Arriving Heathrow, to Bayswater

https://tfl.gov.uk/

This government site will help you plan your London journeys.

The Victoria line is a tube line, and it doesn't run from Heathrow or to Paddington, so I think you mean the Elizabeth line train from Heathrow. In my opinion that's be best compromise on speed v price. You're correct about the tube (Piccadilly line from Heathrow, change at Earl's Court for District line to Bayswater). And also correct that using a contactless card is the easiest way to pay.

Immigration should be quick assuming the egates are working, but once you take into account waiting for luggage I think your estimate is correct.

Thank you, Simon! I shouldn’t internet before coffee, you’ve deduced what I was trying to ask! Thank you much!

The Elizabeth line is direct from Heathrow to Paddington. From there take the District line to Bayswater.

If you want to take the Piccadilly line to Earls Court and then switch to the District line, you have to make sure you take the correct District line train. It should be one to "Edgware Road." All others don't go near Bayswater. To transfer from Piccadilly line to District Line, take the elevator up to the ticketing hall. Don't exit through the gates but turn right and turn right again. Then walk straight and you'll see a set of stairs. Go down to the District line platform. The one you want will be on
the right.

Assuming your accommodations are near the Bayswater station, get off at Bayswater. But don't assume that is the closest station to your lodging. Look on a map.

Remember, you must use the same contactless card/device to tap in and out.

Just a caution on contactless payment—not all American Visa and Mastercards will work.

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets-and-oyster/pay-as-you-go/contactless-and-mobile-pay-as-you-go#on-this-page-0

My husband’s Bank of America Visa card did not work for transport in London (bus, boat, or tube), although it had worked just fine for “tapping” payment everywhere we went in Italy and also in London grocery stores and restaurants. Fortunately we also had Oyster cards from a previous visit, so we just topped one up for him to use while we were in London.

My AmEx card worked just fine—-as the TFL website says it would.

Just did the same thing 2 weeks ago and either of the Tube options outlined above will work and your time estimate is about right also. Definitely SKIP the Heathrow Express and its cost.

Lola, thanks for that head's up on some VISA's not working for contactless. Good link, saved it for travel next spring!

What Frank II said. Locate your accommodations on a map. Depending on where in Bayswater it is, it may be that another tube station—-Queensway or Notting Hill Gate—- would be closer than the Bayswater stop.

And just a note for others reading here for their own planning purposes. The above comment about skipping the Heathrow Express is not always good advice. If your destination is Paddington, and you plan well ahead (90+ days in advance), you can get Heathrow Express tickets for £5.50, the same cost as the Tube fare with Oyster or contactless payment. It is a whole lot more comfortable than taking the Tube, and faster as well.

But maybe the Elizabeth Line is a good alternative. We just had a miserable experience using the Piccadilly tube line after arrival at Heathrow on a day neither the Heathrow Express not the Elizabeth line was running (due to a fire in the overhead lines somewhere).

The connection between the Elizabeth line and the District/Circle line at Paddington is not great now when the Heathrow train runs into the mainline station and arguably will be worse when it goes into its own low level platforms as a direct connection route was value engineered out.

If sticking to the Underground, eliminate the need for a level change at Earls Court by doing a cross platform change at Hammersmith from the Piccadilly to the District.

Lola's point about advance purchase for the Heathrow Express is excellent! (Of course, 90+ days ahead won't help OP, but hopefully others.) We find a taxi from Paddington is the most efficient way to transport us and our luggage the rest of the way to the hotel.

The district line that stops at Hammersmith does not go to Edgware Road. The change has to be at Earls Court.

Thanks everyone. Staying at Vancouver Studios, which we stayed at a million years ago. We used Bayswater underground stop on previous trip but open to other stops if more convenient.

The district line that stops at Hammersmith does not go to Edgware Road. The change has to be at Earls Court.

Indeed. But changing to the District there on a cross platform change means you have a cross platform change at Earls Court to the Edgware Road branch rather than needing to go up a level.

Indeed. But changing to the District there on a cross platform change means you have a cross platform change at Earls Court to the Edgware Road branch rather than needing to go up a level.

True, but it's an additional train and wait. I've been in and out of Earls Court dozens of times and it's really no big deal to transfer between lines. Much quicker than adding an extra delay.

I know which I prefer overall after doing this for more years than I want to remember, but YMMV. The only time the one change route gets close for me is in the morning rush or if the District is disrupted which is easy to find out these days.

Bayswater is the most convenient.

Queensway would be Plan B.

Download the Citymapper app. Excellent for getting from A to B in numerous cities.