Traveling from Heathrow to Central London

I would stay in the same hotel for your entire visit. You don't want to be changing. Besides you want to be up and moving the first day. So, while you may be tired, having things to do, like traveling to your hotel, then getting settled and then venturing out can help you overcome that jet lag. That said, I've stayed in the Paddington area and found it accessible to most of the sites via the subway and I liked the neighborhood. But either way, I would pick one hotel. :) You'll be fine getting from Paddington to your next destination. I would probably think that I ought to take the subway, but then end up taking a taxi. I cannot imagine having any trouble getting a taxi at Paddington. There are signs to the taxi stand. I got in at 10 PM on one trip and had no difficulty whatsoever.

Pam

It has been a while since our last flights to LHR but we found the Underground convenient and cheaper than the Express.
https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUHRC/heathrow-terminals-1-2-3-underground-station
The TFL "plan a journey" can route you to your hotel in Central London.

After traveling all night, taking a taxi from the train station to your hotel is money well spent IMO.

I'm big on subways, but when tired and carrying bags, spending up for a taxi is a smart move.

We go to London at least once a year. I do not care to be underground and cannot face the Tube after the long overnight flight. So we take the Heathrow Express and then taxi from Paddington. But your Heathrow Express tickets 90+ days in advance for the best price. If you are fortunate to arrive on a weekend or bank holiday, they are really inexpensive!

Paddington is central London by most people's measure. Good location to stay. No doubt as an American you are a keen cricket follower, so you can enjoy Lords right at your doorstop.

Where are you going in "Central" London? I doubt a cab from Paddington would take more than 20 minutes to get anywhere in the center of the city. Once you get off the train it's about a five minute walk to the taxi stand. They'll be lined up.

Where are you thinking of staying for the rest of the time? The area around Paddington isn't that bad, and is well-connected by underground and bus but there may be better ones for what you want to do. How are you going to Ireland?

How many is "we"?

Are you flying (which airport) or taking the ferry (Holyhead or another) to Ireland?

What time is your inbound arrival?

Paddington is in central London. Central London is a very wide area, and there is nowhere that is close enough to all the sites of interest to be able to get there without using some form of transport.

First pick your London hotel, then decide on how you will get there from the airport. Depending on where it's located, and how many of you there are, you may do better with another method. For instance, many prefer a "minicab" (Britspeak for a prebooked car service), which is cheaper than a black cab and gives you door-to-door service. For more than one person, it can even be cheaper than the Heathrow Express plus taxi - again, depending on how many of you there are, and your final destination.

I agree that it doesn't make sense to change hotels. Pick one for the whole stay. But don't put the cart before the horse. You are going once from the airport to London, and once back. Don't let that dictate the location of a hotel for 6 nights.

The Heathrow Express is about 20 dollars per person, so if there are at least 2 of you, the convenience of a taxi to take you right to your hotel from the airport is worth it after arriving after a long flight with a time change and schlepping luggage. Taxis to central London from LHR are about 50 pounds. If you do want to stay in a hotel on a train line with direct access to LHR, the Radisson Blu Kensington and the Crowne Plaza on Cromwell Road are nice hotels across the street from the tube station.

Because you seem to be concerned about jet lag, etc., I'd opt for springing for a cab straight to the hotel. Once you've got your bags, follow the signs to the taxis and be on your way.

Heathrow Express is the fastest way to get from Heathrow into the city. Paddington Station is, more or less, in the western side of central London.

Taking a taxi from Heathrow directly to your hotel will be slower. The upsides: 1. You don't need to haul your luggage on and off the Heathrow Express. 2. You will go directly to your hotel.

I haven't used one for some time, but I believe buses also depart Heathrow and make the loop around different London hotels. Probably best to check with your hotel directly to see if that's an option. Should be relatively inexpensive, but can take some time before the bus gets to your hotel.

If you go to Paddington and stay in that area the first night, you are very likely, I imagine, to take a cab from Paddington Station to the hotel, rather than walking around, carrying luggage, looking for the place when all you really want to do is crash and rest.

Then, you'd need to pack up and take a cab to the "real" hotel the next day.

BTW, the cars on the Underground are not designed for luggage, in case you were considering that option. Plus, getting around inside many Tube stations can involved a considerable amount of walking.

RE: Because you seem to be concerned about jet lag, etc., I'd opt for springing for a cab straight to the hotel.

You will likely need to make arrangements for early hotel arrival and check-in if you want to do more than just drop off your luggage for the hotel to hold until your room is available. A London economy hotel that we had a booking for allowed us to check in before the normal availability time with the payment of a extra fee.

That said, if jet lag is the issue, my approach to a more rapid adjustment to time zone is have the hotel hold the luggage and get out into the daylight and walk around to hasten the bio-clock reset. Taking a mid-day nap just retards resetting the bio-clock.

I agree taking the tube into London (depending on the day you are in the middle of rush hour, not fun with your bags etc.) is ruff after the flight when you can get on the Heathrow Express and into Paddington in minutes (yes it's more $$ but worth it). We usually then take a taxi to our hotel. Last time we stayed over by Monument and the cabbie couldn't figure out where on the no cars street our hotel was so he parked and went down till he found it. Didn't charge us for his time either. Cabs are always a welcome after the long flight and the cabbies are interesting people.

Pick your transportation based on your hotel.

I normally stay in a hotel one block from Earl's Court station. I take the tube from Heathrow because it is one train. I once tried the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then a cab to my hotel. It took longer because the cab was stuck in traffic.

There are places in PIccadilly line cars where you can stand with your luggage, rest against a padded "seat" and not get in anyone's way. And after sitting for a long time on the plane, I don't mind standing.

You can buy your Heathrow Express tix early for a discount...(I don't think they are time specific, but may be date specific)...

https://www.heathrowexpress.com/holiday-hacks

If you buy 90 days out, you can get them really cheap, but they do have a special if you get them 30 days out - 14 GPB vs 22-25 GPB...