Discounted Heathrow Express Tickets

This is great news, and we just got 2 round-trip tickets for the first week in London for £26.40, using our Two Together rail card. Less than £7 per person each way is definitely the way to go, and the Heathrow Express is/will be so convenient for getting to and from downtown London for us. Thanks!

That is indeed a bargain. Although unless you are staying within walking distance of Paddington (which I would not recommend), you need to add on the cost of getting from there to your accommodation.

it sounds like they are feeling the pressure of the Elizabeth Line

I suspect it's a reaction to August holidays and a presumed reduction in business travellers, who I assume are a big part of the market for them. It's similar to BA usually offering cheap Business Class tickets every August.

I’m going to put in a plug for the Paddington neighborhood where I’ve stayed off and on since 1972.

Is it a lovely, leafy area? Nope but it’s fine and has evolved.

63 Bayswater is a BnB that is a 15 minute walk from Paddington. For decades you could secure a safe, comfortable and affordable room there . Breakfast is included in the price. It has an elevator. There’s 2 pleasant pubs near by: the Mitre Paddington and the Victoria Paddington. The small Tudkin Flavors of Malaysia is 2 blocks away.

From 63 you can walk across Bayswater (at the light)
into the Italian Gardens into Hyde Park. I’ve always used that area to stroll in the wee hours ( gates open at 5am ). Turn right and head into Kensington Gardens or stay on the path that abuts the Serpentine and pass the Princess Diana Memorial. At the Lido you can sit down and watch the swimmers in the Lido.

If there on Christmas Day you can watch the traditional Peter Pan Cup Race.

Lastly, the Lancaster Gate Underground station is nearby. And numerous busses can be taken on Bayswater Road.

I find Paddington to be very "meh" - it's OK but doesn't lift my spirits and it's not as conveniently located for many people coming to see the "main" sights, especially those with limited time. With the introduction of the Elizabeth Line you can easily get to what I would describe as better areas.

But clearly Claudia likes it. Fair enough, we are all different. The area certainly has plenty of accommodation options and is convenient for LHR. Although not if you're coming into Gatwick, as more North American visitors seem to be doing.

Truly not a matter of liking or disliking.

Paddington is not Notting Hill or Westminster or Marylebone or Bayswater or Victoria or Richmond or Chelsea or Camden, or Regents Park, or Hampstead….or other neighborhoods I’ve stayed in.

Merely commenting it’s serviceable.