Getting to London Heathrow

KenHy

I have to get to London Heathrow for a 9pm flight, and for reasons pertaining to multiple items of large and heavy luggage which Aer Lingus are likely to frown at, I'm considering getting a bus, or going by sail rail.

Has anyone ever done this before? is the only option the bus that leaves busaras at night, and getting there for the next morning? How are connections from where the bus arrives in London (victoria, I assume that is the same as the train station?) to Heathrow, would that bus have much issue with bulky luggage?

Also, Is there a left luggage in Victoria, as if i arrive early in the morning I'll have a good bit of time to kill, and I'd rather not just sit by my luggage in Heathrow for the full day.

Snickers Man

Not sure I understand all details of your question but be warned that Victoria Coach station is a hefty walk away from Victoria train station. Not to be entertained if you have a lot of heavy baggage.

If you are getting a coach that goes to Victoria, find out in advance whether it means Victoria train or coach station.

If you're getting a train from the Holyhead ferry, it gets into Euston, not Victoria. You've got quite an eventful tube ride which you should take to Paddington, not Victoria. Paddington is where the direct train to Heathrow departs from.

Whichever "Victoria" you go to, it's a bit of a useless place from which to start a trip to Heathrow, especially if you have loads of bags. You can get a tube but believe me, if you've got a load of bags you don't want to be doing that.

It sounds to me like you could save yourself a whole heap of hassle, and a lot of time, if you just pay the excess baggage charge and fly Aer Lingus to Heathrow.

KC61

Snickers Man wrote: »

It sounds to me like you could save yourself a whole heap of hassle, and a lot of time, if you just pay the excess baggage charge and fly Aer Lingus to Heathrow.

Or indeed you could fly with bmi also to Heathrow.

KenHy

Looks like going by rail is unviable then. More Googleing says that Victoria coach and rail stations are actually separate and that there is a bus going from there to Heathrow, so all good there.

But question still remains, how good are Eurolines buses and the Victoria-Heathrow bus for taking large items of luggage? Anyone done it before?

I'm aware of all the flight options, just want to find out what all the other options are before I decide what to do.

purplepanda

It's takes longer, has more changes & costs 3/4 times as much to go via Paddington Heathrow Express.:rolleyes:

If coming from Euston just get a Victorai Line train to Kings X one stop, then Piccadilly Line train straight to Heathrow, plenty of people go this way even with luggage.

You could also get the Victoria Line to Green Park Piccadlilly Line (To Heathrow) from Victoria Tube Station

There is a mini bus service between the coach & tube stations at Victoria so no need to struggle with baggage;)

There is also a coach service straight to Heathrow from outside Victoria station http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/heathrow_bus.htm#bus

devnull

Heathrow Express is the rip off way between central London and Paddington. It takes 15 minutes and runs every 15 mins. It costs 18 quid single or 32 quid return.

But there is a much better alternative.

Heathrow Connect runs every half an hour and takes just under 25 minutes to/from Paddington, and stops at a few stops en-route but has more than enough luggage room. It costs 7.90 single or 15.80 return. A hell of a lot cheaper if the extra 10 minutes does not bother you.

Snickers Man

KC61 wrote: »

Or indeed you could fly with bmi also to Heathrow.

Another good option.

As for the OP. If you have a load of baggage, getting the tube is something you need to be wary of. Especially if you have to make connections which can involve a lot of walking through labyrinthine tunnels and negotiating lengthy escalators. Its one of the reasons the PAddington Express still gets custom, despite being hideously expensive as other posters have pointed out.

If you can't carry all your baggage at one go, don't even think about it.

KenHy

Tube, isn't realy an option, the only one I could really get would be the bus direct from Victoria, as travelling any distance without a trolley is not really an option. I'm just worried that they wont let me take my luggage. (It's a small kayak, about 1.9m*0.5m, so not massive, but big enough that its not favoured by most airlines.

devnull

Should have said, Heathrow connect details here:
http://www.heathrowconnect.com/

Vic_08

If you want to travel by train with as little luggage carrying as possible and no cross-London transfer then it is possible.

Buy your sail-rail ticket to Reading and you have 2 options either train to Paddington and back to Heathrow or there is a frequent direct coach to terminals 1,2,3,5 from Reading.

With a quick check it looks like from the 08.05 Irish Ferries/08.20 Stena sailings you would be in Reading at 17.40 which would get you to Heathrow around 7pm either by coach or via Paddington. The 08.45 Irish Ferries fast ferry would get you there an hour earlier but is weather dependent.

The journey would mean multiple changes but this shouldn't be too bad as all stations involved have lifts between platforms.

murphaph

I don't see a problem taking it with Aer Lingus. It appears they will accept windsurfing gear so I'm sure your kayak will be fine, just have to pay the €30 plus any excess weight charges. Same yourself a world of hurt and fly to Heathrow OP.

corktina

fly.....the coach and the train will drain your soul and leave you empty and gasping....

Victor

KenHy wrote: »

would that bus have much issue with bulky luggage?

Does this mean two big suitcases or a over-sized box and a kayak?