Heathrow to Downtown London

I stay near Victoria Station as well and like the National Express Coach the best. I like it for it's convenience and the least amount of fuss. You hand your bag to the driver and he stows it underneath the bus and then you are set until you arrive at the Victoria Coach Station. That happens to be about 1/2 a block from where I usually stay so it's a very easy, level walk. I had to wait maybe 10-15 minutes for a coach to arrive once I purchased my ticket.

I've also done:

Heathrow Connect (cheaper train in to London) to Paddington and taxi to the hotel - This is fine but it is more expensive and the cab ride across London can be long-ish. I came in on a Sunday this time and the train was not crowded but there was plenty of traffic for the cab to negotiate.

Underground - Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to Earl's Court (edit added to change this to Hammersmith after reading Emma's post below - yes it was a cross platform change), then an across platform change to the District/Circle line to Victoria Station. I found the most traffic on this one. The one time I did it I found lots of congestion doing the cross platform change altho when I commented on this recently others indicated they did not feel there is usually a lot of traffic here. Getting on at Heathrow you are in an empty car so no problem with seating but since it's crowded when you change to the District/Circle lines you may have to stand. I don't mind standing but being jet-lagged, managing carry-on sized suitcase and being in a crowded train makes it harder for me to be aware of my surroundings. You do have to walk up stairs to exit at Victoria station which is always busy. As you can tell I liked this one the least.

Things to consider - I live in a small town of 800 in a state with 1.6 million population so I am not used to crowds. I try to have big city smarts but let's face it, I've got better skills on an empty trail with a can of bear spray, hahaha!! Your background might mean the "crowds" on the Underground wouldn't bother you at all!

We always stay in the Victoria Station area and always take the Tube. One change and about an hour. Probably made that trip a dozen times. Stop and buy an Oyster card at the TI prior to boarding. We think it is easiest and convenient. If cost is no issue take a cab - probably more convenient - door to door.

You have requested "the simplest most convenient means of transportation with cost and time being secondary."

We have made the LHR to central London trek several times starting from either terminal 3 or the rental car return area. We always have checked baggage, so we usually take a cab. The trip generally takes about an hour. Often the cab driver is willing to chat and we enjoy that interaction and often pick up some useful travel tips. If the driver is the quiet type or you don't want to chat, you can use the time to go over your plans for the day. The cab option is excellent for convenience.

We took the Picadilly line one time when our destination was King's Cross Station. It worked out OK, probably because it was an uncrowded Sunday morning. I would not do this on a weekday when the tube is crowded. It isn't worth the hassle, especially if you have larger luggage which would block some of the spaces for standing passengers.

A cab or the tube will both take about an hour.

Cabs are insanely expensive from Heathrow. I'd never suggest that unless you're on a generous expense account.

The Tube is easy enough. Take the Piccadilly line from Heathrow to Barons Court, then just wait on the other side of the tracks for the District Line to Victoria.

The tube doesn't have to wait in awful London traffic.

Last time we took the Tube to Victoria, as others have suggested, but we changed at Hammersmith instead of Earl's Court or Baron's Court. Hammersmith is further out so perhaps less busy. It was an easy cross-platform transfer in a pleasant open-air station.

Tube is certainly the cheapest and, for me, also the most convenient. I would consider Heathrow Connect if I were staying near Paddington, but for anywhere else in central London its the Tube for me.

I agree Heathrow to Central London is easy peasy and since you are getting onboard at the beginning of the Picadilly Line you should have room to sit and stow your luggage. By mid-morning the crowds shouldn't be too bad, just make sure to always keep an eye on your luggage. You can buy your Oyster Card at the airport. As others said, it's pretty simple.

Take Heathrow Express to Paddington and then take a cab to your hotel. Won't take too long and a cab won't cost that much. Last thing I want to do after a long flight is get on the tube. The Express will get you to Paddington in 15 mins...then go upstairs, catch a cab, and you'll be to your hotel in 15ish minutes. Maybe longer if it takes you a while to get through immigration...you could hit some rush hour traffic.

You have numerous choices:

1) Taxi from Heathrow to your hotel. Door to door service. You will have to deal with London traffic. Highest cost of all transportation. 50-90 GBP depending on day of the week and traffic.

2) Car Service. They meet you as you walk out of immigration and drive you to your destination. Previously arranged. Not sure of cost but I believe about 40-50 GBP.

3) Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect to Paddington then either tube or taxi to your hotel. This is probably the least efficient and fairly costly as you are going out of your way. If you buy the cheapest Heathrow Express ticket plus taxi the cost will be approximatley 40-50 GBP total. (A car service will be about the same.) If you take the tube from Paddington it will cost about 34 GBP for two. (But if you are going to wind up on the tube you might as well take it from Heathrow.)

4) Bus from Heathrow to Victoria Coach Station. Regularly scheduled service.

5) Tube from Heathrow. It will mean one easy change at either Hammersmith or Baron's Court (not Earls Court) and take about an hour. 6.20 GBP for the two of you with Oyster Cards or 12 GBP with cash. It will mean a little walking to and from the tube station but after a long flight the walking will actually be good for you.

I always take the tube. I don't go as far as Victoria but I would do the same if did. The coach is another good option. Lastly, if I wanted door to door service I would go with a pre-arranged car service. I tried the Heathrow Express to taxi once and it took longer than the tube and was much more costly.

Oh yes, I am corrected by Emma's post. I changed at Hammersmith. Sorry for the confusion as yes, it was the cross platform change there.

We do as Anita suggests, Heathrow Express plus taxi, regardless where we are staying. I do not care for the Tube but will tolerate it for short trips if necessary for a day's sightseeing. I could not bear it for the long journey from Heathrow after a long-haul flight.

The Heathrow Express is quiet and comfortable, and tickets bought well in advance can cost as little as £5,50 ( weekend or bank holiday).

I will be stopping in London for a full day (two nights) on my way to Italy in September and plan to stay near or at Victoria Station as on the the next morning I will be taking a train to East Grinstead (Riding all day on the the Blue Bell Railway if you must know). Anyway, I will need to get from Heathrow Terminal 3 to Victoria in the middle of a weekday afternoon. I have heard there is no lift/escalator from the tube station(s) at Victoria and that it might be better to take the Piccadilly line to Green Park where there is a lift and then a taxi to Victoria. Is this the best solution? Are there other choices as I will be lugging a roller bag and smaller bag across London.

@KenAdams....as mentioned in reply 1, I usually take the National Express Coach from Heathrow Coach Station (near Terminal 3) to Victoria Coach Station. It kind of depends on where you actually decide to stay as to whether this will be easiest for you but it's just around the corner from my preferred hotel location.

I recently did this trip with my brother, SIL and her sis and it worked out great. No stairs at all.... It was 10£ each, no concession (senior) rate.

My plans have been modified due to cancellation of the night train to Milan/Venice on the day I had planned. I am now booked to fly from Heathrow to Milan on a Sunday morning. Unfortunately that means making my way to HR terminal 5 by 8:30 (10:30 flight on BA) in the morning and the National Express Coach will only get me to terminal 3.

Other than an extremely expensive taxi any other suggestions are welcome.

ken

You have a few choices. Take the coach to terminal 3 and then the Heathrow Express to Terminal 5 (It's free between terminals.)

You could also take the tube. The lifts/escalators should be working at Victoria but that could change daily. ( You could always check when you are in London. )

Car service--cheaper than a taxi and door to door service.

Given the OP posted in April and his trip was "this summer," I'm hoping he's arrived safely.

Claudia, a new poster added a question on this thread that is being answered. It probably would have been better for him to start his own post.