Ideas for beginning and end of trip in London

I would ask the hotel to hold luggage.

The British Museum is vast, I spent ten hours there over two days. The security line can be long but moves quickly.

To be honest, I wouldn't stay at Heathrow. I'd jump on the tube with luggage on arrival and book a hotel for the night in the Kings Cross/St Pancras area. It's a straight tube ride, takes about an hour, and your train to Market Harborough the next morning should leave from St Pancras I assume (you may have booked a train ticket from Heathrow but the first step of that will probably involve travelling from Heathrow into central London anyway...)

Kings Cross/St Pancras just happens to be a short stroll from the British Museum and also next door to the British Library.

So in this scenario you arrive at 12.40. By 1.40pm you'll be on the Piccadilly Line tube direct to St P. Get there around 2.30, drop luggage off then you could be at the British Museum by 3 or 3.30. In this scenario you also get to spend the whole evening in London and you don't have to go to Heathrow for the night then back again to catch your train.

If you haven't booked your train ticket yet, go to www.nationalrail.co.uk and look for "London (Any)" to Market Harborough and I think you'll see that St Pancras is the London station they start at.

I like that idea, Jane. I'm still trying to figure out the transportation system.

I do have our train tickets already.

The tickets I bought tell me I need to collect my tickets at London Paddington and take the 9:45 tube to the train connecting at London St Pancras International to Market Harborough at 10:15. Am I correct in thinking the only part of the journey my tickets cover is St Pancras to Market Harborough and we'll pay for the tube separately (Paddington to St Pancras)? If that is true, I could just change our hotel to the area you suggested and then skip Paddington in the morning and start out at St Pancras? Or would it be better to look for a hotel near Paddington?

Ah, I suspected as much. I think your ticket covers the tube from Paddington as well as the St Pancras to MH train. Train tix tend to send you via the Paddington Express, which is technically a faster route but more expensive AND involves an extra change. IGNORE PADDINGTON.

On arrival, forget Paddington Express, just buy one-way tube tix at the Heathrow tube station on arrival and go all the way to St Pancras. You will not need to change, and it takes an hour. Find a hotel there (there's a few Premier Inns around there; great for a basic night's stay and they'll look after your luggage) and then the next day just turn up at St Pancras to use the train. It won't matter that you've got to St P by a different route.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure you can pick up your train tickets at St Pancras too - rather than getting off at Paddington just to pick them up. Generally the code you've been given can be used in any Fast Ticket machine at any station. You might just want to check with the rail company but I don't think it will present a problem. Paddington is a massive red herring if travelling from Heathrow to St P but train companies tend to default that way because they assume all tourists use the Heathrow Express.

Thank you, Emma. That is helpful. It says the journey starts at Paddington, so I guess it is covered.

Well, after looking more closely, it appears that our overnight the first night at the Radisson near Heathrow is non-refundable. So, I think we'll plan to stay there overnight after all, and I'm back to looking for something to do that afternoon.

But as far as our last day goes, I'll definitely plan for the British Museum. Thanks for the tips on where to keep our luggage while we do that.

The easiest way to understand the London transport system and all things London is to pick up the RS London guidebook.

Do I work for the man? No, but for first time visitors his guidebook is the best introduction one can buy.

Secondly, agree with OP's, forget staying at Heathrow.

The Alhambra Hotel on Argyle near St Pancras is safe and clean. Rooms will be small but you are only there one night to rest your head. Very convenient for your train out the following morning.

As noted both the British Library (where the treasure room is a.k.a the Sir John C Ritblatt gallery, a must see IMHO is located) and the large British Museum are walking distance from the train Station.

So, arrive at Heathrow and depending on budget either take the tube or Heathrow Express into London and then either another tube ride or cab to the hotel.

Heathrow Express is a 15 minute train ride to Paddington Station where you can take Circle Line (yellow) Underground train to Kings Cross/St Pancras. The Argyle is a half a block away.
BUY tickets NOW for the Heathrow Express to cut down on the cost.

OR

Take the hour ride on the Piccadilly tube Line (dark Blue) from Heathrow to Kings Cross/St Pancras and walk to the Argyle.

I fly the red eye from LAX and to counter act any jet lag I hit the ground running. My flight arrives at about the same time your flight from Boston arrives. It's London and I'm not go to miss exploring it because I feel a bit tired.

Stay outside and absorb the sights and sounds. Coffee shops (Costa, Nero's and Starbucks) are everywhere. Grab some java and enjoy the city you flew across the Atlantic to see.

I do have the RS London guidebook. It is really helpful.

Hmmmm....now I am second guessing myself. It sounds like staying near St Pancras would be so much more convenient. We didn't pay that much for the hotel near Heathrow. Maybe I'll just cancel it even though I don't get a refund and call it a lesson learned for the next trip.

We didn't pay that much for the hotel near Heathrow. Maybe I'll just cancel it even though I don't get a refund and call it a lesson learned for the next trip.

I was going to suggest that but didn't want to second-guess your financial situation.

You should be able to get a room near St P for about £100 - Premier Inn or maybe one of the hotels in Cartwright Gardens such as Studios2Let, Celtic/St Margaret's or Harlingford.

Anyway. Plenty to think about.

Another lesson you can take from this is before booking train tickets in an area you are not familiar with, come here and ask. Many of us would have been happy to help you plan your train journey without the hassles of going to Paddington because, as it has been stated, the train system always wants you to take the Heathrow Express (expensive) over the tube (inexpensive.) And quite often, it's not the best route.

If you decide to forego the Radisson, from Heathrow take the tube to Kings Cross/St. Pancras. Stay in a hotel nearby (I've stayed at the Premier Inn St. Pancras which is directly across the street from the British Libary. The rooms are completely soundproof so you won't hear any outside noise.) Check in/Drop your bags. Go visit the British Museum although staying outside in sunlingt is better for jet lag. The next day, get up, head over to St. Pancras, retrieve your ticket and you are on your way. You bypass Paddington altogether.

The tube will take about an hour from Heathrow to KIngs Cross. But you are getting on at the end of the line so you should be able to get a seat.

Michelle, another disadvantage to your original plan is you say "Radisson near Heathrow". I see two Radisson hotels listed near Heathrow, the *Radisson Blu Edwardian" and the "Park Inn by Radisson", both (like many Heathrow hotels) along the Bath Road (A4) on the northern edge of Heathrow.
Not only would you have to get there from Heathrow, the following morning you would have to get back to one of the terminals to catch your Heathrow Express or tube into London. More wasted time and inconvenience.

Definitely just grab a tube to St Pancras and stay in one of the many cheap (~£100) hotels in the area. Then walk to St Pancras to pick up your ticket and board the 10:15 to Market Harborough.

Thank you everyone for the advice. I thought I was making things less stressful/less tiring by staying the night near the airport. But clearly the opposite is true. We are definitely taking all the advice and will forget the Radisson and stay overnight at a hotel near St Pancras. I was also really excited to see that The British Museum is open late on Friday nights, so this plan is perfect for us. We'll have the afternoon/evening to enjoy the museum, will still get a good night's sleep, and our travels the next day will be much faster and easier.

Excellent! Enjoy the museum and pleased to know u got the guidebook.

Great city to explore and enjoy!

Michelle, I’m glad you’ve decided to spend your first night in London.

I’ve stayed at the Radisson Blu at Heathrow several times on the night before departure. It’s a favorite choice of the Road Scholar tours that are returning from somewhere in UK late afternoon so it works fine for this. This hotel is nice but pretty bland and there is nothing nearby that would even tell you you’re in London. I only stay there because it’s included in the program cost and it’s an easy transfer to the airport.

Hooray for your change! Indeed, coming from Boston, you have one of, if not the, easiest flight from the U.S. Although jet lag of course varies for each person, overall, you will travel a much shorter distance and experience fewer time zone changes than someone coming from anywhere else in the U.S. Hopefully that will mean an even quicker, easier adjustment for you upon arrival. Certainly no need to spend that whole day out by the airport!! Get into town and enjoy something!