I will arrive at 10:30 at LHR. Virgin Atlantic (First class via FF miles, so maybe there is a fast customs line? I don't know). To save $, I was going to book the bus in advance...but I'm not sure how long to leave to get to teh bus (customs, walk to bus station....) . I will only have carry on luggage.... anyone have experience with this?
Thanks!
I did a similar trip a couple of years ago. If I recall,the express bus to Bath leaves about 1:30-2:00. It was late. We bought our tickets online prior to the trip (no problems at all). I don't recall fast custom lines. Check the bus schedule for National Express. It is easy to find the bus. You should allow a couple of hours. There is a food stand at the bus stop so you can get food there. I think there is an ATM machine also. Have fun! Bath is great. Take the Pub Crawl tour. It is cheap and very informative.
According to the National Express timetables, express coaches depart at 11:45 and 13:15. Whether you book in advance or buy your ticket at LHR, the fare is £18. If your plane is on time and there isn't a long line at immigration/passport control, you MIGHT be able to catch the 11:45 coach. But don't count on it. It's safer to assume that you'll have to wait for the 13:15 coach.
The only real reason to book ahead is so that you know you have a seat. No price difference in booking ahead. If you miss your coach, you can just catch the next one at no additional charge. I was early to my bus connection once and they let me get on the earlier bus, too. It's a pretty good walk to the bus terminal from where Virgin comes in, so you should allow time for that.
This is great info! Thanks! It sounds like there isn't really any need to purchase a ticket beforehand. I was wondering about the return trip from Bath to London...I see 9pound fares and upwards of 50. Does it pay to book that in advance?
Cheers!
Yes, it pays to book in advance. That's the only way you'll get the £9.50 fare. Walk-up fares fares on longer rides can be very high. Even though you'll be traveling on a Great Western train, book at www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com. That site accepts non-UK credit cards. Book as soon as your date opens (about 60 days in advance). The booking dates are on the right-hand side of the home page.
I'm not aware of a passport check-line dedicated to first class fliers, but you will exit the plane first and thus be ahead of a few hundred others. Last year I pre-purchased my coach ticket from LHR to Bath and saved on the fare; if you don't have a reservation in advance you may not get on the first bus. They fill up with people with reservations. Passport control can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour, so it's difficult to know what time you will get to the bus station (which is a 10-15 min hike from passport control). I would allow a couple of hours from the time your plane is scheduled to land for making a reservation. My plane was supposed to land at 7:10 am but actually arrived at the gate closer to 7:30 am. I exited passport control at 8:40 and hiked on over to the bus station. The next bus (coach) to Bath, and the one I had a reservation for, left at about 10:15. I arrived in Bath at about 1 pm completely exhausted. And this is why I will no longer take the bus from LHR to Bath. From now on, I will go into London first and spend at least one night before traveling to Bath; and I intend to take the train.
