We (three adults) are scheduled to arrive from the States into LHR at 11:00 AM on a Tuesday, and have to make a connection out of LGW that departs at 4:10 PM. I'd like to get to LGW using the fastest, easiest method possible, even if the cost is higher. londontoolkit.com offers a car for hire (with meet & greet service) for £76, but I don't know if they're reliable. Anybody have any recommendations?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17245 posts
We just took the regular transfer bus; it was fine and very comfortable.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Yes, this is a rare occasion when I would recommend using road transport to a London airport. All the potential rail routes require at least one change and will probably be slower than the bus.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9369 posts
You can buy your National Express tickets online, and if you miss the bus you hold a ticket for, it's easy to jump on the next one. I once arrived earlier than I anticipated and caught an earlier bus, too - no need to go and change the ticke tor anything. If you are coming back the same way, round trip tickets are cheaper than buying another one-way.
Posted by
Marion
177 posts
We have traveled on the national Express bus from Stansted to LGW via LHR and it is the best way to go. As stated above we also got to the bus stand early and just got on the earlier bus without any problems. We were traveling on a Sunday AM so don't know if traffic is ever a problem but car hire would have the same problem. I don't remember the cost. Car hire might be less expensive for 3 people.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33525 posts
I've never heard of londontoolkit but trying to meet your stated requirements I would vote for what is known in the UK as private car hire. This MUST be reserved prior or there is no insurance. Cowboys have been known to tout for business at LHR. DON'T use them.
What you get with private car hire is a professional driver, often with a chauffeur cap on, who stands at the rail just as you come out of customs with your name on a clipboard held up for you to see. You meet up with him/her who will take you to their car just outside. Pop your luggage in the boot and you're off. Door to door, at car speed on the M4,M25, and M23 to your destination, and drop you off right outside check-in.
National Express as suggested above is also good, but you do need to find the bus stop, load in the hold, wait for the scheduled departure, go on a similar route but at coach speed which is 10 mph slower, wait for your luggage to be off loaded, and then find check-in. Cheaper? though...?