Tickets for National Express from Heathrow

It is easy and best to buy when you get there IMO.

Why would you not take the Tube to Victoria Station? Probably faster and more dependable concerning early morning traffic into London.

Thank you for your replies. I hadn't thought about the tube as I herniated a disc last year lifting luggage in Italy and was concerned about escalators and elevators being an issue in tube stations. We are staying a block from the coach station so I thought that would be easiest. I will look into the tube.

In your case I might actually advise the coach as you are so close to VCS. Victoria Underground Station is still a construction mess, don't think there is yet step-free access to the street and it would be a bit of a walk. Even consider booking a private hire vehicle (mincab).

We just took the National Express bus from Heathrow to Victoria Coach Station two weeks ago on a Sunday morning. We arrived in Terminal 2 and our B&B was in Pimlico (near Victoria), so it was very convenient. I also don't like taking the tube with luggage. You never know when there will be steps, or an escalator that isn't working, or a large crowd.

The buses leave every 1/2 hour or so and take 45 – 75 minutes depending on traffic. You can look at their website now (www.nationalexpress.com) to see the exact schedule and prices for each specific route. The prices are very reasonable (£6 – 10). The walk-up prices and the advanced prices seem to be the same, so there's no need to buy them until you arrive and are ready. We like to have time to get a coffee and maybe use the facilities after a long flight, instead of rushing.

You buy the tickets in the Heathrow Central Bus Station near Terminal 2. We didn't use a kiosk, although there are some right there. Instead we bought our tickets from the person at the ticket counter, who told us the best coach to take and where to board. We like to speak to a person, especially when just getting off an overnight flight.

Thank you to everyone who replied to my post and for the great advice. I think the coach will work very well for us and it's really close to our hotel. Thanks again.

Just in case you haven't realised these aren't coaches dedicated to the journey into London - they are ones from all over the country that stop off there enroute. So the staff can advise if one of them is late etc, and they will know if there are any which happen to be full (which they rarely are).

Hi Marco. No, I didn't know that. Thank you so much for the heads up. I thought the coaches were specific to the airport and points around London. We arrive at Heathrow at 6:55 am on a Sunday in October so hopefully the coaches won't be full. I'm also still looking into a taxi or private car to the hotel. The coach just seemed reasonable and convenient to the hotel.