My husband and I (60's)are landing at Heathrow for a week's vacation between London & Paris. We're thinking of going right to Paris for a few days via the Chunnel and then back to London for a few days. What's the fastest and cheapest way to get to the Chunnel station in London?
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Picadillly Tube line from Heathrow takes you direct to Kings Cross/St Pancras station in about an hour. St Pancras is where the Chunnel train departs to Paris. http://www.eurostar.com
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33851 posts
what day of the week, what time of day? Are you like most left coasters arriving at dawn? btw - nobody on this side of the puddle will recognize the term Chunnel - well, maybe a few.
Posted by
Land of La
9232 posts
Imagine taking BART from Fremont to Oakland Int'l. However in London you won't have to take a bus to get to the airport from the BART station. Follow the directional signage from King's Cross to St Pancras. Look for Eurostar signs. Mind the Gap.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
The Picadilly line is awful slow. More than 1h to St. Pancras International Railway Terminal. Take the Heathrow Express (train) to Paddington and change to the Tube there. I second the info: "Chunnel" is not a common term in UK.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
When you factor in waiting in line to purchase Tube tickets after the Express arrives at Paddington, it isn't any faster then taking Picadilly line the entire way from Heathrow. Stick with the Picadilly to the St Pancras chunnel station , you'll get a direct journey and it will be much cheaper.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33851 posts
56 minutes on the Piccadilly Line from terminal 3 platform to KX platform. One cheap ticket. No changes required. 54 minutes according to TfL including the change at Paddington for the Express and tube. Very expensive ticket, plenty hassle changing to the Tube. Saves 2 minutes.
Posted by
OP
fremont, CALIFORNIA, United States
2 posts
Thanks for all the great information! Two alternatives to choose from. I'm more apt to choose the cheaper ticket with the direct route even if it takes a bit longer. We'll have to factor in the time to do all this when we make the reservation on the Eurostar. Won't call it the "chunnel" anymore!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Make sure you can meet the strict 30-minute check-in deadline for the Eurostar at St Pancras.