Logistical question

I have stayed just outside Paddington as well as the Earl's Court/South Kensington areas. Either area is convenient to sightseeing but I prefer Earl' Court/Kensington for ambiance.

Go can take either the Piccadilly tube line (cheapest but slowest) into London or take the Heathrow Connect (Faster) or Heathrow Express (Fastest) to Paddington. From Paddington, just transfer to the line best serving your final destination.

Don't worry about luggage on public transport. As long as you limit yourselves to a reasonable amount of luggage and you aren't trying to take public transport during peak hours (before 9:00am and between 4:00pm-6:00pm) you'll fit right in. I would limit yourselves to a standard "carry on" sized suitcase and a small back.

Good luck and have fun.

You don't really need to stay near Euston station, but if you choose that neighborhood, then you might stay on the Picadilly Tube line all the way there, for instance to Holborn, Russell Square, or Kings Cross/St Pancras (train stations). It also serves South Kensington stop.

" Heathrow Express (Fastest)"

And overly expensive.

There are some chain hotels round Euston--if you go nearer Kings Cross make sure it's a well-known name or there are some reviews--but Holborn and Bloomsbury are very near the station too and would be nicer places to stay The Euston Road can get pretty busy and noisy.

There are three direct choices for London to Birmingham.

In order of speed they are:-

Virgin Train West Coast from London Euston to Birmingham International and Birmingham New Street with some continuing on to stop at Sandwell and Dudley on their way to Wolverhampton. New Street and International have 3 trains an hour most hours. Travels at up to 125 mph. Also most expensive.

London Midland from London Euston one stop (Milton Keynes Central) on the way to Rugby where you change to a London Midland train to Coventry, intermediate stations including International and terminates at Birmingham New Street. Travels at up to 110 mph. Cheapest.

London Midland also run trains with no change required which take somewhat longer because they stop more frequently and have a longer stop at Northampton, traveling at similar speeds. Same price as the faster London Midland service.

Chiltern Railways from London Marylebone via Banbury to Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill, with some intermediate stops. It travels somewhat slower and is not electrified. The price is less than Virgin.

It would be helpful if you could share what part of Birmingham you are needing.

Thank you all. In Birmingham we are going to the New Street station, our hotel is right by it.

So you would do best on Virgin or London Midland.

Snow Hill is a bit of a hike, but it is walkable from Moor Street via a special path to New Street.

The only hotels really close to New Street are the Burlington (across the tram road works from the new entrance to New Street and quite nice but old), the Britannia (down the street into the shopping area and if that is your choice I strongly suggest reading reviews), and Ibis (in Chinatown and decent but inconvenient).

If you are staying elsewhere, like the Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Copthorne or others on or near Broad Street or the Canal Basin you might be happier at Birmingham Snow Hill station.

Thanks Nigel. We are staying at the Burlington, we are actually going there for a concert, otherwise we would have no real interest in Birmingham.

If you're not used to public transit, you might consider taking the Heathrow Connect to Paddington and then a taxi to your hotel. Then learn to use the tube and buses to get around London without your luggage, they're easy and much less expensive than taxis. The tube will get you anywhere fast, buses are slower but you can see the city as you travel. Another taxi to Euston when you depart, if you don't want to manage bags on the tube.

There's no "central" location for London tourism, things are spread out, but the tube, buses, and walking allow you to get around easily. To minimize taxi fares, consider neighborhoods between Paddington and Euston, like Marylebone and Bloomsbury.

In addition to the road works when crossing the street be aware that New Street Station is being reconstructed from the inside out and the new station will open in mid September along with the new shopping mall and a new John Lewis department store. In the meantime the platforms are very narrow and passages are sometimes a little confusing until it all opens back up.

There are ramps at Euston Station down to the platforms, and both escalators and lifts at New Street Station.

How about this 3 star near Goodge St Tube ... http://www.arosfalondon.com/

We had a similar plan to yours. We arrived at Heathrow, stayed in London 2 nights and then took the train from King's Cross (which is a little east from Euston). I chose a hotel between Russell Square and King's Cross. It was a few blocks walk from Russell Square underground station. And it was a few blocks to the train station.

Since Russell Square is on the Picadilly line, we had no transfers to get there. It's easy to board the underground train at Heathrow because the train essentially ends there and everyone has luggage. Russell Square is a pretty easy station because you use an elevator. It is a longish walk at Heathrow to the underground station but you can use a cart most of the way.

The morning we caught our train, it was a few block walk to the stAtion. No real stress because we weren't depending on anything but our feet to get there!

I was very happy with this location and will probably stay in that area when we are fortunate enough to return.