I will be flying into Heathrow on July 29 on United Airline from San Francisco. My plane is due to land at about 7:30 AM. I have reservations for that night in Cardiff near the city center. I will not be renting a car. I have plenty of time to get to Cardiff but will have major jet-lag. I need some advice on the best way to get from the Heathrow airport to Cardiff which is relatively hassle free and relatively economical. Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
You can take a National Express coach (highway bus) directly from Heathrow to Cardiff. The average travel time is three hours. The fare is 40.20 GBP. If your plane is on time, you can catch the 09:05 coach. If it's late, take the 10:05 coach. See here.
Posted by
Tempe, AZ, USA
1266 posts
Diane - While Tim's option is a good one, there is also the Heathrow Connect to Paddington for £7.90 and a train from Paddington Station to Cardiff Central will run between £18-30.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
We did something similar a few years ago. Arrived at Gatwick at 8:30am. Took the Gatwick Express to Victoria, then the Tube to Paddington. Caught the 11:30 train to Cardiff. We had BritRail passes, so we didn't have to worry about making a specific train/time. The train trip to Cardiff is not bad at all. If you want to buy point-to-point tickets, there could still be some discount ones available. Check this website:
The walk from Cardiff Station to the center of the city is easy. We stayed at the Hilton near the Castle once. Took us maybe 10-15 min. You should be able to check into your hotel in time to go out and get an early lunch in Cardiff.
Posted by
OP
Salinas
124 posts
I checked on the Britrail site and tickets from Paddington were listed at about $98 one way. Am I missing something. I also read somewhere that I could take a bus to Reading from Heathrow and then the train from there. Does anyone know about this? Mostly, I know that I will be tired and not thinking as clearly as I would like-easy to make mistakes. I checked on air fares and Aer LIngus offers a $71 one way fare but with taxes and fees bringing it to over $250 (you have to change in Dublin).
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Yes, you can take the RailAir bus from LHR to Reading and a train from there to Cardiff. Or you can take the Heathrow Connect train from LHR to London Paddington and a train from there to Cardiff.
Trains start at Paddington and stop in Reading on their way to Cardiff. They run twice an hour.
Posted by
Hays
104 posts
If you buy tickets from the Britrail website, you are paying the highest possible fare, which is for an "anytime" ticket. That does give you flexibility, in that you can get on any train, but it is not the least expensive option.
If you want to take the train and get cheaper tickets in advance, you can buy tickets from the rail.co.uk site mentioned for a specific time. Be sure to allow plenty of time for delayed flights, long lines at passport control, and getting to London. I would say four hours, or you will be stressed and worried about missing your train if anything goes wrong.
If the bus is relatively inexpensive and flexible and easy to get on from Heathrow, it might be a very good option, actually, especially if the price doesn't vary depending on whether you buy tickets in advance or not, as it does with the train.
Posted by
Freedonia
16096 posts
If you decide you want to take the train to Cardiff, I don't suggest going to Paddington. Why backtrack east and then go west?
Take the coach to Reading and then catch the train. As mentioned earlier, the trains that leave Paddington for Cardiff stop in Reading.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
One reason to take the Heathrow Connect to Paddington and a train from there to Cardiff is that the Heathrow Connect (£7.90) is cheaper than the RailAir bus (£14.00 if booked online and £16.00 at the station). And the travel times are such that it's quite likely that the first train you could catch at Reading would be the same one you would catch if you go to Paddington.
The off peak fare for Paddington-Cardiff is £42.50. That's what you'll pay if you buy your ticket at the station.