Hello, I have had a change in my plans and I need to get to York when I arrive at the airport. I will arrive on Sunday April 29 at aprox 7:30 . Is there a connection that I need to do or can I get a train from the airport ?
I appreciate your advice
Pat
If you’re taking the train you’ll need to take the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to King’s Cross.
If you’re flying on a Oneworld airline, however, you could get a connecting flight from Heathrow to Leeds and make your way to York from there.
Hi -
We do a similar journey to this quite a lot and I believe the best thing to do is to book an 'Advance' ticket via the National Rail website, or Virgin East Coast website. This will significantly reduce the cost of your journey, but will tie you to a specific timed train.
As a 'for instance' we will be flying into Heathrow from Seattle (we are coming home!) later in the year arriving at about the same time as you. I tend to allow a bit of time for clearing immigration, baggage collection, the journey to the main line station (more on this in a moment) and for the flight to be slightly late.
Thus while we land at about 07.45 I've booked us on the train home at around 13.00. We live not far from York (see my location!) and our train north departs from Kings Cross, as do trains to York. The journey from Heathrow is by Tube on the Piccadilly line and takes about an hour to Kings Cross. I wouldn't be tempted by the Heathrow Express as although it's quick, it's expensive and it doesn't go to the correct station and you'll end up changing to the Tube to get to Kings Cross, probably on the Piccadilly line anyway. Best to get on at Heathrow and get off at Kings Cross without changing. While you will be aiming for a specific train at Kings Cross, you can get on any of the Tube trains.
Book your ticket from London Heathrow to York via Kings Cross - I think if memory serves, my most recent ticket purchase via Virgin East Coast offered the option something in the vein of 'Heathrow Underground zones 1-6' and that's the option you want. Definitely reserve a seat on the Kings Cross to York train as these mainline trains are frequently full or at best, very, very busy. Last thing you need having just got off your transatlantic flight is to spend two and a half hours trying to remain upright as the train speeds northwards! (I've seen this happen - doesn't look fun!).
Your train might not terminate in York - it may be the Edinburgh train - check out the 'calling at' section on the departure boards at Kings Cross.
If you whizz through immigration, collect your bag easily and the flight is on time, and you reach Kings Cross early there's plenty of shops and cafes (we like 'Leons'!) to pass the time in while you wait. Platforms are routinely announced via the departure boards 10 - 15 minutes before the train leaves.
If you are late and miss the train then you'll need to negotiate with station staff to see what they'll let you do. In theory, they may insist that you pay the difference between your Advance price and the walk up price which can be considerable. This is why I allow a fairly lengthy time between arriving at Heathrow and the train north. But it's worth throwing yourself on the mercy of the staff - you may get a sympathetic one who'll allow you to travel on another train that you aren't scheduled to travel on. Or maybe you can organise a swap for your tickets to another train (explain your flight was late - trowel it on!). Always worth attempting to negotiate! For what it's worth, we've, so far, never had a problem as we've always arrived with time to burn to make the connection.
Enjoy York! Have a great trip!
Ian
Trains for York leave from London Kings Cross station, you need to get there first.
From Heathrow take a tube to Kings Cross (approx 1 hour)
From Kings Cross trains leave every 30 minutes for York, trip takes 2 hours (200 Km/Hr)
You are now faced with a dilemma. Trains fro 29th April are now selling for £44. But, if you buy on the day when you get to Kings Cross it will cost a lot more. I recommend you buy an "Off Peak Single" at £54.90 which can be used on any train on that day, as you cannot be sure when you will get out of Heathrow (plane late landing, immigration delays). You will not in this ase have a reserved seat.
These trains are run by Virgin East Coast. You can see times and buy tickets at their website: https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/
oh my gosh this is mind blowing but I know if I read this all again its won't be so ..WOW..
Thank you
Pat
I would not recommend taking a connecting flight onto Leeds / Bradford airport as the onward transport connections are poor.
We did this several years ago. We also were making the trip on a Sunday so the tube was not crowded and we were able to keep our luggage (checked bags) right next to us. We booked a three o'clock train to York because I didn't want to worry about a late plane arrival. We checked our luggage at a left luggage place around the corner from King's Cross and then used our spare time to visit the British Library and have a pleasant lunch at St. Pancras Station which is right across the street from King's Cross.
After two nights in York we picked up our rental car at the train station and headed north.
Is there any way you can change your flight to Manchester?
Manchester is the best airport if you want to get to York. It has direct trains to York. Takes 2 hours, not fast but only one train and Manchester is a lot simpler airport than Heathrow. And trains from Manchester airport allow you to take a later train at no penalty if your flight is late.
We already had to change our flight. This train journey will be done by my husband. His job pulled the vacation out from under us and he has to stay and work an extra two days so it cost us 500 dollars to change his flight to the Sat arriving Sun. I will have already arrived on the Thursday picked up by friends and headed north. We have a train ride and Birthday lunch and hotels booked that my husband will miss ( we could not cancel them as others were also involved) but at least we will meet up eventually in York. With all your instructions I am sure he will be fine.
Pat
Margaret, sorry to hear that. I hope your husband's employer reimburses him for the 500 dollars and lost holiday time.
When he gets on the train at Kings Cross he can relax and look at the countryside. Enjoy your trip.
Well I thought I would have have this settled by now but I am having an issue with the train sites.
trainline.com has tickets and when I order them it says" We're sorry, your tickets cannot be collected from Heathrow Underground.
Please select a station you would prefer to collect your tickets from.
You will still be able to collect your ticket(s) from any of over 1700 stations listed."
And then I have to start all over again
On the Virgin train east coast site it asks to choose from two different Heathrow locations??
If the flight gets in at 7:30 am I was going to give one and 1/2 hours to clear customs etc.. get a train ( not sure where to go for this..so 30 minutes to find the area. Get a train to Kings cross. by 11am. and then train to York at 1pm?
How come I do not get a choice to pick up the ticket?
Am I totally missing something here?
Please help
Thanks
Pat
one more question..sorry..does the price of the ticket include the train to Kings Cross? and again where to pick up the ticket when at Heathrow would be appreciated
Pat
book from Kings Cross to York and collect the ticket at Kings Cross
take the tube from Heathrow to Kings Cross - buy the ticket for this journey at Heathrow tube station
Hi Pat -
Would the best solution be to book your tickets from Kings Cross to York and just buy a walk up ticket for the Tube on arrival? You can collect your tickets for the London to York leg at Kings Cross and you won't be losing anything by buying a walk up Tube ticket - I'm guessing the tube ticket is going to cost approx. £7.00 - £8.00 for a one way trip? (Perhaps more frequent Tube users can be more accurate about the cost of a Heathrow to Kings Cross single ticket?). I use my rather ancient Oyster card so I'm not exactly au fait with the current prices.
Hope you can get it sorted.
Ian
The reason you can't pick up your tickets at Heathrow Underground is because the Underground is not a part of the National (RDG: Rail Delivery Group, but you don't need to know that) Rail network. It is like the TTC in Toronto or the Metro in Washington DC, not related to the trains other than it too runs on rails. So the ticket machines there are only for the Underground.
Take a single journey to Kings Cross St Pancras on the Underground line. That Underground train will get you to Kings Cross St Pancras in about 55 minutes. Get off, go upstairs to Kings Cross and go to one of the many ticket machines in the concourse and collect your ticket. Hop on the train (the exact time on your Advance ticket, not valid on any others, unless you have bought an open Off-Peak single or return). A lot easier than it sounds.
