Getting from Heathrow to London

[Julofhiddenacres]

Our family is traveling to London next month. DH and I have visited England before, but flew into Manchester. This will be our first visit to London, and the first overseas visit for our three teens. I'd welcome some advice on the best ways to get from Heathrow to our hotel on the South Bank.

I'm wondering if it would be easiest, though expensive, to hire a car to take us straight to the hotel, given that we will be arriving on an overnight flight from the US, and dealing with jet lag. I checked the price of train tickets, and for 5 of us, it adds up. It's been a long time since DH and I used the subway anywhere, and our kids have never tried it. I think we'd be game, but maybe not first thing!

That might be more information than anyone needs, but I wanted to avoid the dreaded drip feed. Again, any suggestions welcome.

Tube from Hatton Cross.

I’d go with private hire. Addison Lee have always been pretty good.

Id get a black cab, and expect it to be around £100/120. You’ll be able to walk up to the rank as soon as you get out of the terminal, and get dropped off at the door of your hotel. No faff of prebooking an extra large vehicle as most standard Ubers will only take 3/4 passengers, while a black cab takes 5/6. and no stress about flight delays etc.

Definitely don’t hire a car. That will take so much longer and once you’re in London you won’t need it and won’t have anywhere to park it.

Download the CityMapper app and it will give you every possible route via every type of transport.

Heathrow express to Paddington and then tube to Waterloo is by far the quickest route.

Surely the easier way is to pop on the tube and change at Earl’s Court or whatever. Not much thinking involved even after a long flight. Much less than some posters are quoting about £6 each surely. Children 11 and under free. If you say where on the south bank the right tube station can be identified.

This really is a bad idea unless the OP has money to burn or it's 6am at the weekend. Sitting in traffic in a black cab will cost the OP a fortune (despite black cabs being able to use bus lanes).

There's some poor advice on this thread (as well as some very sensible advice). I assume some people are occasional travellers so a little out of touch and not aware how much worse traffic has got, and how taxi/cab fares have increased. Reputable mini cab firms that charged £90 pre-Covid are now charging £120+.

Day of the week and time of day is key to deciding. If it's a weekday, unless you're out of the airport by 6.30am, you're better off getting the Elizabeth line as a cab/Uber will get take significantly longer. Pre-booked cabs can be such a faff at Heathrow too. It's much easier to just get the Elizabeth line (don't bother with HEX - it's over-priced and less convenient) and either change on to the tube, or just get out at Tottenham Court Road and hail a cab / grab an Uber for the rest of your journey to the South Bank (you don't say which part of the South Bank so hard to be more specific).

Just for your awareness (particularly if there are strikes planned for when you travel). the Elizabeth line is part of the Overground so it's affected by train strikes but not by tube strikes (the Overground isn't the tube).

Tube every time! Get the kids children’s Oyster cards, and then the tube is way cheaper for them too. And it’s so easy from Heathrow - you just sit peacefully the whole Z( long) way! You’ll need to change but that’s not hard either. We’ve done this many times, even w much younger kids.

Absolutely get a taxi. I live in London and get the local mini-cab company to pick me up. Uber is also an option, although I like the certainty of booking ahead.

Take the underground to Leicester Square then walk

Get on the tube. It starts in the airport and is well sign posted.
Go on the tfl website and do "plan my journey'.
It is easy and far cheaper than a taxi.

The Piccadilly line is much cheaper than the Elizabeth line!

£5.60 for adults

I live in London and always book a car when all of us are going together on holiday from Heathrow. It's just too much hassle with everyone with a case and the heat of the tube and the South Bank isn't that great from the airport on public transport (you're likely to have to change tube somewhere and that isn't fun after an overnight flight with big suitcases!).

Have a lovely time!

the tube is absolutely fine btw - but I find the combination of overnight flight exhaustion plus everyone together just easier in a cab. But definitely book in advance as it will be cheaper.

After a long trip we would get a taxi not the tube personally. You can prebook as you'll need a decent size one. What time will it be?

Which terminal are you arriving at op?

if you must drive (really it’s far better not to) then book a car service for the single trip from Heathrow to the South Bank.

Otherwise, the Elizabeth Line is brilliant. I’d recommend changing to the Tube at Paddington rather than Tottenham Court Road. It’s easier as Paddington is bigger and less crowded than Tottenham Court Road.

If you book ahead, you can sometimes get the cheaper advance purchase prices on the Heathrow Express.

Central London public transport is excellent and easy to use. There’s lots of information but you do need to read signs and maps (Americans are often not very good at this because many US cities are organised on a grid layout) Just use a debit or credit card on entering and leaving trains/Underground and your daily fare is automatically capped.

Honestly, jet lag from the US is minor. I manage to do a full days work after the overnight red eye from the East Coast, and I manage to navigate around London on return from Sydney which is a 26 hour trip. It’ll keep you awake and active and start to orient you to the city.

We live in London and I'd never get a cab from Heathrow. It's so slow compared to the train options. With the Heathrow Express and then Bakerloo line to Waterloo, you could be at the hotel from the airport in less than 45 mins.

To be honest with 5 of you plus baggage plus early morning arrival and being knackered I’d get a taxi. Probably cost £125 - £150 ish but train trains for 5 are not that much cheaper plus the hassle factor too. Then just use tube / buses and get Heathrow express from Paddington when going home

Tube - don't even need Oyster, can just tap in and out with bank card, Visa etc for the same price

The tube is £5.60 for adults £3.30 for children (less if they have Oyster cards but they are a faff if you don't regularly go to london)

The new Elizabeth Line is really good - fast, clean, modern, etc.

I cannot think of a single scenario in which it would easier to drive a hire car into central London!

Reputable mini cab firms that charged £90 pre-Covid are now charging £120+

I got a quote from my local reputable minicab company. They quoted £90 for 5 passengers….Some of us do know what we’re talking about rather than giving bad advice…

More expensive if you get the Elizabeth Line.

Would recommend Addison Lee if you want to pre book a cab. Uber would be cheaper though. Don't just pick up a black cab as will be extortionate if get stuck in traffic.

If you're arriving early morning I'd agree that the tube / Elizabeth line might be a bit much if you've just stepped off a plane and are not used to it. Best just to get to your hotel and enjoy the tube travel later.