Visiting London

Your hotel is approximately across the street from the Gloucester Road tube station. The Piccadilly line goes direct from Heathrow to Gloucseter Rd. The fare is 4 GBP. If I remember correctly, this station has an elevator as well as escalators.

If you are traveling light then this is the best way.

You can take a taxi and it will cost between 30 and 50 GBP depending on traffic.

There are also shuttle services that someone else can help you with.

I normally stay in this are when in London and I always take the tube.

If you take the tube, here are the walking directions: As you exit the tube station, turn left. Walk to corner. Cross the street (Cromwell Rd). Turn left. Walk a few feet. Arrive at Holiday Inn.

My husband and I always stay in this area when we are in London. We are in our 60's, and we always take the tube - we each have one suitcase to pull. The hotel we stay at is about 4 blocks from the tube station, and it's a very easy thing to do.

Here's a good rule of thumb: if you can comfortably walk 400 yards (most travelers are unlikely to stay at lodgings any farther from a tube station) with your luggage, then the Underground will usually be your best option for getting from Heathrow to your lodgings.

Dissenting viewpoint here...My husband and I (61 and 63) are in very good shape and we always use a cab to get from airports to city centers. You will probably be tired when you arrive and schlepping suitcases is a drag (literally) and it's easy to give yourself sore shoulders which will lessen your enjoyment of what you are spending several thousand dollars to visit. So, unless your budget is really tight, opt for the cab. Save money by picnicking!

We usually stay in this area and have come in many different ways. There are two sets of stairs in the Glouster Road station in addition to the elevator. You must use both. It is not easy with luggage. The easiest way for us, not necessarily the least expensive, is to take the HEX to Paddington and then a taxi to the hotel. The HEX is 14 pounds and the taxi was six. This is probably the fastest also. We tried car services and price didn't match the quote. HEX and cab is foolproof, even for me!

You can also take the Heathrow Connect to Paddington (7 pounds per person versus almost 16 pounds per person for the Heathrow Express) then a cab to the hotel. The Heathrow Express only gets you there 10 minutes quicker. The money you save using the connect can pay part of your cab fare!

Hello to all of you who responded to my question. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer me. Elaine Obermann ([email protected])

We just got back from London and stayed near Gloucester Tube station too. We walked by your hotel every day. The hotel is right across the street from the station. There may be some stairs between the Picadilly Line platform at Gloucester Road and the street, I can't remember now. But by far the best way to get to your hotel would be to just take the tube. Anything else is a hassle, including taking the Heathrow Connect to Paddington and then taking a cab.

We loved the area around Gloucester Road station. There is a Garfunkels Restaurant there as well as an Italian place, these are in a mall across from the excellent Waitrose supermarket. We didn't eat at either place as we stayed in an apartment, but you might like them. Tesco Express is also a good place to grab a quick meal or fruit or bread. And don't forget on Wednesday night the Victoria and Albert museum is open late!