Hello! I will be heading straight to Bath from Heathrow airport and am trying to figure out the best way to get there. Taking the coach seems like the best option. I arrive at Heathrow at 12:05pm. If I try to catch the 2:45pm coach, would that give me enough time after going thru customs, etc.? Just wondering what experiences others have had using the coach and how much time in between departures is needed... Thanks!
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
I have often taken a National Express coach from Heathrow. It is a long-ish walk to the bus station, if your plane is late and if you encounter a really long queue at passport control (very likely), then you might not make the 2:45 bus. When is the next bus? In any case, buy your ticket on line to save time.
Posted by
OP
Seattle
49 posts
I hadn't considered how long it would take to walk to the bus station. The next bus departure isn't until 5:20pm, so that wouldn't get me into Bath until around 8:00. Would I be better off just taking the train at that point?
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
I have taken the bus from LHR to Bath a few times. It is a long walk to the bus depot and maybe a long wait there and then a long ride to Bath. Last spring I took the Heathrow Connect into Paddington Station (London) and bought a ticket for the next train to Bath. It may not have saved time, but was easier than the bus option. The train option costs more than the bus. The train for Bristol is usually the one which will take you to Bath (Bath Spa). Trains from Paddington to Bath run frequently, at least every hour.
Posted by
OP
Seattle
49 posts
Thanks for the advice! Has anyone taken the bus to Reading, and then train from Reading to Bath? That seems like another possible option...
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
As well as Reading, consider Woking. We sometimes took the coach to Woking and then the train to Winchester, and I see there are 4 trains a day from Woking to Bath, so maybe the timing would work for you.
Posted by
Narberth, PA
1255 posts
Hi, a number of years ago, I took the coach to Reading and the train from there to Bath. I had somehow overlooked the fact that buying the ticket in advance on the busy Heathrow to Bath coach was a good idea. I do not recall how long it took, but it was quite manageable - as in I could easily figure out which train to take once in Reading. I am glad you have posted this question as I am trying to make the Heathrow to Bath trip again in July.
Posted by
San Diego, CA, USA
237 posts
Which terminal are you arriving at? When I did this there were options from Terminal 5 but they were all longer, with changes, and more expensive. Be sure you're including transfer time from 4 or 5 to the central 1,2,3 terminal if that's the bus schedule you're looking at and you need to get there. The bus trip itself was... let's go with "an adventure" and leave it at that. I don't think my experience was typical but I immediately chose the tube to get into London from Heathrow a couple of weeks later rather than tangle with the busses again. Good luck,
=Tod