Anyone travel to London frequently?

PGstudent

Hi

Anyone travel to London frequently?

I have an interview next Wednesday in central London at 11 o'clock. I have booked an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin which has an ETA of 9.10am in Heathrow (no luggage), I have checked the tube route planner from Heathrow to the stop I need (one change) and it estimates at 1 hour-

So in theory I would be there for 10.30- half an our early which would be perfect.

I've actually never flown to London before and Im just wondering if I am right with my expectations- am I naive to expect the plane to land on time, do people know from experience that my estimates are naive(maybe the flight is good but the tube is unreliable??- or maybe I'll be even earlier as in maybe Ive oversetimated? I dont want to be late

(Im a bit inexperienced in the whole travelling thing sorry)

Enii

Personally I would have booked a flight for the night before and stayed in a hotel close to the interview venue.

Many flights are delayed.

Can you rebook your flight?

tman

It may be cutting it a bit short, but I'd say you'll be fine. Perhaps see if they could reschedule the interview for 12 just to be on the safe side though?

Which line are you changing onto after the Picadilly line?

RATM

Cutting it tight but it can be done. Heathrow is a very large airport and it can take a while to walk from the gate to the Tube, all depends on which gate the plane parks at.

Tube from Heathrow is by and large reliable and there should be one going every few minutes at that time. Buy a one day travel pass, they are around £6 and well worth it.

All in all it sounds like a bit of unneeded stress to be having right before an interview. But if you can handle that then you should be fine.

PGstudent

Enii wrote: »

Personally I would have booked a flight for the night before and stayed in a hotel close to the interview venue.

Many flights are delayed.

Can you rebook your flight?

I was thinking of doing the overnight thing but the price started to rack up- and maybe the Dublin- London route was fairly reliable?? or maybe not?)

I can rebook but its a bit more expensive

PGstudent

tman wrote: »

It may be cutting it a bit short, but I'd say you'll be fine. Perhaps see if they could reschedule the interview for 12 just to be on the safe side though?



Which line are you changing onto after the Picadilly line?

Im arriving at terminal one (the website said the tube goes from 1,2, and 3). Im going to Temple station, the route planner says take the tube to piccadilly then change at hammersmith and take the district line.

They look fairly regular but if I get the 9.36 tube I should be in temple station by 10.36 (the interview is just round the corner from the station)

So I have 20 mins to get the tube from the plane (there is however another at 9.48)

drunkdaz

Why not get the earlier flight? It gives you an extra hour which I feel you will most likely need. Remember time of arrival is usually not the time you get off the plane... And its quite a walk from the Aerlingus gates to the tube station.
Also I'd say my flights on this route are rarely on time, and it'll only take a small delay to put you under pressure.
Heathrow express might be an option depending on where in the city you are going, but that said I find this often fails gets to london in its claimed 15 mins.

If you're traveling all the way over for an interview it makes sense to cover these possibilties

Edit: Sorry just saw you were going to Temple so forget the express. You might be better off staying on the Picadilly line a bit longer until South Ken. District line is notoriously unreliable so this will also give you the choice of the cirlce line trains (which leave from same platforms as the District)

PGstudent

drunkdaz wrote: »

Why not get the earlier flight? It gives you an extra hour which I feel you will most likely need. Remember time of arrival is usually not the time you get off the plane... And its quite a walk from the Aerlingus gates to the tube station.
Also I'd say my flights on this route are rarely on time, and it'll only take a small delay to put you under pressure.
Heathrow express might be an option depending on where in the city you are going, but that said I find this often fails gets to london in its claimed 15 mins.

If you're traveling all the way over for an interview it makes sense to cover these possibilties

Edit: Sorry just saw you were going to Temple so forget the express. You might be better off staying on the Picadilly line a bit longer until South Ken. District line is notoriously unreliable so this will also give you the choice of the cirlce line trains (which leave from same platforms as the District)

Guys thanks for this, really appreciate the advice

This is what the tube website says:

9.36
Heathrow Terminals 1-2-3 Underground Station
Take the Piccadilly Line towards Arnos Grove
or Piccadilly Line towards Cockfosters

HEATHROW TERMINALS 123 STATION: A reduced escalator service until late June 2009.


Zone(s): 6, 5, 4, 3, 2

• Average journey time: 30 mins
• Zone(s): 6, 5, 4, 3, 2

Heathrow Terminals 1-2-3 Underground Station


10:08

Hammersmith (Dist&Picc Line) Underground Station
Take the District Line towards Upminster
or District Line towards Tower Hill


Zone(s): 2, 1

• Average journey time: 22 mins
• Zone(s): 2, 1

Hammersmith (Dist&Picc Line) Underground Station


10:30Temple Underground Station

PGstudent

If I got the Heathrow Express to Paddington then the Tube from Paddinton to Temple station would that be quicker?

Pythia

I would imagine so, yes.

When I did an interview in London, the company paid for a hotel for me for the night before. Maybe you could ask them if they would pay for it?

PGstudent

Pythia wrote: »

I would imagine so, yes.

When I did an interview in London, the company paid for a hotel for me for the night before. Maybe you could ask them if they would pay for it?

Yeh I just checked the websites and it said its only 15 minutes on the express from Heathrow to Paddinton and then its only 3 miles from paddington to Temple station- is that right? Id almost just get a taxi from Paddinton if that was the case

I let them know that i would be travelling etc but didnt come outright and ask them to pay for it- wasnt sure how that would go down with them (they wouldnt be short of applicants)

tman

Heathrow express then a taxi sounds like a better option really (can't comment on how accurate that time is though)
If you do get the tube, maybe consider changing at south Kensington instead of Hammersmith, as you'll then have the choice of either circle or district line trains to Temple (they use the same track, so there may be less of a wait for the next one when changing)

PGstudent

tman wrote: »

Heathrow express then a taxi sounds like a better option really (can't comment on how accurate that time is though)
If you do get the tube, maybe consider changing at south Kensington instead of Hammersmith, as you'll then have the choice of either circle or district line trains to Temple (they use the same track, so there may be less of a wait for the next one when changing)

Yeh the express then a quick taxi looks like the best option, if I get any of these I should be alright: What do you reckon??

Depart Arrive Duration
09:33 09:49 00:16
09:48 10:04 00:16
10:03 10:19 00:16
10:18 10:34 00:16

Zeppi

Change your flight to night before.
It is better being an hour before and go for a coffee. Looking at your schedule it is very tight and is based that everything goes down exactly to the minute.

Zeppi

Pythia

PGstudent wrote: »

I let them know that i would be travelling etc but didnt come outright and ask them to pay for it- wasnt sure how that would go down with them (they wouldnt be short of applicants)

Most places pay for your flights and hotel if needed. They are interested in you if they want you to come for an interview. If they are a big firm I'm almost certain they'll pay. Bring it up nicely with them.

Savman

Defo Heathrow Express. No way would I cut it that fine taking the tube, far too tight IMHO.

Monkey61

If it's definitely too late to change your flight, then the Heathrow Express and taxi is your best option. Though those will cost at least £30 in total and you could almost get a cheap hotel room for that.

OPENROAD

tman wrote: »

Heathrow express then a taxi sounds like a better option really (can't comment on how accurate that time is though)
If you do get the tube, maybe consider changing at south Kensington instead of Hammersmith, as you'll then have the choice of either circle or district line trains to Temple (they use the same track, so there may be less of a wait for the next one when changing)

Thing is at Hammersmith Piccadilly platform is right next to District platform so when you pull into Hammersmith you might be able to quickly pop onto the District line tube, this is also the case at the next station Barons court after Barons Court the tube goes underground so Sth Ken he will have a bit of a walk up to the district/circle line.


OP you are cutting it fine imo at that time of the day you might be held in the stack over Heathrow for about 20 mins you might be lucky and get in time but you are pushing it, Paddington express would be better option but only if you take a taxi and even with this not much in it between this and the tube. Tube to Hammersmith is 35 mins, then from there District tube to Temple is approx 20 mins. Heathrow express is only 15 mins but then again, you might be waiting for the train for 10 mins if you just miss one. If you can change try and get the first flight out of Dublin to be safe.

Hunter S

If you can get a flight which gets in earlier i would. Its only 30 quid to change times on aerlingus. You'll have yourself freaked out by the time you arrive at the interview. Remember even if your flight is on time then it takes ttime to taxi in, time to get from the plane to the train, maybe 5/10 mins to wait for the train/tube...it all adds up. Believe me i missed a lecture i was due to give when my flight ended up being late from Berlin lately

Padraig Mor

No way would I risk getting tube the whole way. Get Heathrow Express to Paddington then taxi or else Bakerloo line to Embankment and walk (< 10 mins) to Temple.

I would imagine that they would tell you in advance if they'll cover your costs.

Fratton Fred

The tube from Heathrow takes ages, avoid it at all costs. the Heathrow express is much quicker, or there is the heathrow connect which takes a bit longer but is a lot cheaper.

You could try the earlier flight, there is one at 6:40 that gets in at 8:15. I would be happy with the time you have allowed yourself, but i know the tube well.

How close to Temple station is the place you are going? rather than mess about changing lines at embankment, it may be quicker to just get off at embankment and walk. www.tfl.gov.uk will give you directions. it works really well if you have the post code of the place you are going.

I fly into Heathrow and use the trains/tube on a weekly basis so feel free to PM me if you want.

ncmc

Stay overnight and avoid arriving for the interview a stressed, sweaty, smelly mess! (def not the way to make a good first impression). I personally would be slow to ask for them to pay for it in this economic climate though, try www.travelodge.co.uk they have rooms for £39 or less if you get it in the sale. If you really are interested in the job I think it is worth spending the bit of extra cash to make a good impression.

Maybe I'm not in the right line of work but I certainly wouldn't ask an employer to pay for my expenses. I'd feel really cheeky, after all, it's not their problem that I don't live in England, I'm sure they have plenty of applicants who do and these days it's not like there's millions of jobs around. I've just been over to Brussels for a job interview and there was no mention of hotels or flights being paid. I guess it depends on the job, though.

I'd go a day earlier if possible, as a flight delay of 40 mins can throw everything off schedule, and it's so easy for that to happen. Add on a long queue through passport control, getting lost somewhere, just missing a train/bus..... a trip into the city from the airport can take much longer than you think, and it's always when you have somewhere important to go that all this happens!

PK2008

(del)

PGstudent

Its tomorrow and changing flights seems to cost a packet, its over 200 euro to change to an earlier one (my cashola is fairly tight at the mo). My original mistake was that I thought Heathrow was in Central London- (Im a newbie traveller), but Ive booked a ticket for that express train so fingers crossed

Im gonna risk it for a biscuit- if its delayed I'll ring them, hopefully they wont hold it against me

Thanks guys- I'll let ye know how I get on

Qprmeath

Tube to Hammersmith will take 30 minutes max. Never had a problem with that part of journey when going to see Qpr. Heathrow express is a ripoff but might save you ten to 15 minutes if you are lucky. The most likely delay you will have is waiting for a slot to land at Heathrow but Aer Lingus seem to have less delays generally than BMI. Id say you will be fine. Good luck.

OPENROAD

Qprmeath wrote: »

The most likely delay you will have is waiting for a slot to land at Heathrow but Aer Lingus seem to have less delays generally than BMI. Id say you will be fine. Good luck.

Other way around imo especially going into Heathrow, rarely get stuck in the stack and usually get in before the Aer Lingus flight.

PGstudent

Thanks for all the advice.

I got the plane this morning, it left on time and arrived bang on time 9.10. Managed to get the 9.30 Heathrow express and it got to Paddington in under 15 mins- (I actually thought I was getting off at the wrong stop it was so fast), jumped in a taxi- which was longer than I thought it would be-took about 25mins, so I ended up being about 40 mins early, not sure if that is typical or if I just got lucky

Here's the kicker though- my interviewer was 20 mins late!!!! haha I told her not to worry, it can happen to any of us:D

(not sure how the interview went but if I get called back for a second I think I will schedule the earlier flight anyway- less stress).

Thanks again (seriously impressed by the amount of replies)

Oh... and they paid for my plane/train tickets aswell, so that was a result

Enii

That's great that you made it!

Fratton Fred

Good, glad you made it. Travelling that distance in london it is quite often quicker using the Tube, but a lot more hassle obviously.

Next time, you might want to fly in to Gatwick and get the Gatwick express into Victoria and from there it is only a few miinutes on the district or circle line.

Good luck with the interviews.