Need help: Heathrow to a National Rail Station (Paddington or Victoria) December 27, 2015.

Both the Heathrow Express and Connect are out of action until 29 December for Crossrail construction.

Booking a private hire car is one option. For public transport I would suggest going to South Kensington, dump your stuff at the hotel and walk to Victoria (about 2.5km) if it is a reasonably decent day - might wake you all up. Otherwise just carry on the District Line to Victoria.

Marie, the cash fare for 5 of you from Heathrow to the South Kensington tube stop will be £30 (£6 each), and then from South Kensington tube to the Victoria tube stop will be £24 (if you decide not to take the half-hour walk). You might want to get a quote from a private car service for pick-up at Heathrow to the Victoria Train Station, buy your 7-day paper travelcards, then hop on the tube back to South Kensington for your hotel. Remember that passport size photos for everyone are required to purchase the rail issued 7-day card.

Have a great trip.

For five people in total you will need to get a black cab, or specifically arrange for a people carrier from the car company. With that many people a black cab might end up being decent value for money.

However, the trip from Heathrow to South Kensington by tube is simple - take the Piccadilly Line to Hammersmith and then cross the platform for a District Line train in the same direction to South Kensington. You can take the Piccadilly all the way to South Kensington but you will have to take a long escalator up to the surface which may be a problem with heavy luggage.

You could get a black cab for half the price of cash fares between South Ken and Victoria for 5.

Thank you for your posts. I am always leery of pre-arranging airport transport because you never know about delays, etc. and cellphone use can be restricted as we pass through immigration.

Thank being said: 1) Can we get a "black cab" that fits five with luggage from a cab stand or other point at Heathrow as we exit the terminal and will that be more expensive than booking ahead? 2) Using the Piccadilly tube, there is no way around the fact we will pay that fare "outside" of the 7 day travel passes we are getting at a National Rail Station?

Your follow up question number 2 - If you want to have your transportation to and from the airport all rolled up with your 7 day Travelcard you - could get a 7 day all zones Travelcard which would include as many trips to Heathrow as you may feel inclined to take. It would be a waste of money, but you could do it. It also would not be valid for the Days Out promotion 2-4-1. The advantage is for a pass issued at an Underground station you don't need a photocard.

You see, most sightseeing opportunities are in central London, pretty much all will be within Zone 1 and a few in Zone 2 Only a very few visitors ever venture beyond Zones 1 and 2.

Far better to have a small Pay As You Go Oyster Card, or pay a cash fare, or use a contactless card from home (works just like an Oyster but without having to register it or load it with cash) for the journeys to and from the airport and buy your separate National Rail 7 day Travelcard from a train station in central London near your digs.

TfL gives the broad guideline of a black cab from LHR to Central London as £45-£85; it is hard to know relating to location, traffic condition etc.