We arrive mid day at terminal 5 …(October) going to Southampton….seems bus is easier? Has anyone done this? Does one buy tickets in the moment or can open ended tickets be purchased in advance since no one’s how long customs and walking to bus will take! Suggestions or alternatives?
Many thanks
National Express Bus works well. You can buy in the moment or buy an advance fare and add a 5£ up charge that allows for flexibility. I am not sure if you might need to go to Heathrow Central Bus Station to get bus (between terminals 2 or 3) or if they pick up at terminal 5 as well.
The National Express Coaches to Southampton stop at Heathrow at all 3 locations- Central Bus Station (T2/3), T4 and T5.
I hope that you are flying in the day before the cruise to cover for any eventualities which might happen with aircraft delays, cancellations and retimings.
The direct coach is certainly the better route than taking one of the various possible tube or train routes into London then taking the train out of Waterloo (or elsewhere). The other train based possibility would be to take the Guildford bound Rail-Air Coach from Terminal 5 as far as Woking Railway Station then the Southampton fast train on every hour.
That is probably the fastest route overall, although whether the half hour wait at Woking removes the time advantage is a moot point.
If you are happy with the coach it is by far the easiest way - otherwise you either need a train in and out of London, or a bus to meet the second train on its way out
Many thanks…..very helpful!
To expand on previous replies - Terminal 5 is the last stop for the bus at Heathrow - and from there it is straight on to Southampton with a small diversion at Winchester. You will likely need a taxi to get from the bus station to the correct dock gate (but the same would apply arriving by train).
I think the £5 "in case of delay" ticket is no longer available, but a fully flexible ticket - just catch the next bus - is currently £26 in October.
@ Tim W. It is called "Change and Go" and is most certainly still available.
https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/change-go
