Alternatives to Heathrow Express

As I may have stated some time ago, I’m not a fan of Heathrow Express. As a single traveller going from A to B, having a measly 10% off (which can be a saving as low as … £2), the faff of using a National Railcard (which counts me out as I don’t qualify for most of them… and the only one I’d qualify for I’d use so rarely, I’d barely recover the cost on it).

Bottom line leaves me cold for a 15 minute train ride.

So what are the options? This depends on various things – how tired you are, how much luggage you have and how much of adventure you want…

Heathrow Connect (Cost £9.50) http://www.heathrowconnect.com
Time to Paddington 25 minutes + Time to get to your ultimate destination
Best on a budget and with lots of luggage

Heathrow Connect was originally marketed as an airport workers shuttle, taking a longer 25 minutes to navigate between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington. These days, it’s marketed as a lower cost option to London (and about time too).

Trains run every 30 minutes between Heathrow T4, Heathrow Central, and then local stations to Paddington. For passengers going from T5 you’ll need to catch a Heathrow Express from T5 to Central, and change there (just watch the timings, otherwise you’ll wish you caught an express!)

The trains themselves are modern Siemens Desiro units, with plenty of space – my tip is to head to the front of the train when going from Heathrow to London for the maximum space.

Paddington is well connected to the Underground network, connecting the Bakerloo Line (and there’s a convenient entrance for it near the Heathrow Connect platforms), The Circle, District and Hammersmith and City Line. The taxi rank is also closer to the Heathrow Connect platforms too for those who want to use London famous black cabs.

London Underground (Tube) – £5.50 cash fare (£5 peak, £3 off peak with Oyster) http://www.tfl.gov.uk
Time to Central London (Piccadilly) 52 minutes + Time to get to your ultimate destination
Best on a budget and with minimal luggage.

It might not be the fastest way to get to A to B, but it will get you close to your target. Heathrow is a good entrance into the Underground system, allowing you access central London in a reasonably speedy manner – depending which part you need to get to.

I don’t recommend this for people with lots of luggage, because you’ll be sick of lifting suitcases up and down stairs (I hate doing it with the little purple rollaboard bag I have – a right royal pain). It’s not impossible, but adds time to your journey. Also, depending on the time of day (travelling at peak for example), you could find yourself jammed in the rush hour.

The trains have been spruced up, and have some space for luggage – although I’d be staying near it in case of people who think your luggage should be their luggage. Additionally if you do change trains, there is not much space for large luggage items – so plan with care.

On the plus side, once you’re in the Tube network, all you have to do is work out which is your destination, and you’ll pop out at a tube station fairly close to it, with most places in Central London not far from a Tube station.

The Piccadilly line crosses through Central London. For those who need destinations along the riverbank, I’d change at Hammersmith or Barons Court to the District Line (as it’s a cross platform transfer) rather than at Earls Court (which is a deep level + escalator transfer).

National Express (Cost £6.60 upwards +£1 Booking fee online) www.nationalexpress.com
Time to Central London (Victoria) 50 minutes + Time to get to your ultimate destination
For those who like roads, not rails

For those of you who don’t like trains, and baulk at the cost of a taxi to Central London, National Express to operate coaches from Heathrow Central Bus Station to London Victoria Coach station.

Some people dismiss coach travel, but for short hops, it isn’t that bad. Most coaches are modern, clean and get you from A to B between 40 and 60 minutes.

The coach station is at Victoria – useful for access to South Coast rail services at Victoria main line station, and is close to Victoria Underground station.

Luggage is limited to 2 bags per person though, with one bag of hand luggage. Depending on the driver will depend how they enforce this.

Hotel By Bus – £22.50 http://www.hotelbybus.com/Time to hotel: Varies
Direct transfer, but could be a long transfer…

A recent entrant is Hotel By Bus, that provides a shared bus service between Heathrow and your hotel. This is prebookable, or bookable on arrival.

The buses do no more than 4 pickups, and operate 4 times an hour.

I did a couple of checks however, and the transfer times they are quoting for an 11:45 departure into London to the Holiday Inn Oxford Circus comes in at an estimated 13:10 – a transfer time of 1 hour and 25 minutes, which compared to the underground or other methods – is a bit slow to say the least.

Bus 140 to Hayes and Harlington, Train to Paddington/Bus 258 to Feltam (£varies)
Want an adventure? This could be for you

For those who like a bit of an adventure, and don’t want to pay the high fares that Heathrow Connect charge just for using the Heathrow line (£5.60 between Heathrow and Hayes and Harlington), there is another option – bus it to a train station and then to London.

There are two routes – one takes you south of the river, one takes you north of the river

• Bus 140 > Hayes and Harlington > London Paddington
• Bus 258 > Feltham > London Waterloo

It honestly depends where you’re going. I tend to use 140 > Hayes and Harlington when I’m staying in London (my usual residence is the Holiday Inn Ariel as its dirt cheap normally), so it’s on my way to and from places.

I wouldn’t recommend this, but to all the experienced travellers who are that penny pinching.

Bus N9 – Heathrow to Aldwych

When the last train has gone and the last tube has pulled out, you’re not constricted by taxis (thankfully!). There is a night bus option – Bus N9 which serves Central London to Heathrow T1, T3-T5. It takes about an hour and twenty to do the full route. It also has a limited timetable too.

However, if you need to get into/back to Heathrow early, this could be a last option resort.

So you see – there’s more than one way to skin the Heathrow cat.. without giving Heathrow Express all your money!