Heathrow to London Transfer?

Two retirees arriving Sunday September 22 mid morning.... after an overnight flight from east coast of US.
We will be traveling to Thanet Hotel near British Museum.
Picadilly Line would be cheapest option BUT as first time visitors, after an overnight flight, with 3 pieces of luggage total for my wife and I (not each) I am just not sure it is the best option? Thoughts?

By all reports the Heathrow Express is expensive option as would be a black taxi service...
Heathrow Connect is a cheaper option but still leaves me trying to get from Paddington to Thanet Hotel?

Shared shuttles so common in the US do not seem to be an option. Probably because of the distance from airport to hotels. I can imagine multiple stops being necessary for a mini bus of 12-15 people all going to different hotels. Could be a very long trip!

That leaves the option of car service...
After reading posts (too many probably) on other forums the car service business seems to be adventure into the unknown. Set Prices are not really set with many 'add-ons' added later. Drivers can be wonderful... or awful. Reviews for the same service company can vary greatly. So far I am considering JustAirports, Simply Airports, & Exclusivelyairports. And keeping my fingers crossed. Cost seems to be in the mid 40 pound range.
Any suggestions??? Especially considering it is a Sunday AM

You'd probably do more walking getting to the car than using the Tube.

2 Zone 6 Underground tickets will cost you £17 to get into Central London. All that long saved up money on 2 return flights, it seems a small extra price to pay that bit more and just get a taxi. If you go online and type in something along the lines of 'Cheap taxi into London from Heathrow', you'll often find some good deals if booked in advance. There's no need to worry about "What if my flight is badly delayed" either. The cab firms look at the incoming boards and won't worry if you're late through no fault of your own. Taxi services from LHR are far better than they used to be.

I don't know the hotel that you mentioned but the British Museum is very close to Holborn station on the Piccadilly line so why waste your time with Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect

I don't know the hotel that you mentioned but the British Museum is very close to Holborn station on the Piccadilly line so why waste your time with Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect

Just checked the map and the Thanet is close to Holborn or Russell Square, both on the Piccadilly line. If you were intending to walk then I would go for Russell Sq. Let busy station and easier walk than from Holborn.

The tube will be absolutely fine. As said already its a direct trip without a need to change lines - get on the Piccadilly line and stay on. You are guaranteed a seat as Hrow is the start of the route and finally it will be a Sunday, so you won't need to worry about the stress of negotiating commuter rush hour with your luggage.

Will probably take just an hour by tube. Taxi won't be that much quicker, if at all, as traffic in London is unbearable.

If you are ok with negotiating stairs then the tube will be fine. There are about 15 steps to climb when you exit Russell Square station, then you go up in a lift to street level.

I always catch the Heathrow Express then a taxi to my Russell Square hotel, I reckon it's easier than faffing about on the tube with luggage. Taxi cost to Russell Square from Paddington is about 15 pounds. Plus it's a more relaxed introduction to your stay in London, however I can understand why it's not everyone's cup of tea. I just find it less hassle.

PS If you decide on the Piccadilly line tube to Russell Square, get in the end carriage. That way you will be closest to the exit when you get off at Russell Square.

Edited by: KoalasRule

If you have suitcases with wheels, I wouldn't worry either. The tube will be fine and more relaible than a taxi anyway, and obviously cheaper.

That time of day - the tube will be fine. If it were 8.30 in the morning 0r 5.30 at night, that would be different.

Enjoy your stay.

a taxi will not be a 'bit more' It will be a LOT more.

take the tube. And maybe slightly less luggage. It's not a problem.

I'm leaning toward using a car service with greeter at terminal. I figure the 'help' with luggage at airport and hotel might be a plus. Of the three I mentioned (Exclusive Airports, simply Airports, and Just Airports) does anyone have recent experiences?
Re: The Picadilly line. I did some research and it looks like my flight will arrive at United Terminal 4. Would arriving at Terminal 4 make any difference regarding recommendations? How far is it from arrival gate to luggage pickup to Tube Station? BTW I appreciate the suggestion re Russell Station over Holburn for convenience. Thanks.

I thought that United fly into Terminal 1 but it doesn't make any difference. T4, T5 and T1/T3 each has its own underground station

The walk from the arrival gate to luggage pickup will vary depending on which gate you come into, but shouldn't be more than 10 minutes and the walk from there to the Tube station about the same (the walk to where the car would pick you up wouldn't be much quicker.

If you are planing on using the Tube during your stay then get an Oyster card at Heathrow Terminal 4 station - these will save you a LOT of money on your first and subsequent trips. Finally, in my experience, Londoners can on occasion be friendly and helpful and if so if you do struggle with cases then chances are someone will be right along to help.

"It will be a LOT more"
Not really, if taking what they paid for 2 transatlantic flights into account.
There are taxi firms online that'll do a 1 wayer from LHR to South Kensington for under £40. Only just over £20 more than 2 zone 6 cards. That's the option I'd choose as a retiree with 3 big bags anyway.

"Not really, if taking what they paid for 2 transatlantic flights into account" What a strange thing to say, of course it doesn't compare to the cost of flights, nor does it compare to the cost of a hotel in London or a slap-up meal in The Ivy, but in comparing the costs of travelling on the Tube with or without an Oyster card then it does save a lot.

As mentioned by others above, Russel Square Tube station on the Piccadilly Line is the most convenient, not South Kensington.

#2 and #14 You are comparing apples to oranges. With Oyster cards two singles from Heathrow to Russell Square are only £6 (£3 each) which is a lot less that £40 plus tip for a car service. The £17 (£8.50 each) that you quote is the Oyster card daily maximum charge for a full days travel on a Sunday, you do not get the car service for a full days travel for £40, so compare like to like.

After a red-eye from the East Coast (travelling eastwards is reddier-eyed than the return) and with 3 bags, I, as a fellow geriatric, have no hesitation in suggesting a taxi. Holborn to the BM aint that close carrying baggage.
The best suggestion is to try to get met by booking in advance, the sytem is minicab.

Why not phone up the hotel to see if they would organise a minicab at a fixed price. Most of these drivers are middle Eastern with just basic English, so it should be a quiet ride.

We have similar question. Travelling to Lisbon from USA with overnight layovers in London each way. Arriving LHR 9:30pm. 9/27 Depart for Lisbon @ 8:15pm 9/28.

Same on return flights - Leave Lisbon - arrive LHR 9PM, 10/5 depart for USA 5pm 10/6.

We would like to get some sightseeing in London but need to allow enough time back to airport using the tube.

Should we stay at airport hotel or can you suggest hotel in London - and how much lead time to get back to airport for international flights following day. Appreciate your advice.

I would say for both of those flights, stay in London. Allow 90 minutes on the tube to get back to the airport, plus your check-in time.

loads of hotels in London!

Getting a tube train after an overnight flight from the US with three bags between two of you, will be more than okay. I did it alone after an overnight from Australia, with two bags.

I wouldn't bother with the Heathrow Express/Connect unless you are staying near the station ie. as in walking distance.

One problem with arriving earlier to your hotel, unless you have booked an extra night you won't get your room until the afternoon. Drop off luggage and start your sightseeing, although you feel tired and grotty.

Advantage/disadvantage of airport shuttle buses - they can take a long time, as you drop off other passengers along the way. It is a way of filling in time along with getting to see a bit more of the area you are staying in. Personally I find it boring and takes forever.

Years back, we booked a car from Addison Lee to take us from North London to the airport - from memory it cost around £50, guessing it would have gone up quite a lot since then. Thinking about it, the last time I stayed in Paddington got a taxi from there to Heathrow and it cost us closer to £60.

I was hoping for a few recommendations for car services based on recent experiences?
Still considering JustAirports, SimplyAirports, and ExclusiveAirports....
I least I think these are the ones...
When I do online search I'm finding many companies with very similar names...
I assume this is intentional to help hide the rotten apples...
Thanks

A quick follow up note:
I understand the comment about the car service price being minimal vs cost of flights. Really what I am more worried about is having a positive first impression on the trip. We are not experienced world travelers. We have done a lot of US travel as well as cruises but Europe is new to us. A bad first experience, be it a bad tube trip or bad car service ripoff, will get us off on the wrong foot. On the flip side, a positive first impression will be very encouraging!

OP If you want a pleasant experience then fork out for a London taxi - all ,repeat all, London taxi drivers are total professionals and have to wait about 3 years to get a license.

The minicab is the cheaper solution, but less professional. You are looking at lists of minicab operators, probably Asian immigrants.

Thanet Hotel is about 5 - 6 minutes walk from either Holborn or Russell Square tube stations. I would recommend getting off at Holborn; Russell Square only has two elevators in operation due to ongoing elevator maintenance work until mid-November and there's large crowds at most times of the day waiting for them since the only other exit is a very tight spiral staircase of 175 steps - not recommended even without luggage. London Transport even has notices at Russell Square suggesting that people use Holborn!

Hope you enjoy London - if you're planning to go to the British Museum do take advantage of the free eye-opener tours they offer. I spent 2 full days in the museum last month just taking all the freebie tours.

{quote:title=capecodbeachfront wrote:}{quote}
Europe is new to us

And still will be after this trip :)

Tip : best not to call England 'European' : this will wind up roughly half the population.

Normally, I'd say go for the Tube, it won't be much longer then a taxi - under an hour to Holborn, and is far cheaper, but it comes down to your ability to carry your baggage around : you'll know this better then we will.

Minicabs are a bit hit and miss : if you're after a positive first impression go for a Black Cab : they're always good. London's one of the very few cities I've flown into where you can get a taxi from the airport, and not be ripped off / dropped off in a random street because the driver doesn't know where he's going, but doesn't to admit it and lose a fare.

Sorry, but I beg to differ. We are most certainly part of Europe and if anything is true (esp here) we get more wound up if we are not included as being part of Europe.

Mainland Europe can be called just that or continental Europe.

Europe will not be new to the OP after visiting the UK - he will have seen and experienced an aspect of it.

It's around £85 in a black cab from Heathrow to Holborn. Note you need to pay in cash, rarely do they accept cards (which would trace their income to the tax man). The great news is you don't have to tip black cabbies.

Order your mini cab service for £40. London on an early Sunday morning is perfect, the city is so quiet. There should be no extra fees, of the price was agreed as £40 then that is all you should pay. No tolls, no baggage fees.

Heathrow express then a taxi from Paddingon to Holborn would be more expensive then a mini cab plus you may have to wait up to 15 minutes for the express service.

A 7 hour overnight flight is not really a big deal, especially if you have a stretegy to get some sleep on the flight (eyeshades, earplugs, jacket/something soft for head).

Unless you are infirm in some way, you could try the first bit by tube and the street part by taxi as an economical compromise.

My 'Europe' comment included the fact we will be visiting Paris via Eurostar after our 5 day stay in London. Failed to mention it in my original post. Thanks for the suggestions, including the update re: maintenance work at Russell Square.
The 'eye opener tours' at British Museum got my attention. By 'Eye opener' do you mean they are done first thing in the morning? Or just that they are an introduction to the B Museum? Not a term I had seen before. I figured we would spent a bit of time at B Museum over a number of days instead of devoting a 'whole' day to it. Thanks

Eye-opener tours at the British Museum are free 30-40 minute introduction guides that are done throughout the day from 11:00am - 4pm. Each one covers a different geographic area or topic. You can't do them all in a day simply because the tours overlap from a timing standpoint and they also start at different places in the museum.; sometimes the tours are in adjoining rooms, other times at opposite ends of the museum.

If you are looking for a quality car service, the standard in London is 'Addison Lee'. They are THE mini cab company.

You need to pre book, all possible from their website.

They have two types of car service - regular and executive. Regular being a mid ranged car, executive being a Mercedes. They will cost around £60-£85. Drivers are wonderful people, well dressed, will look after your luggage etc.

If you want a great arrival, an efficient collection and a high service mindset go with them. Save your use of a black cab when you are in the city dashing here and there.

Hi

My 82 year old mother and I used Heathrow Shuttles (www.heathrowshuttle.com) for our trips to and from Heathrow Airport earlier this year. They provide a door to door service and I see on their website that your hotel is on their list - should be about GBP28 for the two of you, one way. We found the drivers friendly and very helpful with our luggage. You can book on line. After a long flight it was great not to have to worry about changing transport modes and negotiating stairs with our bags.