catch an underground from T4 to T1,2 & 3, navigate the pedestrian tunnels then take the lift up to the Bus Station.

X26 is the cheapest way to go.

5

thanks heaps for the info :)

6

The quickest way would probably be the tube and then the tram. I live near Wimbledon and take this route when coming home from the airport.

If you want to take the tube, get the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to Earl's Court, change there to the District Line, get that down to Wimbledon and get the tram.

When you get off the tube at Wimbledon, go up the stairs at the end of the platform (it's the only way out), turn left and the tram entrance is halfway through the tunnel, stairs go downstairs, clearly signposted.

More about the bus option:

The X26 leaves from bus stand n:o 20. When you go up the stairs or get the lift from the Undreground station up to the bus station at Heathrow, to get to buses go out of the door on the right hand side. Above is a list of all of the buses that leave from the bus stands on that side. Number 20 is the last in the row of the bus stands. Go out of the station building, across the road, straight ahead and the row of the stands starts there on the left.

Alternative bus route to East Croydon: Get the bus 285 or 111 (from the same stand as X26) to Kingston, it goes all the way to the Kingston bus station.

Change there for bus 57 or 131, the stop for those two is literally a few yards away from the 285/111 stop, get the 57/131 to Wimbledon and get the tram to Croydon.

The 57/131 stops outside The Centrecourt shopping centre in Wimbledon, the tunnel to get to the tram is on the left slightly uphill next to the doors to the shopping centre and a statue of two ladies as you get off the bus.

There are Undergroung style gates at the end of the tunnel, just "peep" yourself in as you would do going into the Undreground. The tram platform is downstairs about halfway through the tunnel, well sign posted. Wimbledon is the last stop on the tram system so any tram leaving will take you to East Croydon.

At East Croydon you can get off at Centrale (next to shopping centre), West Croydon (Bus station), Wellesley Road or East Croydon Railway Station.

TRAM MAP

But with 25 kg's it's not a lot of fun to change so many times is it...

The X26 goes only every hour or so, the 285 and 111 are more frequent.

Plus NOTE: The X26 does NOT go on Saturday or Sunday, weekdays only.

The Oyster card is OK for all of the buses, Underground and the tram.

7

As with #6 to Earls Court but then get District Line 1 stop to West Brompton and change platforms (there are lifts) and then get Southern Service heading for Brighton which stops at East Croydon.