We will be arriving Heathrow at 11 am on a Saturday. We were planning on taking the tube from Heathrow into London. Our hotel is close to the Goodge street tube stop on the Northern line. It looks like we could change from the Picadilly line to Northern line at Leicester Square tube stop, then get off at Goodge street. Is this a difficult place to change and is there an escalator to get up to ground level at Goodge street? We could stay on Picadilly line and get off at Russell Square and have longer walk above ground. Does it have escalator? We have also considered Heathrow connect to Paddington then black cab to hotel. Any recommendations would be appreciated and many thanks in advance!
Posted by
Seattle, Wa, USA
449 posts
Here is an official guide on how to avoid stations that have only steps. I wish I had it back in 2012 when I visited and exited at Pimlico: no elevators or escalators - only steps from underground to street level.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/avoiding-stairs-tube-guide.pdf
Posted by
Land of La
8682 posts
Personally I'd opt for the last option. A comfortable ride on the clean Heathrow Connect to Paddington Station. There is a walk from the Connect to the exit where the Black Cabs queue at Paddington but no steps. Besides if you aren't used to large train terminals Paddington Station is an "oh my" moment in itself so enjoy the stroll. Head outside and join the queue for a Black Cab. The line goes very quickly and then enjoy a black cab ride to your hotel. Those cabbies are a wealth of information and a wonderful part of any London experience. Save the steps and walking for your sight seeing moments. Great city. Bon Voyage!!!
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3772 posts
Marylinne, Emma and Claudia have it covered. I would take the option Claudia outlined, which is the last one mentioned by Emma.
Now to respond to one of your questions that shows the Webmaster closed it because of inactivity. No one ever posted an answer to your Hadrian's Wall question. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/hadrians-wall-hike
We used this company several years ago, Mac's Adventure:
http://www.macsadventure.com/holiday-113/hadrians-wall-walk
We were pleased with them. Do read all the reviews and see if this is a good fit for you and what you need. Note that there are walks of different time lengths. Sorry I did not see this when you first posted it in March. Hope my answer is not too late to help you!
Here is the website for the Hadrian's Wall bus:
http://www.visithadrianswall.co.uk/explore/ad122-hadrians-wall-country-bus/ad122-timetable
This bus line runs the entire length of the wall, from east to west, and vice versa. If you get tired of hiking, you can catch this bus.
Posted by
OP
cincinnati, OH, United States
17 posts
Thanks for all the info. I think well do heathrow connect/black cab to hotel....sounds so much easier and we've been to London before, but never ridden in a black cab.
We are booked with the walking holiday company for our Hadrians wall walk. They seemed the most flexible and responded to my first email within hours(no one else was nearly as prompt with response), and subsequent communication responses have been just as quick. Their reviews were very good. The bed and breakfasts and inns we are booked in all look lovely and receive glowing reviews, so I think we have chosen well!
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5330 posts
As an alternative you could just stay on the Piccadilly line to Kings Cross St Pancras. This station has step free access to the street level. Walk from there or take a cab depending on how you feel.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Both Goodge Street and Russell Square are older small tube stations which still have elevators rather than escalators. There are short flights of stairs between the lower elevator lobby and the platform at both, I think. The change between the two lines at Leicester Square will involve short flights of stairs.