advice on traveling from Heathrow to central London?

Depending on which Terminal you are arriving at, you could also consider the National Express coach to Victoria Coach station. It might be near enough to your Pimlico lodging to walk, if not there is a taxi rank to the left as you come out the front door onto Elizabeth St.

Sorry...can’t add anything about taxis/car services.

https://booking.suntransfers.com/booking?step=1&iata=LHR&hash=ba6f1a69-2cb9-4013-bca4-7394d476893a

Here is a service that has gotten positive comments from others on the forum

I have no personal experience

I would think a taxi (or 2) would be way more expensive than than the decrease in time is worth. You might look at the express train or bus options as a compromise. We took the tube in to Notting Hill last month with 3, 6, and 8 year olds in tow, and it went fine.

Blackberry Cars and Parker Cars are also recommended on another travel forum:
https://www.blackberrycars.com/
http://www.parkercarservice.co.uk/

The Tube is super easy and since Heathrow is at the end of the line getting a seat even with luggage is not a problem. But with 4 adults a toddler AND all that luggage I'd opt for a taxi or car service. Its just going to be easier that way than hauling everything around

Thanks very much, everyone, for your feedback! This is really helpful and I appreciate the other car service/shuttle options. :)

(At this point, the tube looks to be an attractive option ... )

Do be aware that both Victoria and Pimlico stations have an unavoidable flight of stairs to climb on exit, although a step free route at Victoria should be completed by the end of the year.

I can attest to the transportation issue. My family and I just came back from an awesome RS Best of London. I initially booked transportation from airport to hotel using the hotel concierge (Mayfair Washington). After passing through customs, we looked for the taxi driver who was contracted by the hotel for 30 minutes. He was hiding in the back sitting down playing on his I-Phone not holding a sign with our name. Then he wanted to charge us for the time it took us to find him. You can get ripped off. Long story short we refused to pay the extra $60 and the matter was resolved through the hotel. But they charged us extra $20 service charge!! It ended up being a total of $120. On the way back to the airport, we took the Piccadilly line on the tube one shot from near the hotel to the airport in 40 minutes (less than the 1 hour taxi drive). Very easy. London is safe to walk around even after dark, and it cost us less than $10 for all of us as opposed to the $120 tax ride. The tube is not too busy and is very clean and organized with maps everywhere. You can use this link to plan the trip: https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/
Or if you know which hotel you're staying at, you can post again and someone I'm sure can tell you the exact tube line to take. Even if you take the wrong line, you can change trains easily without paying extra; workers are around to help you. When you buy the pass they can tell you how much at the station. Remember each person has to have their own Oyster Card and you tap it in and then tap it out each at your exit station. Very easy! Good luck.

if you know which hotel you're staying at, you can post again and
someone I'm sure can tell you the exact tube line to take

Or use https://tfl.gov.uk/ to plan your trip from hotel to airport.

Also, here is the link to the tube map: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/standard-tube-map.pdf
It looks like the least change option of transportation considering you have a child, you can take from Heathrow terminal the tube Piccadily East line (Dark blue) to Green Park Station and then switch to the Victoria Line South (light blue line) to Pimlco. You don't have to leave the station to change over, if you do you'll be charged for entry and exit. Double check with a worker at the station in case there are closures. Good luck!

We arrive at 6 AM and probably will be able to leave Heathrow by 8:30 or so. It' on a weekday so we worry about fighting the morning rush on the tube. We will be going to the Royal National hotel.

Any idea what a cab would cost us? Also do cabs take credit cards? I would expect to give the driver a cash tip even if using a card to pay for the fare . .

@bl53931 - although it might be too late to change, have you read the Trip Advisor Reviews for the Royal National Hotel? They don't look good...

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g186338-d218407-Reviews-Royal_National_Hotel-London_England.html

@Emma - we are staying near Lupus street - the VRBO is a 4-5 minute walk from the Pimlico station.

Thanks for the heads up regarding stairs at these stations. This gives us more to consider and re-consider. Aaah! :)

My main concern would be if the cabs serving Heathrow accept credit cards. Anyone know?

Posted by Marco
Oxford, United Kingdom
07/04/18 04:44 PM
3673 posts
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All hackney carriages in London must take credit cards, and are not allowed to surcharge for them - after all there was a fare increase to off set costs. There is absolutely no exception to this. If anyone tried it on ask for their licence number and report them directly to TfL Compliance. Use web form or call 0343 222 4000.

This from a different topic ,but to address above query by bl53931

My son and the rest of their group of scouts (11 in total) used the tube to and from Heathrow without any problems. Quick and convenient and easy on the budget. We plan to do the same next year as a family.

Every option involves trade offs.

The Tube is cheapest. Different Heathrow terminals have walks of different lengths to get to the Tube. Should be easy to find seats but will likely fill up as you approach the city. Luggage storage is make do, typically. Exiting the station in the city can involve a surprising amount of walking, large elevators, etc.

The Heathrow Express train is considerably more costly than the Tube, but much cheaper than a cab. A 15 minute trip vs one hour on the Tube. Cars have shelves and bins for luggage. It’s air conditioned. You arrive at Paddington Station where you can walk to the taxi rank outside.

I’ve used every option except a bus to get into the city. My preference is Heathrow Express and a cab from Paddington.

Forum posters this was originally posted in August. Either Dominique and her family have taken their or she got the pertinent info and has moved on.

Thread revived by spam.