We're planning to stay close to Heathrow airport(due to lot of baggage and #of passengers - 2 adults and 3 kids) I've got quotes for hotels cheaper than staying in the city. We'll be there for 2 days and later again for 1 day. Planning to get travel card daily for the 2 of us at around GBP 7 each for off peak travel. Our plan is to get into the city during peak hours and then return back at night for sleeping. I see that kids travel free as they're all less than 8 yrs old. My question is how do we pay for the one time travel into the city(daily for 2-3 mornings)? We're also planning to use 2 for 1 offers, so purchsing travel card seems like a better deal than oyster card. Any insight would be appreciated.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
A single paper ticket on the Tube from LHR to central London at any time of the day costs 4.50 GBP. If you have an Oyster card, the peak single zone 1-6 fare is 4.20 GBP and the off-peak single fare is 2.40 GBP.
Buy zone 1-2 paper travelcards with the National Rail logo on them at any National Rail station in London for each day you want to take advantage of the 2for1 offers. (They're not sold at Heathrow.)
Have the notes on your other thread convinced you to stay in London rather than near the airport?
Posted by
OP
Chicago
7 posts
So I would be buying normal fares from LHR to London city in the morning(peak) for GBP 4.50 and then buy a travel day card (zone 1-2) for GBP 5.60(off peak). Take another normal fare back to LHR at night for GBP 2.40(off peak). Works out to GBP 12.50 X 2 = GBP 25/day. I'm assuming no charge for kids who are all under 8 yrs. Plus, with travel day cards, can also take advantage of 2 for 1 offers. Seems like a good deal.
I'm leaning towards staying near the airport since for 5 of us, we'd either need to rent 2 rooms or find one room for 5 of us. In the city, the prices were higher than near to the airport. The second problem is that since we are enroute to our final destination, we have no choice but to get all the luggages( 5big+3 small). Taxi fares are also quite expensive from LHR to central London plus going back to LHR. Taxi fares comes to atleast GBP 150 roundtrip, plus 30-40 GBP more at hotel accomodation per night. Whereas near to airport, taxis roundtrip cost about GBP 50. The only downside being 1 hr commute in the AM and then 1 hr back at night. So, that seems to be a better deal.
Thank you for your input.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
You're welcome!
As I said before, with an Oyster card the single fare on the Tube from LHR to central London during peak hours is 4.20 GBP and for the return during off-peak hours it is 2.40 GBP. Paper tickets cost the same for any time of day: 4.50 GBP.
Buy Oyster cards for you and your husband, load some pounds on them, and use them as pay-as-you-go cards. The Oyster computer will automatically give you the best fare. When you leave London the second time, get a refund on any unspent money plus your deposit.
Buy off-peak zone 1-2 travelcards from a National Rail station for each day you plan to take advantage of 2for1 offers.
I realize that finding reasonable accommodations for a family of five is difficult. If you can save a fair amount of money by staying near LHR, then riding the Tube for an hour each way is not such a bad idea, especially since your children will ride free.
Posted by
London
291 posts
The Travelcards valid for 2 for 1 offers have to be purchased from a mainline rail station.
So the Travelcards you purchase at Heathrow are not valid for the 2 for 1 promotion.
Bear in mind that the Underground take an hour from Heathrow to Central London.
Of the Heathrow Hotels only the Hilton, Jurys Inn and Sofitel are walkable to an Underground train.
The Hoppa Buses that connect all Heathrow hotels to the terminals are not free. They are 4 GBP per person each way so thats an additional 16 GBP per day and probably another 90 minutes travel time as the Hoppa Buses typically pick ip from 3 or 4 hotels.
The off peak Travelcard is 7.50 GBP. If you travel before 09:30 Monday to Friday its 14.80 GBP.
Heathrow hotels often use loss leader room rates to entice you into your hotels then gouge you for extras like 20 GBP+ for a breakfsat. Many such hotels are isolated so you have no choice, Pick ypur Heathrow hotel with extreme care.
Posted by
Italy 2012
104 posts
Hi Liz,
My husband and I got oyster cards and I applied for a zip card for my 12 year old. The cards don't expire you just load some pounds on them and away you go. I have attached the link for the zip card if you have enough time to apply.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14310.aspx#Live_outside_London