Taxi from Heathrow to Canterbury Cathedral

Be aware......it's 90 miles from Heathrow to Canterbury Cathedral and will take about 2 1/2 hours. Additionally, that is the day of the Coronation so London will be busy.

If you try to hail a taxi to take you a) they may not b) it will cost a few hundred pounds.

What you should do is prebook a car service. They will meet you as you come out of customs, walk you to your car and then drop you at your destination. It's probably going to run somewhere between 150 and 225 pounds.

I have never taken a car service but to popular ones are Blackberry Cars and Addison Lee

I'd suggest that you take a taxi to St Pancras train station or Victoria train station where you can get a train to Canterbury - which is about an hour ride. Then the walk to the hotel at Canterbury Cathedral is not long - but you could get a taxi from the train station. Check sites like Rail Europe for information about train times.

I agree about train. There is also bus from the Central Bus Station at Heathrow. However, didn't the Rick Steves organization send you suggestions on modes of transportation to the 1st hotel? I have been on 8 tours and I have always gotten these, but can't remember if it was after you were confirmed or closer to when you left on the tour and they send you the hotel list and fellow participants list. You should check your tour account here to see if it is there.

Carol, check your tour account.
By now you will have been sent detailed information & directions to the tour start hotel. I took the train.

Many people take the train and there is nothing wrong with that. But the easiest way is a private car service. The train will cost you less, but the hassle factor of getting the tickets, and then doing the train trip and the transfers while being jet lagged and on new turf is not something many people enjoy. Believe me, there is nothing better than having a private driver meet you in the terminal, wisk you to the car, and take you to Canterbury.

The driver we had drove quite safely, was most helpful loading our luggage, and commented on various things along the way. The car was clean, roomy, and well maintained. We would not hesitate to use the same service again. We've found that using a service based at the destination works well as they seem to know the best routes to take. The name of the service we used was Canterbury Airport Transfers. The web site (if my notes are correct) was taxicanterbury.co.uk/contact. The email was [email protected]. Shoot them an email, outline you needs, and see what you think about the cost compared to the hassle factor.

Once to the tour, you are going to love it! It was the last tour I took before the world closed down for COVID. I did it solo. It was my eleventh tour and definitely one of my favorites.

Especially on Coronation Day the coach is probably the easiest route. Runs hourly, change at Victoria Coach Station. You can just sit back and relax/snooze, not worry about crowds or changing train.
Not the fastest route, but the easiest.
Buy in advance from National Express with the £5 option to amend, earlier or later.
Or buy on the day. The coach from Heathrow stops at each terminal, on this service.

I'm not sure that I would want to be on a coach to the Victoria Coach Station given the extremely close proximity to the Coronation events. I think I'd stick a bit further north to bypass all that.

Or a car would have the thrill of the M25, probably anti-clockwise to avoid the Dartford Crossing....

Personally, I'd Elizabeth Line to Farringdon to St Pancras for the high speed train to Canterbury West.

If you're on a tour from the 6th - that's just 3 days - surely you would have had the info from RSE by now?

Nigel is right. The London Coach station near Victoria is right on the edge of the closed area to traffic. Coaches will have to take a roundabout way to arrive and depart.

Do not use Rail Europe to check train times as it is a third party reseller and doesnt show all the trains. The official website for UK trains is http://www.nationalrail.co.uk

Nigel's routing using the Elizabeth line is the one I'd use that day.

If you take the train to Canterbury, don't attempt to walk to the hotel. Just get a taxi. It shouldn't cost more than 10 pounds and they will drop you right in front of your hotel.

What no-one has told you is that on no account should you buy a rail ticket all the way to Canterbury at Heathrow (if that is the route you choose to take) as that will cost you £70.40.
Buy an Elizabeth Line (or Tube, if that is your chosen route) to St Pancras for £13.30 on Oyster/Contactless then a Super Off Peak Single from St Pancras to Canterbury for £39.20. That saves you £18 each.
Yes there are lower advance fares (even at this late stage) but as those are tied to a train that causes too much stress.

There is one direct train every hour from St Pancras at 37 minutes past each hour, on the 7 minutes past each hour you have to go to Ashford International, then change and come back on yourself to Canterbury. It takes +- 55 minutes to get from Heathrow to St Pancras.

The National Express drivers are very skilled at avoiding traffic with the aid of their control. They never come the same way in from Heathrow the same way twice or out to the M1 either- the routes constantly vary depending on the time of day and the traffic.

I was on the 4/17 tour and I had a great time. I know you will enjoy your tour!

I found that taking the train from St Pancras to Canterbury West was very easy and reasonably priced. I then took a taxi to the hotel. I was glad that I did the last stage with the taxi and it cost less than 8 pounds.

You must choose the method that makes the most sense for your needs.

If you are going from Bath to Heathrow at the end of your tour, consider using the National Express Bus. No transfers or extra luggage schleping.

Hello... Want to say, due to hasslel factor, i do not want to take trains or bus. I feel safest at this stage to go by private car or taxi.
Thank you Frank, am trying to find info on Blackberry (sent email) and Addison Lee. TC - sent Canterbury Airport Trfs. inquiry. Thank you! Praying to get this done asap. Should i make the reservation for private car even tho i don't know the exact time?

Should i make the reservation for private car even tho i don't know the exact time?

Yes--as long as you have the flight number and expected arrival time. It is not unusual for flights from the states to be somewhat late arriving. Most car services (including the one I recommended) keep tabs on changes to the arrival times and wait for you.

When you make a reservation with a car service you will be giving them your flight info. They will keep track.

ok, Due to Crowning/Coronation i'm anxious to get booked. im not sure which to go with. Canterbury Airport Tranfers? Do you advise to call them?

If you don't hear from them by the morning, you need to call. It's two days away and you really left this for the last minute. (Canterbury transfers is probably the best bet since their cars are going to Canterbury and they may have had a fare to the airport. But at this late date, take whatever you can get.)

If you have to take a taxi, just follow the signs for taxis. Since your destination is outside of London, they can refuse the fare. They will also not be able to pick up fares in Canterbury for the return so it will cost you. They will probably want to negotiate a fare prior to departure.

In case you can't get a driver to take you from Heathrow to Canterbury,, this is probably the simplest way. (And I hope those that insist on giving detailed instructions on how to buy the cheapest tickets and what times to take and how many changes doesn't do that to confuse you more.):

Take a taxi to St. Pancras station. When you get to the station, find the ticket office. Go in and say you want to take the next direct train to Canterbury. (You want a train with no changes.) They will tell you when it departs and sell you the ticket. About 20 minutes prior to departure they will announce the track number. When they do, go to that track (there will be signs), board the train, look for your seat if you have been assigned one, and enjoy the journey. When you get to Canterbury, get off the train, follow the signs for taxis and take one to your hotel.

This is not the cheapest way to go but it is the easiest. There are two train stations in Canterbury. Don't worry about which one you're going to. Just get the train with no changes.

If you do not get a response to your email by the morning, just pick up the phone and call. It really shouldn't cost that much. The telephone number should be on their web site.

hallelujah thanks God, i got the trip booked thru Canterbury Airport Transfers Sheldon Fagg.
He said 130 lbs. He'll meet up with me at the Arrival Hall after (obviously) i've landed and got my suitcase.
Thanks for all your help. PS the reason its this late date is because i had heard about the trains and taxis and that i'd be able to snag a taxi outside airport. But with the big event i was getting worried about taxi so thats when i looked further into finding transportation other than trains and taxis.

Thats a hefty cost ( £ 130 is nearly $165.00 ).

After you’ve you’ve gone through immigration and retrieved your bag your driver should be standing in the Arrival Hall with a placard with your name on it.

Carol, so glad you got the outcome you were looking for! Sometimes the personal value of a certain item far exceeds the cost. For you, I believe this transfer is a good value. You won't be stressing about making the transfer on Coronation Day. Have an absolutely wonderful trip.

Considering inflation the past couple of years, the current price is not out of line with the increases in prices for other means of transportation. It will be well worth the money for the peace of mind and ease of getting from the airport to Canterbury. Hope you enjoy that tour as much as we did!

Thanks TC i totally agree with you. The pickup/ride is well worth the money to me. I'll hopefully relax and take in my first sights of England, on the path to Canterbury (Tales:). I'm finally feeling some excitement. It's been so much work/investigating and planning, regardless if it is a tour. TTFN

Thank you Carol (retired). For your encouragement and tips. I still can't believe i'm actually going to do this! I've received so much help from you and this group. It's awesome. A few items: Vionic shoes to walk comfortably in, trekking stick that i will need to check in but that's ok., security items, etc etc. This group has helped many to have an even better trip enjoyment with the help based on experience. TTFN!

As Col.Smith ( George Peppard- The A-Team) would say "I love it when a plan comes together"

Joe - Amen!

130 GBP is not bad considering a normal taxi from Heathrow to the east end of London would cost about 100 GBP.

Glad you got it all figured out.

Now....have you figured out what to do when the tour ends?

Yes! Only because i'm off to London for that tour!! Hope my energy holds out!! hah!

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