Taking an Uber from Heathrow

Where are you going? The Elizabeth line is also a very good option.

The Uber app will show you exactly where your driver is on a map with the car moving in real time. It will also show the same to the driver when he accepts the ride. Also there is a text feature right there on the app and you can send you driver that you are the woman in the red coat at pickup island number 3. They will be looking for you.
Uber is very easy. Always they are good drivers. Cars have been very clean.

From Terminal 5, it's an easy and pleasant journey into London by coach (bus).
The coaches have AC, WiFi, comfy seats (more comfy than on most planes).
These are NOT like the buses in the US!
The driver puts your large bags under the bus in a locked hold. You carry on small bags, purses, backpacks with you.

We've done this several times and it was the cheapest and best way in my opinion, for someone who does not like the tube. (We paid 6 pounds each, but that was a couple of years ago. Still it's a bargain even with a price increase.)

You're riding up high in the coach, so you see a lot of the neighborhoods as you approach and enter London.
Once we got off the motorway, we had a nice ride through Chelsea and along the river before the coach pulled into Victoria Coach Station.

From there, you can take a taxi or Uber to your hotel (or walk), saving money on the journey.
There are many nice hotels in this area.

At Heathrow T5, it's easy to find the coach station. There are large signs in every hallway pointing the way.
You can wait outside the sliding glass doors, look for the header (Victoria Coach Station) on the coach that pulls into the stalls, get on, buy your ticket from the coach driver.

Badger- We're staying in Hammersmith right off the Piccadilly line. We really don't want to use public transport, thanks for the suggestion though.

Treemoss- Your reply was so helpful and exactly what I needed, thanks! After checking out several transfer companies, it looks like Uber will be the cheapest way to get to our hotel.

Rebecca- Great suggestion and I have actually taken the bus from Heathrow when I stayed by Victoria Station on my last trip. I really liked it! In this case though, Uber would be the easiest and we won't need two modes of transport to get to our hotel.

From the Uber Website:

Uber users at LHR who request rides will be instructed to meet you at the Short Term Car Park located next to their terminal.

After parking your car, meet your rider on foot at these locations:

Terminal 2 - Level 4, Row H (Short Stay Car Park 2)
Terminal 3 - Level 3, Row A (Short Stay Car Park 3)
Terminal 4 - Level 1, Private Hire Pickup
Terminal 5 - Level 1, Row R (Short Stay Car Park 5)

As you know, Uber pricing changes depending on weather, demand, etc. If demand is high, you might be waiting awhile.

A private car service meets you as you exit customs, walks you to your car, and drops you off at your lodging. You know the price ahead of time.

A couple of companies recommended on this forum are:

Blackberry Cars

and

Just Airports

Frank II just beat me to saying that uber is renowned in the London area for surge pricing whenever they think they can get away with it

Uber is also renowned in London for standing you up. Had more problems with Uber in London than any place. I’ve ever tried to use it and I just pay for a taxi. Much more reliable.

After a long flight from the United States, I do not want to deal with unreliable and having to truck all over creation to find my ride.

I take uber on Atlanta and I know how bad it is at the airport. And I know where I’m going and what I’m doing in the Atlanta airport.

It's not just London where Uber are renowned for price surging in cancellation, it happens all over. I'd stick to one of the well known car service companies who provide their prices up front, are reliable and whose drivers know where they're going.

Uber is my last resort option.

Frank II just beat me to saying that uber is renowned in the London area for surge pricing whenever they think they can get away with it

Nigel, you snooze, you lose. (LOL)

Hello Claudette,
I would definitely go with one of the two car service companies recommended by Frank II.
We have used Blackberry Cars and were happy with them.

Thanks everyone for the feedback on using Uber. You’ve given me lots to think about.

Rebecca- I’ve stayed all over London and this is my first time in Hammersmith. My travel buddy and I like to have our own rooms so Premier Inn fits our budget perfectly. Last time we traveled together we stayed at the Premier Inn in Ealing which was a little too far out. This time we’re staying at the Premier Inn Hammersmith Sheperd’s Bush. It got way better reviews than the other Hammersmith location. It’s supposed to be a 2 minute walk from the tube station and a lot closer than Ealing that’s for sure!

Claudette, sounds like a great location.
I love Premier Inns; consistently good, clean, comfy, budget-friendly.
Have a great trip.

Rebecca, is that a National Express coach? I'm trying to make sense of the options.
It looks like tickets are 11, 16, or 17 with a 2.83 charge to make it fully refundable/exchangeable, more costly like everything.
I'm looking at options for our May trip.
Thanks.

We traveled to England first week Oct. 2022 and we had the unfortunate experience of landing in Heathrow during a week of intermittent train strikes. The only option we had was to take an Uber to and from Heathrow and central London. It cost us about $100 each way.
Definitely not cheap!

Can Am Cherie, Yes it is National Express.

I really wouldn't buy ahead. Any bus calling at Heathrow has come from further away, as far as Glasgow or Penzance sometimes. Thus it is dropping passengers at Heathrow so will have walk up capacity.
With at least two, and up to six departures an hour there is no lack of capacity.

So to me just buy on your phone or at the machines when you arrive. Buying on your phone is cheaper, especially if you have registered for a free account which saves you the booking fees.
I don't know about T4 and T5, but at central bus station for T2 and T3 I wouldn't buy until actual!y there as there are screens at the CBS giving live running updates. So you can see whether a bus is on time, late or early. Yes they are allowed to run early London bound. The long haul routes often do so. I've been way early on Glasgow runs when the motorway is actually clear, as they are non stop from Carlisle except the PNB break which is normally at the M6 toll road services.

Don't get a much rarer Megabus or Flixbus as they are usually more expensive.

Stuart, thank you for this detailed advice. In a few weeks I will be taking a coach from Heathrow to Oxford and back. I've done it before, but it's been a few years, so this is very helpful!

I have decided to book with BlackBerry Cars for £64. Got a quote from Just Airports for £73 so I went with the better deal. Thanks to all for your advice and suggestions!