question about Heathrow Express...

The Journey Planner is a bit biased in favor of the Heathrow Express, when in some cases its not always the fastest. The Planner doesn't take into account the time you'll have to wait in line to purchase Underground tickets should you have to transfer to the Tube at Paddington to reach your hotel. A lot of hotels in London are served by the Piccadilly line, and it's often faster to take the Tube the entire way from Heathrow. Which hotel are you staying in we can give you more detailed advice.

There are several options- 1- most expensive, but quickest and very convient IF you are staying near Paddington station- Heathrow Express 2- less expensive and a bit longer - Heathrow Connect- still arrives at Paddington station 3- least expensive, but takes longer, and more options of desitnation- the tube. The Picadilly line runs to Heathrow. You can change at various stations along the line if needed. Where are you staying and how much luggage will you have? Also, what time are you arriving?
The answers could make a difference in what is recommended. We have used the Express in the past, but we had BritRail passes and the Connect didn't run then. If ws very easy, fast and convient as we were staying at the Paddington Hilton at the time. We have also used the tube. Now we mostly fly into Gatwick.

"...3- least expensive, but takes longer, and more options of desitnation- the tube. The Picadilly line runs to Heathrow. You can change at various stations along the line if needed..." The Picadilly line is often faster than the Heathrow Express when you factor in the time it take to wait in line to purchase Tube tickets at Paddington.

you guys rock! im staying at the tune hotel this is the direction from the hotel staff: From Heathrow (any terminal), take the Piccadilly line towards Cockfosters (eastbound). Travel 19 stops and get off at Piccadilly Circus. Follow the signs towards the Bakerloo line, without exiting the Underground and take the train going Southbound, until you reach Lambeth North, your final stop Transport for London website states that
"Planned engineering works are taking place" and its telling me to take the Heathrow express to paddington i think waterloo station is by the hotel too but it tells me the same thing when i use that station

If you select more options on the journey planner and scroll down to the advanced options, you can deselect rail. That should show you the tube route. Unless I am staying at Paddington, I always take the tube.

Mel, There are often planned engineering works on the weekends. What is the date you are travelling? Did you put that date/time of travel in the journey planner? If there are works on your date of travel you may need to take an alternate route. The hotel directions would be the route if there were no construction.

I took the Heathrow Connect into London recently. I had to wait almost half an hour for the train, so total was close to an hour. It cost 9.10GBP. The Tube would have been as fast. As others have noted, it depends on where in London you are going. The Tube can be very convenient for a number of areas. I've mostly taken it to the Kings Cross/St Pancras area in order to get to the Eurostar for Paris. There can be a significant amount of walking for the trains (Express/Connect). Less walking is involved in getting to the Tube. It's quicker if you already have an Oyster or ticket. Then you aren't held up in line (queue) to buy your tix. I've always landed at Terminal 1, so this applies to that terminal. I don't know about the others. The Express/Connect is a more comfortable experience as there seems to be plenty of seating. The Piccadilly Tube train fills up as it goes along, at least in the morning. When you board the Tube at Heathrow, the trains are mostly empty.

Like any airport in the world there are many ways to get to your accommodation. Private care hire, taxi, bus, shuttle, and for London, the Heathrow Express, the Connect or the tube! Simply depends on your budget, patience, surprise maintenance or construction factors. As noted the tube is the cheapest way into London. Haven't you said you are staying at the oddly named Westminster Tune Hotel. I say oddly because it's no where near Westminster but across across the Thames blocks from Waterloo station.The Underground directions the hotel provided are excellent. Use them.

@ laura the "Planned engineering works are taking place" is not on a weekend like you said might happen. im flying in tues. morn. around 10am.
its odd because im leaving sunday morning and there is no "Planned engineering works are taking place" going on. lol im going to check the settings and see what happens or just show up and find out if the blue line is available or not, which is weird.

@ Laura I uncheck everything except for the Tube and it gave me tube directions. then under it, it said "Planned engineering works are taking place" and i clicked on the link that i didnt notice b4 and the service is good. no service disruptions. yay! u saved me 18pounds! woo hoo!

Yep, take the tube Mel, cheap and easy, especially if you're travelling light. I would assume that you, being a resident of NYC, are comfortable with subways. The directions given by the hotel staff sound perfect to me, and you should have no problems at all. Just follow the signs, as London's tube is pretty user friendly I've found...
Another tip....if you use google earth to search for your hotel, ask it to show the walking route from the tube stop to the hotel. Once that's highlighted, you can print a small copy to fit in your bag and you'll have a handy, personalized map to get you to the hotel from the tube...

I walked past the Tune Hotel this past week when visiting the Imperial War Museum. The Bakerloo line had service problems and I had to walk to Waterloo from Lambeth North. It's across the street from the station. You can't miss it. As you exit the station, turn right and cross the street. It's on the corner.

@ glen
just like what miranda said. they told me as soon as i get out of the station it is across the street! sweet!

The drawback with the Tube is that there are a lot of stairs and if you "flunked" packing lightly it's hard to deal with it.