I will be arriving at Heathrow on Virgin Atlantic Saturday April 20 and need to go to Leamington Spa. My plan is to take the Elizabeth Line to Paddington and then walk to Marylebone where I will take a train to Leamington Spa. I will be returning on Sunday and doing the journey in reverse.
I don't see on the forum that there are any strikes for these days. Is it too early for strikes to be declared or will I be lucky and miss this excitement?
There is strike action on the 20th, but nothing affecting that route/operator (Chiltern).
Details of strikes are posted here: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/industrial-action/
Thank you!
Walk from Paddington to Marylebone?
Take a 205 bus.
Or bus-coach to Oxford, then train Oxford to Leamington Spa every hour.
That National Rail page is out of date- the Cross Country strike today has been cancelled, and at Northern the action short of a strike will have almost no effect.
Northern and LNER are nowhere near you anyway.
Strikes have to have 14 days notice,, so nothing is happening.
Trains on Chiltern on 21 May will be very busy due to a football match at Wembley.
Trains on Chiltern on 21 May will be very busy due to a football match at Wembley.
It will be busy on the 20th April, when OP is travelling, for the FA Cup semifinal.
The match is on 21 April (not 20) when the OP is travelling south, which is what I meant to write, in favour of May
Chiltern do have an enhanced timetable that day, but certainly book to guarantee a seat, as the fans are travelling from Coventry- further north than Leamington Spa. Avant from Coventry will also be very easy, so probably nothing to gain from taking a bus to Coventry.
Maybe wait until after lunch/early afternoon to travel back south?
20 April is later in the day and will more affect the underground for Chelsea fans and Avanti for fans from Manchester.
There are cup semifinals on both 20th and 21st, although I can't see the one on 20th affecting the OP.
I would be inclined to think that the coach from Heathrow to Oxford and then a train to Leamington would be the easiest anyway on 20th. No faffing with swapping stations in London.
Can you reserve seats on Chiltern Railways Stuart? I didn't think that you could.
Disadvantage of the coach route to Oxford & onwards is the walk between the coach and railway stations. Reading is an alternative coach + bus combo without this. The route will be slower than via London but not by a lot. Perhaps more expensive too but maybe not so much for a return.
If you do go via the Elizabeth line and Bakerloo, unusually the best place to sit is in the middle. At Paddington there is a deep connection route below the Elizabeth line to the Bakerloo which is shorter and easier than going via the main line concourse.
I was just looking into John's question, and note that it is also the London Marathon on 21 April.
Forgotten about that. The Marathon and a FA cup semi final. That puts a new complexion on it. Chiltern will be under pressure.
Definitely travel after lunch if you possibly can.
I think John may be right. They seem to be like Northern in that they offer advance tickets, but the advance tickets don't reserve a seat as such.
If you have to travel early maybe Cross Country to Reading, then the Elizabeth Line or Great Western would be a quieter route? Emphasis on the last syllable of 'er'
I wouldn’t worry too much about the Marathon. It starts early on Sunday morning and everyone, whether taking part or watching will be down in London very early or more likely on Saturday.
And the cup semi-final doesn’t start until 15.30 so if you can set off reasonably early the journey should be fine.
I was thinking about strikes not football matches!!
So my plane arrives at Heathrow at 12:30 pm on April 20. I was thinking about a three o’clock train to Leaminton Spa. Given that timing, is there any advantage to going to Oxford to catch a train? I think the trains run more often from Marylebone.
On getting from Paddington to Marylebone my colleague said it was a 10 minute walk which seems doable. But I am not opposed to public transportation. Bakerloo was mentioned. Can you take Bakerloo from Paddington to Marylebone?
Thanks for all the help! I really appreciate it.
Paddington to Marylebone is more like a brisk 20 minute walk having done it more than a few times.
See my post above for changing instructions between Elizabeth line & Bakerloo at Paddington.
10 minutes for a 1.2 mile walk is a pretty fast pace.
Just book a flexible train ticket, then it doesn't matter what train you are on. Anything else is a gamble.
I doubt there's anything much in it time wise via Reading or Oxford as opposed to Marylebone.
I think it depends on mood, what happens on the day and personal preference.
Okay, I looked at a map and see now that there is a tube connection from Paddington to Marylebone which I had not seen. I think I will do that as opposed to walking. I agree that walking 1.2 miles with luggage is not ideal.
So Marco--what you are saying is to sit in the middle of the Elizabeth cars which will allow access to a route to the Bakerloo line that is quicker than main route? I was confused because I didn't realize there was a way to get from Paddington to Marylebone by tube.
And I wasn't going to try to buy tickets for a specific time. I realize that is not a good idea on arrival day.
You all are the best! When I went to London in 2019, I followed directions I was given on this board and navigated to to the station closest to my hotel like a pro.
