Going to a residence near Tower of London… what’s the best way to travel for 3 adults?
Considering Heathrow Express then tube or a taxi/car service. Flight gets in at 7am. We need to be in that area by 10am. It’s on a Monday so thinking traffic could be bad, but might be lighter with flex work time.
Also, any guesses on how long it will take to clear customs and be on our way. I’m guessing an hour which leaves 2 hours to get into the city.
Thanks for any help
Customs is just a walkthrough unless you are pulled in to be searched. Passport control can take anything from a few minutes to 90 minutes. It will take 15-30 minutes after landing to getting off the plane.
Count yourself fortune if you are out in 45-50 minutes. More likely 75 minutes to 2 hours. You will be arriving on a Monday with all the red eye flights. I would take the tube all the way to Tower Hill. Taking a taxi at that time will probably be slower.
There are a few considerations here. Not the least of which is how you are going to be feeling after your long overnight flight.
You experience may vary, but a few weeks ago the scenario for my travels was to leave the plane (we were near the front), walk for about 10 minutes, arrive as passport control ahead of most of my plane mates, get in line and snake through a maze, and finally use the e gates for passport control. My time in Passport control was probably about 10 minutes, but once again I was ahead of the others off the plane. Our checked bags were there, so we picked them up, walked through "nothing to declare." and we were ready to move on. I think that this was pretty much a "best case scenario" and it took about 25 minutes. I can see it easily taking an hour or more depending on how many other passengers are deplaning at the same time.
There was still a long walk to the train station from passport control. We had decided to use a combination of Heathrow Express and taxi for our purposes. This option is fairly easy and we bought our Heathrow express tickets for 5.5 pounds each in advance. We then took a taxi to our flat. Cheapest option? No.... Just what we needed after our long flights? We thought so.
There are several options and at least as many opinions about them on this forum. I encourage you to simply choose the one that feels right in terms of effort, cost, and time for your situation.
What day is your flight?
If it is after May 24, look into taking the new Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) to Liverpool Street Station and take a taxi from there (1 mile). Crossrail is on a similar line to Paddington but continues on.
If you want less hassle, look into a car service from Heathrow but that will involve lots of traffic.
Thanks so much for the replies. Our flight is the 23rd so will miss the Elizabeth line. I’m leaning toward Carol’s advice, we are pretty close to the front of the plane….although if I could rely on a taxi getting us where we need to be by 10am (with traffic) the cost would likely be a wash.
On my recent trip to London I arrived at 7 am on a Friday, in line by 7:20--and it took 65 minutes to get through border control. By the time I got my suitcase and then to the Tube station it was about 9 am. The Piccadilly line took me to my hotel, at the Gloucester Rd station, 40 minutes, which also has the District and Circle lines-- both go to the Tower Hill station. It wasn't crowded at all. I opt for the Tube or Heathrow Express depending on where I stay.
In 2019 I arrived at the same time and border control took about 15 minutes--you really never know, but you should be fine whichever option you choose.
To save money over a taxi from Heathrow, think about a car service.. It's one price regardless of traffic and how long it takes. Door to Door. They meet you as you exit customs.
You'll have to be a lucky person to be out in your assumed hour. Possible, but when I collect people from Heathrow I always allow 2 hours. Just over an hour on the tube including one change (cross platform possible depending on which station you choose to make the change) to Tower Hill.
Are you dropping your bags at your apartment and then going to the Tower of London?
What percentage of the time does your flight historically arrive on time at Heathrow?
Bags are coming with us and the flight has been very consistent.
On hiring a car service, any sense on traffic on Monday mornings these days? and the likely drive time at 815am? Any recommendations on a car service?
Thanks again
