Easiest, safest transport from Heathrow to Central London or other nice city

Have you accomodation booked for first night, if not whats your preference?

This thread from Sarah on this board, right alongside yours at the moment, includes useful info and advice on pretty much the same question as yours re central London. I'm pretty sure there is direct transportation from Heathrow to other cities, but others could tell you more. But I'd guess your best options will be right into London, as discussed in the other thread.

Anyway, why pick a city just because it's easy to reach from Heathrow? You must have an itinerary or plan for where you're going in a month. And, BTW, you'll hear plenty on this board, and you can find plenty on this website, about packing light even for a month's stay, to simplify getting around wherever you're going.

The fastest and easiest option from Heathrow to central London would be to take the Heathrow express train. It runs from Heathrow, most terminals directly, to Paddington Station. It takes 15 minutes and there are 4 trains per hour. From Paddington you could either take a cab or tube to the place you are stating. The express isn't cheap. 20 pounds per person. If that's too pricey then the next easiest and safest option would be the Heathrow shuttle. The shuttle will take you from Heathrow to your hotel but this option isn't the fastest. www.heathrowshuttle.com 18 pounds per person. If I wasn't in a rush and wanted safest and easiest I would go with the shuttle.

I would book a car from Just Airports. Highly recommended car service for London. We are much younger than you and considering this ourselves. It is hard to think straight after a long flight from the US. We are prepared for this trip in May to give the Tube a try and have it all written down. But we still have to get all our gear, and buy oyster cards and then figure out how to get the Tube from there. In the last several years we have had a car pick us up every trip. It is worth the expense when you figure what the whole trip costs to begin with. Have a light dinner one night to make it up. Most of our trips we have emailed the hotel we are staying at and they have given us a recommendation that turned out to be very reliable and reasonable. Makes sense because the hotel would be stuck with a mad guest if they gave a bad one.

A London cab (often black) in the cab rank outside the terminal is the easiest even though it is more expensive than the train or the shuttle. DON"T go to someone holding up a sign advertising "taxi" or "car". These are independent drivers who do not know their way around like the registered London cabs so your trip may take longer and be more expensive than the legitimate cab.

If you have lodging already, contact them to see if they have a shuttle or driver service.

You don't say how long your flight is, but when you're tired, you are not as alert and unscrupulous people can take advantage more easily.

Is it just one day back each and a rolling suitcase? Is so, then Heathrow Express is so very easy. And there is taxi line at Paddington to take you straight to your hotel. I did this myself about two years ago when I was hobbling about with a town meniscus.

Pam