Hello,
Our party of 9 is flying into Heathrow arriving 6/22 @ 3 pm. Our plan is to fly out the next morning to AMS, but I can't decide if I want to fly out of Heathrow vs out of LCY as someone had recommended. . Heathrow seems huge and even between hotels and terminals you must take the Hotel Hoppa? LCY looks like a wonderfully small and friendlier airport, but I am worried that in our jet lagged state we may miss a tube transfer along the way trying to get there. Am also wondering is an Oyster card worth it for us to get for one evening?
Once we land and get through all the lines, we figure it'll be 5 pm or later. Plan is to train/tube into London, walk off jet lag and view a few sights, grab dinner, and call it a night. Any advice or suggestions is greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5467 posts
No you don't take the Hotel Hoppa at all between terminals at LHR and you don't need to take it to the hotels as you can take TfL buses in the local area for free.
LCY used to be a less crowded airport without queues but the last time I went out of there in the morning in the middle of an average week the place was heaving before security and there was literally no place to sit down airside outside of one of the restaurants. Although I might have been unlucky it put me off ever departing from there again (arriving though is still a breeze).
Why not go into London, stay somewhere in the Bloomsbury area, and depart for Amsterdam by Eurostar. Change at Brussels.
Posted by
Freedonia
16420 posts
I've flown in and out of LCY a few times in recent months and as stated it has become a zoo. Terminal construction isn't helping any.
Even though it isn't a large airport, gates are not announced until just before boarding and the gate areas are tiny. Seats anywhere can be lacking due to crowds. Plus, if there is bad weather, there will be delays
On the bright side the DLR drops you off right in front of the terminal building. At Heathrow, depending on the terminal, you can walk a distance.
I also like the idea of Eurostar to Amsterdam. It leaves from St. Pancras International which is in the center of London. With all the travel time to airport, getting through security and then going from airport in Amsterdam to downtown, the train won't take that much longer than the plane. It's more comfortable and you can look at the scenery.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
The Eurostar is a good option - book seats now for the best prices.
Other flight options include Easyjet from Gatwick, Stansted or Luton. Again, book asap, as prices only head one way.
Posted by
OP
SF Bay Area
14 posts
Thanks for the advice. Based on this we decided to fly out of Heathrow the next morning. I must've missed reading about the free Tfl buses, so yay as it's turning out London is an expensive town. Now just deciding on how to spend the evening in London. Should we get a Visitor Oyster card as we have only a night to be in London, but plan on taking the tube into the city. Any suggestions for a must go to place for dinner?