Transportation from Heathrow to Kings Cross

The easiest way would be to take the Heathrow Express that gets you to Paddington Station in 15 minutes. Then catch a cab the last 3-4 miles to your destination.

But if you can catch a cab from Heathrow for the same money spent, enjoy the ride. It's about 18 miles and 40 minute ride--maybe except in rush hour.

Just for future reference. An advance ticket on the Heathrow Express costs 5.50 pounds, but then you have to buy them much further in advance than one week. The closer it gets to the date of travel, the higher the price.

I agree that since you left this so late, a taxi would be cost effective. I hope you have a wonderful first trip to the UK and that it is the first of many.

Congratulations on your first trip to the UK. Pack light. Dress in layers. Sensible broken in shoes.

Unburdened the angst. Take a cab.

Chat with the driver.

Your choice to tip. I always do so but that’s me.

Kings Cross is massive. Hustle and bustle. Secure a good spot to watch the huge arrival/departure sign board. Find your train. Depending on which platform the train is departing from will generate the walk time to get there. Walk can be as long as 10 minutes.

The station had loads of places to grab a nosh, coffee, water, magazine, key chain souvenirs ( I love the red phone booths and Elizabeth’s Tower ones. Very popular with family and friends). Also good bathrooms. Simply follow signage. It will say toilets.

If you order some food to go, use the term “take away.”

Have a great time!

There is no point paying a small fortune to take the HEX to Paddington when you can get the tube all the way to Kings Cross in about the same time for a fraction of the cost.

fare on the tube is £3.50 per person with an Oyster or contactless. £2 more before 9:30 M-F, from Heathrow all the way to Kings Cross St Pancras.

The tube will take about the same time, the fare difference will buy a nice dinner, and it takes just about the same time all in.

You get on at the beginning so no issue with luggage, and the entry is level so rolling luggage works, at the other end there are lifts and escalators up to the train station and rolling luggage works there too....

Another vote for the tube. I have done a similar journey numerous times with luggage and it’s no hassle as you get on at the start of the line.

Just to clarify, its a direct line from Heathrow to Kings Cross
Couldn't be easier

Hi -

Another vote for the Tube. Cheap, direct and probably not as difficult to negotiate, with or without luggage, as has occasionally been made out. Those of us from the northern wastes think it’s marvellous. Londoners may sometimes moan about it but familiarity breeds contempt, right?

Dependent on which platform you arrive at in York you should be at street level, and just a very short stroll from the station exit. That’s been my usual experience. There’s a bridge to/from the far platforms but I think it’s accessible by a lift (the bridge is where Hagrid left Harry Potter in the first film) should you arrive there. York is small, especially the centre within the walls, so if staying centrally you probably can walk to your accommodation. If not feeling like a walk and/or navigating after all your travelling look for the taxi ranks outside the station.

Copperhead - that’s a venomous snake right? See, I read!

Relax and have a great trip!

Ian

There’s a bridge to/from the far platforms but I think it’s accessible by a lift (

There is a lift to all platforms at York, although people seem often to miss or ignore it.

Another vote for the tube. You're going to Kings Cross, so the tube would always be my first choice. No changes. No worries about London traffic.

Using the Heathrow Express is great if you are staying in the Paddington area, but its a complete pain if you arrive there loaded with luggage and have to sort out the next step of your journey. I

A taxi is going to cost you more than 45 to 60 pounds. More like 100 pounds. What you need to do, if you don't want to take the tube, is prearrange a car service to take you to Kings Cross. That will probably run you about 60 pounds.

Thank you all for the great advice! I didn't realize the tube to kings cross is direct and originates at LHR, that certainly will make navigating it with luggage and brain fog much easier. Sounds like that's the way to go.

And thank you for the tips on the York station as well. We are staying at Abbey Guesthouse and the owner Rob gave us great directions for exiting and walking to the B&B. I love the tip about the HP reference for the bridge too, I'm a big fan of the books. We're planning an HP walking tour during our time in Edinburgh.

Because I don’t think anybody has actually said it, you need the Piccadilly line. Straight through with no changes once you are on it from Heathrow. See link to Tube map below:

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/standard-tube-map.pdf

Ian

Thanks Ian, I had just looked it up when I saw your reply but appreciate the confirmation of Picadilly. I've found on my previous travels to other countries that Google Maps usually does a pretty good job with providing directions for navigating public transportation, except for in Italy where nothing runs on schedule.

Will it be as easy to take the tube from LHR to Victoria Station area with luggage? On our return to London we will fly from Inverness to LHR and are renting a flat near Victoria Station (we're there for a week). Google is telling me the tube option involves a transfer at Gloucester Road to the Circle line but is recommending Megabus M3/M10 as the best option. Our bags will likely be a bit heavier after 2 weeks through northern England and Scotland (I fully intend to pick up some special bottles of whisky not available in the states on our Speyside tour) so I'm a bit nervous about navigating a tube change with that but not sure if there's much room for luggage on the bus. Any thoughts?

And yes, copperhead is a poisonous snake. I'm a redhead so it's my attempt at a fun play on words. :)

Thanks!

copperheadpdx

there is a National Express coach from LHR to the Victoria Coach terminal (just a block or two from the Victoria rail & tube station). So that might be even more convenient.

Going to Victoria from Heathrow you do a cross-platform transfer between Piccadilly & District lines at Hammersmith. Any travel app suggesting changing at Gloucester Road for this journey should be binned off and never relied on again.

Victoria District Line is a lot more accessible these days with luggage.

With just one backpack and suitcase, taking the Tube is easy. I've done it several times and since you get on at Heathrow, you have your pick of seats and where to put your luggage.

So another vote for the Underground.

Hey copperhead -

I think Marco has it right. Very straightforward. Heed the Gloucester Road advice (I.e. ignore it and change lines at Hammersmith - literally the other side of the platform if I recall correctly). Megabus is long distance in the main, so personally I’d stick with the Tube.

Ian

Thank you!!

Yup - a doddle - Piccadilly Line to Hammersmith, walk about 8 or 10 feet, get on the District Line and get off again in 7 stops at Victoria. Victoria Underground station was completely rebuilt in the last few years, and the work is now complete, so there are now lifts and escalators.

Do NOT try the Gloucester Road transfer.

Looks like you got some solid answers across the board. Good job RS posters. As an add on, I see you have a 6 hour layover in my hometown airport (MSP), plus the long flights before and after the layover. If I were you, I would consider getting some fresh air while in MSP. Hit the light rail blue line from the airport and 6 minutes later, get off at the 50th St/Minnehaha Park stop, cross the street and have a beautiful walk to Minnehaha Falls and a bite to eat at Sea Salt. Hopefully our unusually long winter will be over in another week. If you choose not to brave leaving the airport for a couple hours, at least MSP has a lot of options. Cheers.

Oh I love that suggestion @Jay MN! Thank you! Back in 2013 when I went to Ireland, United routed me through Frankfurt en route to Dublin (no idea why, so out of the way) with a 5 hour layover. I jumped on the train to Romer Platz, walked around, had a beer and a frankfurter (because Frankfurt lol), then caught the train back and made it through security and to my gate with time to spare and a great memory. I'll have to do the same in Minneapolis!