I need to get from Heathrow Terminal 3 to Bath. I see that National Rail (I think this is the same as National Express) has some train options. Is that the best way to go? I want to get there quickly. It appears, though, that tickets must be purchased in advance. How would you know which train to book, when you don't know how long it will take to get through customs, or whether there may be flight delays. It would be nice if I could just buy them at the Heathrow airport once I'm through customs.
Posted by
Bristol, UK
619 posts
National Express is a company which runs both trains and long-distance buses (called coaches in the U.K.). It will also sell you tickets for trains that it does not itself run. National Rail is the umbrella website for checking train times and ticket prices at all train companies.
For a journey from Heathrow to Bath, the best option is the National Express coach, which is non-stop and will not require any waiting for connections or handling of luggage. There are nine journeys a day, so allow yourself time for immigration and possible delays in arrivals at Heathrow. If you are early or late, your ticket will be transferred to any other coach departure on which there is room available. National Express are very used to that situation.
Go to the National Express website at www.nationalexpress.com and make sure that the box for "coach" is ticked when making your enquiry.
Posted by
OP
Huntington Beach, California, USA
4 posts
Thank you for the suggestion. Won't a bus take quite a bit longer than a train, though?
Posted by
Bristol, UK
619 posts
Some coaches are non-stop, while others stop at other towns and villages on the way. The time varies between 2 and 3 hours. The advantage of the coach is that, once you are on it, you have a guaranteed seat and stay there until you reach your destination. Your luggage is loaded by the driver.
The train is quicker, and runs more frequently. Total journey times are between 2 hours and 2 hours 20 minutes. However, the train does not run direct from Heathrow. The first part of your journey is on a coach from Heathrow to Reading Station. When you arrive at Reading, you have to get yourself and your luggage to the right platform, and there is no guarantee that you will have a seat or luggage space. Since you cannot know which train you will catch, you cannot book a seat in advance at a lower fare, and will have to get an open (any train) ticket.
An alternative is to take the Heathrow Express to London Paddington and get the Bath train there, at its starting point. Total journey time is about the same, but the cost may be greater.
Those are the options, and it's your choice which suits you best.
Posted by
OP
Huntington Beach, California, USA
4 posts
Thanks Bob for the helpful advice.