Flooded with suggestions online, thought we would come to the Forum here to get the best idea or two. Traveling from Heathrow to our hotel right near Westminster Abbey. What is the best way to get there besides taking a cab which is cost prohibitive for us. TIA!!
Ken Novak
ILLINOIS
Best is subjective.
However, what I would do is take the Piccadilly Line to either Hammersmith or Barons Court. Then cross the platform about 10 feet to get the District Line to Westminster. It's just a few minutes walk from there.
Why not tell us the name of the hotel? Westminster tube station is in the area, but it could still be a good walk if you are talking about the Premier Inn.
If a cab is costly for you, then the Underground works well, that is what I usually do, given the areas I usually have stayed. There are also Coaches, buses, mainly to Victoria bus station, not necessarily close, but in the general area, As another poster mentioned, list the hotel and you can get much more help.
But can say, forget the Heathrow Express, or even the Elizabeth line, that goes too far out of the way.
I would get the Elizabeth Line to Bond Street and transfer to the Jubilee line to Westminster (it's only two stops).
The "best route" depends on your travel date - that is if it's a weekend when the Piccadilly Line (or the south side of the District/Circle lines) are closed for engineering work.
The same principle applies to the Elizabeth Line.
Likewise if there is an unscheduled closure for any reason it is always good to have more than one route in the back of your mind.
If you take the National Express bus from Heathrow to Victoria, then red London bus route #11 stops right outside Victoria Coach Station to go straight to Westminster Abbey, so that is another route to have as a back up.
Keep this in mind...
The Piccadilly/District Line will take about an hour and cost 5.80 GBP per person.
The Elizabeth/Jubilee line will take about the same amount of time and cost 13.90 GBP per person.
Frank is right about the pricing but you should bear in mind that both fares count towards the zone 1-6 daily cap of £16.30. So if you take the Elizabeth line to your accommodation and then plan other journeys on the same day you will only pay £2.40 more for all extra journeys.
Of course, if you use the Piccadilly Line and then only plan one or two more journeys you will spend less.
However, what I would do is take the Piccadilly Line to either Hammersmith or Barons Court. Then cross the platform about 10 feet to get the District Line to Westminster. It's just a few minutes walk from there.
Frank's suggestion is the route I took, and it was so simple. We took the Piccadilly Line from LHR, got off at Barons Court, then walked right across the platform and picked up the District Line to our stop at Victoria Station (we were staying at The Resident Victoria in the Victoria area of Westminster).
And I agree that it would be helpful for you to give us your hotel name, as the City of Westminster is a large area.
As has been suggested, and keep in mind we did not have a hotel selected but now do, our hotel is the Windemere. And we do arrive on a Saturday. From what has been suggested, that may affect our choice to get to the Hotel Windemere.
This hotel is in Pimlico, right by Victoria, not particularly near Westminster Abbey.
The easiest route is to get a coach from Heathrow Bus Station to Victoria Coach Station and then a short walk to the Hotel.
We got priced out to Pimlico.
National Express to Victoria Coach, short walk. Buy your tickets from machines in bus terminal at Heathrow or on app once you know how long passport control/baggage retrieval has taken.
I still suggest my routing of the Piccadilly/District line but getting off at Victoria instead of Westminster.
However, you can also take the National Express coach from Heathrow to the Victoria COACH station. It's then a short walk to your hotel. Where you get the coach at Heathrow depends on in which terminal you arrive.
If there are problems due to your Saturday arrival, definitely plan to take the coach. Just be aware, it may sell out quickly.
Thanks to everyone. Much obliged. Yet why is my head spinning so much. We are from Chicago and things don't seem that complex. Course this is what I am used to.....
As to the last couple of comments, is the Coach fare THAT much more expensive than taking the Piccadilly line?
Want to add we are traveling on a Saturday, so is the Picadilly line closed for repairs?? I thought someone had mentioned that.
Ken, I did not do this, but I will say that one advantage to taking the National Express bus from Heathrow to Victoria Coach Station is that they will take your bags and put them underneath, and you do not have to deal with them like you would on the Tube or even taking the Elizabeth line.
It's very easy and it really is a short walk from the station to your hotel. The ride does take a little bit longer, but it's nice and relaxing, and you can sit on the top level and look at the scenery below.
I like that idea since my sister who I am traveling with is 83 yo and very sleight. Do we buy our Coach tickets right there at the Airport? (sorry for milking you but this is very important to us!)
Yes just buy your coach tickets at Heathrow. Fares vary a bit but upcoming departures tonight are between £8.50 and £10.50 per person. Create a free account beforehand at home, then buy on your phone with data or airport wifi when clear of immigration.
There should be a bus every 15 to 30 minutes, unless there has been an accident on the M4 or M25 when they may bunch up. Every bus has come from further afield (none starts at Heathrow) so they empty out on arrival. It would be unbelievably rare for them to be all full.
That way you avoid paying a £1.50 on line transaction charge, or £2 on the machines at Heathrow.
If there was a serious unscheduled issue on the trains most locals know other of numerous ways to get out of Heathrow by other means, so not many will be defaulting to National Express.
PS- Without knowing your travel date we don't know if there is engineering work on the tube but see this list for the next 6 months- https://content.tfl.gov.uk/planned-track-closures.pdf
It is a significantly shorter walk to the hotel from the Coach Station than from the tube station.
The more information you give, the better recommendations we can give.
Since your sister is 83, I'm going to change my suggestion from the tube to the bus. No connections, no lugging of your bags as the driver loads them onto the coach.
If you are comfortable using smartphone apps, National Express has one and you can buy your tickets directly into the app.
Now the question....in which terminal do you arrive? This will affect where you catch the coach at Heathrow. If you aren't sure, just tell us the airline and from where you depart.
Have not yet booked the flight but it will be with KLM. They have the most extra legroom seats at the fairest prices.
KLM uses Terminal 4, and there is a bus station there. Just follow the signs from Arrivals after you get through immigration, and look for the signs for the Coach Station. Just ask someone if you need help finding it.
Keep in mind that it is not a manned station, so you will either need to buy your ticket at the ticket machine there or usd the National Express app that Frank mentioned.
Above and beyond, thanks, guys/gals!!
