We have elected to take a cab into London after an alnight flight. Do you have to go down to the train station at Heathrow to get an Oyster card or is there another area in the airport that you can purchase the card?
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9109 posts
You would purchase the Oyster card at the airport Tube station. Of course you can also get them at any Tube station in central London.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33553 posts
The taxi won't accept payment with an Oyster Card.
Posted by
OP
Ontario Canada
665 posts
Nigel-any idea what the taxi will charge into London.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9109 posts
A taxi from Heathrow to London will cost around $100USD: http://tinyurl.com/cf74x9b
Posted by
OP
Ontario Canada
665 posts
Reconsidering tube into London. We are going to the Belgravia area and the closest station seems to Victoria. From a tube map it seems you get off at Paddington station and make a switch to the Green Line- The green line seems to go in 3 different directions once it hits in and around Earl's Court. What direction should I be taking from Paddington?
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5797 posts
Shelley, for the tube you won't go to Paddington. The trains (Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect) go from Heathrow to Paddington but the tube takes a different route. Take the tube from Heathrow (Piccadilly line) to Hammersmith. At Hammersmith, change to the District Line (just on the other side of the platform) and continue to Victoria. You will take the District Line in the direction of Upminster. I don't recommend changing at Earls Court, as you would have to switch to a different level. At Hammersmith, the Piccadilly line and District line are just across the platform from each other (no steps).
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you're packing light, taking the Tube to Victoria will work fine. As Laura said, connect to the District Line at Hammersmith. For door to door service, a private car service will be cheaper than a taxi. Many people recommend Just Airports. They give a discount for paying cash. The cash fare for a saloon (sedan) from Heathrow to anywhere in postal code SW1 is £32.00.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
A reasonable compromise could be: express train (not tube) to Paddington, and taxi from there. The same principle applies to other far away airports: take the airport train to its terminus, and take a taxi from there if you are full of luggage.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
1005 posts
If you want to get a refund for your Oyster card at the end of your trip, use CASH ONLY for all your transactions. If you use a credit card or a mix of credit and cash, you may not get your refund.