First time traveler: London Questions

I never had any trouble with my pin and signature card expect if I used the kiosks for the Underground like you mentioned. If you have a debit card, I have found that works great at those since you have a pin for that. I am not charged a big fee for using my debit card overseas, but you might have to check with your bank.

Time to get through immigration and baggage varies widely, but on our last trip we were through immigration, picked up our bags and at our hotel (after taking the subway to get there) in an hour and a half. I couldn't believe it! The e-gates really sped things up, though I am sure there was a good amount of just good luck too.

I hope you have a lovely trip in one of my favorite cities in the world!

US Passport holders get to use E Gates at LHR, it's very fast, I was through in 5 minutes. I had carry on only.
We took Blackberry Cars from LHR to where we were staying, great service. www.blackberrycars.com

You’ll be fine with a chip and sign card, almost everywhere in London is accustomed to them even though they aren’t the norm especially if you’re on the usual tourist track. Is it also a contactless card? That’s a great help as you just touch the card for your low pound purchases and it also works on the tube. The grocery stores especially the express stores are mostly self checkout but there will be a person there mostly for cigarettes and alcohol purchases.

The tube is easy. How much luggage will you have? You’ll get a seat since it’s the beginning of the line. I have no experience with private cars but Parker Cars and Blackberry cars are often recommended on travel forums.
Landing cards have been eliminated. Americans can now use the egates which will speed things up. Even before, it was pretty rare for them to even ask more than a question or two.

If you do use the private car method, they’ll monitor your flight and know how much time to allocate for baggage reclaim. I’ve never found it horrible. Gave me a few minutes to check social media and then get on my way.

No experience with South Kensington hotels.

We used e-gates at Gatwick Airport 3 months ago. Heathrow has to be the same setup. You slide your passport onto a horizontal screening panel - that much was obvious. What wasn’t clear was t gf at you then stare at a screen slightly to your right, glasses off. Once I looked in the right place, the glass gates opened right up. Have a great visit!

There will always be cashiers at Tesco Express, Sainsburys Local et al along with the unmanned checkouts.

Landing cards for the UK have been done away with. If you're a US citizen then you can use the e-gates, through in seconds (minus the queue). There's no definitive quiet period, Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world and planes are landing constantly. The average time for me from landing, taxiing, getting to arrivals, e-gate and then luggage is usually around 30 to 45 minutes.

I don't use London airport taxi services (I either drive or a taxi driver friend takes me) but Blackberry cars frequently pops up here well recommended, I haven't heard of any of the ones you've mentioned.

Credit card should be fine - just bring a backup method in case something happens to your primary card.

We generally stay in South Kensington and if we aren't doing an airbnb we like Fraser's suites - generally get a studio - has a small kitchenette with microwave, electric kettle, coffee maker so it's easy to do breakfast or even pick up a "heat and eat" meal from Sainsbury's, Waitrose or Marks and Spencer. Room is a bit larger than a standard hotel room with a desk, bed and a small table and chairs.
For transiting from Heathrow, you might consider Heathrow Express. 15 minute ride to Paddington and then you'll just hop on the Central line for a straight shot to South Kensington Station. The Express runs about every 15 minutes so you don't need to worry about booking a specific time - the ticket is good for the entire day as I recall. Using the Express is quite easy even for first timers :-)You can get Heathrow Express tickets online and if you buy them a bit ahead, they can be very economical compared to a taxi and given the traffic in London, typically faster.

If you need to go over your contactless limit, just use the chip part. As stated, there are cashiers at the grocery stores. You’ll need to insert your card to add/top off your Oyster (I haven’t run across a contactless reader at a tube stop yet), but can be used instead of an Oyster. You just tap it like you would an Oyster. Getting through immigration is easy now that they have the e-gates. We always take the tube from the airport into town. Since you’re essentially the first one on it, there is plenty of space, but try to pack light, with a smaller suitcase. Those large ones are hard to maneuver and for people to avoid. We almost always stay at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Vanderbilt on Cromwell rd., which is around the corner from the Gloucester tube stop. (A less expensive hotel we’ve stayed at, also by the same tube stop, is the Ashburn.) There’s a Waitrose and Tesco express right there, and a Sainsbury’s nearby. How long it takes to get through immigration depends on how many flights arrive about the same time as yours. Most of the time your luggage will be on the conveyor by the time you get to it. What could take time is if the plane pulls up to a stand, rather than the terminal itself, and you need to take a bus to the terminal. In December, I got on one bus but my wife didn’t and it was 20 minutes before she turned up at the terminal.

Your contactless credit card should work on the underground and buses in London (buses are cashless) it's not necessary to get an Oyster card, unless your US contactless card doesn't work,
and each traveller needs a card, from feedback phone pay, apple/android works well.

If your card is chip and sign and the purchase is over £30 the pin pad will default and say (something like) 'swipe card' there is swipe groove on the pin pad side, so you can use the self checkouts, an assistant will come over and deal with it, usually checking your signature as well, pen required.
Bring an emergency credit card as back up.

There is always a roving assistant dealing and monitoring the self checkouts, they have to approve age restricted purchases, such as pharmacy tablets/alcohol/checking age related dvd films/ put the wire baskets back

South Kensington will be fine, I like the neighbourhood around Gloucester road station and up-to Kensington Gardens. Some amazing Italianate architecture, and classic London mews streets.

The Rembrandt was great for us last summer, the room was just a little smaller than we expected. We loved the free breakfast and the location was excellent. We enjoyed walking through the little strip of shops and cafes to the tube station every morning we stayed there. It was easy to get around to other lines from there. Our next trip we will be staying at the Holiday Inn near Gloucester Road tube station so it will be interesting to see hotel which we prefer. I believe it is a little closer to the tube and it is a bit cheaper per night than The Rembrandt. We also took the tube from Heathrow direct to our hotel without hassle and much cheaper than taxi or Uber. We will do this again. Hope this helps! We love the South Kensington area. Have a wonderful trip!

For transiting from Heathrow, you might consider Heathrow Express. 15 minute ride to Paddington and then you'll just hop on the Central line for a straight shot to South Kensington Station. The Express runs about every 15 minutes so you don't need to worry about booking a specific time - the ticket is good for the entire day as I recall. Using the Express is quite easy even for first timers :-)You can get Heathrow Express tickets online and if you buy them a bit ahead, they can be very economical compared to a taxi and given the traffic in London, typically faster.

Staying in South Kensington and taking the Heathrow Express will not save you much time. First, the Central Line does not go to South Kensington. I think the poster means the "Circle Line". And for two people, a car service isn't much more than two Heathrow Express tickets plus underground fares to get from Paddington to the stop closest to your hotel.

The South Kensington area is west of central London. Traffic won't be as bad since you don't have to go into town to get to your hotel. I can't help with car services as I am in Earls Court--just west of South Kensington--and take the tube from Heathrow. (About 45 minutes).

If you want a more residential feel just five minutes west--by tube--of South Kensington, look at the Nadler Kensington. Lots of people on this board have stayed there and recommend it including me. (Over the years I've spent over 200 nights there.)It's less than a five minute walk to the Earls Court tube station and less than ten minutes to Gloucester Road. (Warning--the rooms are small and for a first timer I would suggest a Standard room or larger. Every room has a mini kitchenette).

At most groceries there will be both self checkout and a manned till (cash register). There is usually someone around to help if there are problems using self service. For over 30 quid (pounds), just put your card in to the chip slot and and machine will tell you an attendant is needed. They will come over, have you sign the print receipt and compare it to the signature on the card. Sometimes they just have you sign and not bother looking at the card. Have a pen with you as it willl save time. You are not the only American to use a chip and signature card in London. There have been one or two others. :)

No more landing cards. For Americans, you go to the egates. Put your passport in, look at the camera, it compares you to the photo in the passport and if they are a close match, the gates open and you are off to baggage claim. If it doesn't work, you go to a desk on the side of the egates where an agent compares you to the photo. You might get asked a question or two but it takes no time. I have to do this as the computer chip in my passport is broken. I'm in and out of the UK quite often and have never had to wait more than five minutes.

Congrats on taking your first trip to London. I is one of my favorite cities. Others have answered your questions about credit cards and transportation, so I will share feedback on South Kensington. This is my favorite place to stay in London and after trying a number of different hotels, B&B options over the years, I now go back to Aster House. The last time I was there was December 2019.

I love the location of Aster House, just a few minutes from the South Kensington tube. That tube has access to the Piccadilly line as well as the district/circle lines which can take you to the majority of the tourist sites. Aster House is just a short walk to the V&A and Natural History Museums. Because it is a neighborhood, you can find everything you need: supermarket, pharmacy, post office, local restaurants, so when I stay there, I feel more like a live in London, then just visiting.

Aster House is run by a lovely woman, Leoni, who does everything to make your trip special before you even check in, from helping with transport from the airport, to making recommendations for restaurants and tickets. Aster House is a big of an old-fashioned. Booking requires you send an email and ask about rates before you book. In December, they had a special running and we stayed for substantially less than the rate on the site. They have a lovely breakfast, filling, but it does get a bit repetitive if you stay more than a week, but it is included in the rate. If you stay in the fall, they have an outdoor patio area.

Hope this information helps.
Sandy

Chip and cards are great- they use them everywhere, I think once though we needed cash for something (I think adding on to an oyster- we tried both our cards and they didn't work- even with the pin) so bring a debit card as well.

minicabit.com -- I think ONCE i tried using it. I ended up saying forget it and just getting 12 Transfers (they are super reliable and very professional). It is a bit pricer but they wait for you and bring you door to door and handle your luggage. Don't use a regular cab- its just as much $$$ as hiring a transfer service and not nearly as nice.

Passport control: honestly I've been through there multiple times and its always a gamble- once it took a good 40 minutes, another time 3 so it seems you never really know. You do have to fill out a card (easier to do before debarking) then you talk to someone in person after waiting in line with a bunch of other people trying to enter the UK.

My first time in Europe was London April/May 2018 for 2 1/2 weeks.

Passport control: Asked how long I was staying and first hotel address. I had printed copies of my reservations with the hotel addresses just in case.

Google Pay - Best thing since sliced bread. Except for hotel check in, I only had to take out a credit card one time. Everything else meals, taxi, Oyster Card, and gifts were all purchased using google pay on my phone. I took out minimal cash from an ATM when I arrived but hardly used it.

Google maps is great for street navigation and tube schedules.

AMEX was accepted almost everywhere, except 1 train ticket to Portsmouth had to pay using Visa/MC.

Hotels

Hilton London Hyde Park. - Great location right next to 2 tube stops and Hyde Park.. Only has 1 elevator.
The Washington Mayfair - RS Tour hotel. Great location near Green Park tube stop.

Hyatt Regency London, The Churchill - very fancy, stayed on points, near Oxford St.

I was worried with my first time in Europe I would have trouble getting around. Tube was pretty easy to navigate and staff were pretty helpful with questions. Took day trips by train to Portsmouth, Cambridge, and IWM Duxford (highly recommend if you like WW2 aircraft and equipment).

The tube from LHR to London was pretty easy for a 1st timer. Ended up taking Heathrow Express to return to airport..

Good luck with your trip.