Bath from Heathrow

Terri - the Heathrow Express (train that runs from Heathrow to Paddington Station in central London) is quick and easy to just buy tickets for on site when you arrive. I think there's a departure every 15 minutes or so.

You can then buy train tickets at Paddington on to Bath that day as well. There are about 45 direct trains a day. If you wish to book ahead (you can usually save money on fares that way), there are also usually options when you book as to how much flexibility the train ticket offers you (e.g., airline style tickets where you get a seat on a specific train at a specific time vs. anytime arrangements where you can jump on any train that day headed to Bath). For whatever it is worth, we have felt better knowing we have purchased our tickets ahead of time with a specific seat on a specific train so we have just left 4-5 hours from landing to train departure on to Bath, York etc. and then stored our bags at the train station and enjoyed London for a bit when we had extra time before departure.

I've never taken the bus - others will be able to tell you about bus services that I believe go direct from Heathrow to Bath or I'm sure you can find good information on that option online as well.

There are numerous other threads on this hot topic.

Basically 4 options
1) National Express- every 2 or 3 hours direct bus- ideally book ahead with a £5 add on for a 12 hour flexibility either side of your booked time.
2) Through booking Heathrow to Bath on the rail air coach to Reading station, then direct train every 30 minutes- the fastest and easiest train based option.
3) Heathrow to Bath-
Heathrow to Hayes and Harlington (switch), Hayes and H to Reading (switch), Reading to Bath.
(If you book a through train ticket you are not permitted to go Heathrow to Paddington, then Paddington to Bath);
4. HEX to Paddington, then GWR to Bath- the most expensive route and no faster than 2 or 3 above- now too late for the HEX cheap tickets.

Any of 2 to 4 above can be bought on the day, which foolproofs you against airline delays and retimings. Arriving at 0730 it'll be after 0900 by the time your journey to Bath starts (or so close that you can wait for 0900), so cheaper off peak fares, and advance (the cheapest, train specific) fares are usually available until midnight the previous night. So once you know your actual departure time buy on your phone in the US while you have data, if you want the best fares.

What you choose to do is your own choice.

For the sheer ease of journey, many forum users prefer the coach, even with it's lack of frequency compared to the rail options,

This is the coach timetable which varies depending on the day of the week- https://timetables.nationalexpress.com/routes/NX/403/London-Bath/O

@Concernedlocal has now given you incorrect timings twice- the 0830, 0930 and 1105 are NOT direct buses to Bath- they are ones to Bristol, where you change onto a local citybus #X39 back to Bath.

Even if taking that route via Bristol you would be seriously misinformed to buy a through fare. You would buy a fare to Bristol, then pay a £2 government capped fare to the driver on the X39- far cheaper. Also the X39 runs much more frequently than National Express admit.

Direct buses from Heathrow to Bath are at 0740 (too early for you), 1030 or 1135, then 1305 Monday, Saturday and Sunday, 1505 Tuesday to Thursday, 1315 Friday, etc

You are always advised to book National Express buses ahead on any route- especially with the on going rail strikes. This is also true of joining at points mid way through the route like LHR- as all buses have commenced from London Victoria. There could be events happening that you don't know about, or a problem on the trains leading to unexpected spikes in demand.

Late October is also English schools half term week, so actually increased demand then.

Given the service intervals that is why some people prefer the train, and especially with the rail air coach to Reading (which stops at the station entrance) it is far easier than is being claimed.

Oh yes, and it depends which terminal you arrive at. All Nat Ex Coaches leave from the Central Bus Station (between Terminals 2 and 3). From other terminals you connect on the free inter terminal train. On the other hand trains and Rail Air to Reading do leave direct from the respective terminals, (rail air not from Terminal 4).

Heathrow to Bath-
Heathrow to Hayes and Harlington (switch), Hayes and H to Reading (switch), Reading to Bath.

I believe just a minor oversight - This is referring to the Elizabeth line, yes?

I believe just a minor oversight - This is referring to the Elizabeth line, yes?

This is not an oversight. It is the correct all rail route if you are on a through rail ticket. Yes the first two legs are the Elizabeth line- which is a National Rail service, not a tube line. I fail to see the oversight here.

In the UK the term would be "change trains" but in the US "switch" seems to be the more widely used term.

I’ve taken National Express bus and it worked great for me. However, no wrong answer here. Choose the option that you think meets your individual travel needs.

you just purchase the ticket from your driver who will load and unload your luggage for you.

You do not purchase your ticket from the driver. You purchase it from the machines at the bus station, now that the manned ticket office at LHR has closed, or on your 'phone/mobile device. On most National Express services it would be very unusual to purchase from the driver, especially where there is a terminal building with ticket purchasing facilities.

I can't remember last time I saw purchase from the driver happening.

I think I know what I am talking about, being a regular National Express user across the country (in fact I am on them tomorrow), including on the Bath route, and I do promote them whenever possible on suitable routes.

Buying in advance with the flexible £5 option gets you better fares than on the day, and as I say, covers you against unexpected spikes in demand. Several times I have been on NatEx on strike days when they are booked solid.
In practice people haven't turned up on those days, so the system says 'sold out' (even the on site machines), but turning up with the flexible option, coach side, when the coach has loaded, finds the odd unclaimed seat.

That happened with me the other week out of Leeds. On that day even people with non-flexible tickets were just allowed to travel on the first available bus if they turned up bus side to buses that were booked full.

That is when booking ahead DOES pay off. Buy on the day today (for the 1st suitable bus this morning) and you'll pay as much as almost £37, buy today for 2 weeks time and as low as £16 can be found (for the first suitably timed bus).

In the ultimate take whichever modal choice which suits you.

I just made the journey from Heathrow to Bath. After looking at all the options for the train and national express, I chose a private driver from Blackberrycars. We had a canceled flight from our midwestern departure which subsequently caused a three-hour arrival time change. I had no problem communicating the new times with the company. The driver arrived at the new time and we had a pleasant drive down to our hotel door. The cost £175 which was split between the three of us. It was a better price than the train cost. (that time of the morning with a non-advanced ticket). When you are tired from a long flight and you don't want to haul your luggage up and down, then a private car may be the best solution.

Most of the time now when we get off a flight that has come from the west coast, we opt for a taxi or private car. That being said, it was very easy jumping on the Coach out of Heathrow and when you’re coming off a 10 hour flight at our age, it’s all about easy. I realize that for you who live there and are familiar with the systems, it’s second nature but the last thing I would want to do in a blurry state of mind is to haul luggage while trying to figure out which train/coach, etc., I needed to switch to multiple times.

And if you want to get your ticket ahead of time and are worried about flight delays which I think was your original question, National Express has a Change and Go service that you add for 5 pounds when you purchase your original ticket. It gives you the ability to board any available coach 12 hours ahead or beyond your ticket time.