London to Heathrow - really expensive

I just got an online quote for $110USD from a taxi service going from a hotel in Kensington to terminal 5 at Heathrow airport. The Heathrow express was also priced about the same. As we will be returning from a 15 day cruise, we will have at least 1 large piece of luggage that will be rough to handle on the less expensive trains to the airport.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get to the airport for a reasonable price?

A prearranged transfer service should charge £40 (about $63) or less to take to people and two bags to the airport. Here are a few places I have made note of:

http://www.london-transfers.com

http://www.justairports.com

http://www.skyexpresscars.net

http://www.handicars.co.uk

http://www.simplyairports.co.uk

We used http://www.justairports.com from Heathrow to our hotel and back to Heathrow. To get a quote use the first 2 letters and number from your hotel's postal code ( ours was SW1).

Thank you all. I have looked at some of the web sites and the prices are much more reasonable that I have seen before.

You could do the Heathrow Connect, which is half the price of the HE.

I just got an online quote for $110USD from a taxi service going from a hotel in Kensington to terminal 5 at Heathrow airport. The Heathrow express was also priced about the same. As we will be returning from a 15 day cruise, we will have at least 1 large piece of luggage that will be rough to handle on the less expensive trains to the airport.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get to the airport for a reasonable price?

London's subway system goes from South Kensington to Heathrow on one line (no changes) very inexpensively on the Picadilly Line

no stairs map: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/avoiding-stairs-guide.pdf

While there isn't an elevator to track level at South Kensington station, perhaps you're close to Hyde Park Corner, or even Earls court, followed by a change of lines at Barons Court, Hammersmith or Acton Town.

Either way, it's only down you need to deal with, as Heathrow (bottom left corner of the map) has elevators to go back up.

We were caught in the Qantas grounding in October. We were driven to Heathrow but got a black cab back to our daughter's place at West Hampstead as we were able to claim it back from Qantas. Cost 80 pounds, about $120. When we left again a couple of days later, we got a mini-cab and it was 25 pounds. Even my daughter was surprised at the size of the difference.

When we left again a couple of days later, we got a mini-cab and it was 25 pounds. Even my daughter was surprised at the size of the difference.

There seem to be a lot of mini-cab offices in West Hampstead and the prices are displayed out the front. I guess it is competition. He drove so well we gave him 30 and we were all happy.

In July we used the National Express Coach from Victoria Coach Station to Heathrow - total of 5 pounds 80 for 2. This is definitely a cheaper option even factoring a taxi trip from your hotel to the Coach Station,

I just booked a shared van for $67 US for my husband and I from Heathrow to Kensington using worldairporttransfer.com

I just booked a shared van for $67 US for my husband and I from Heathrow to Kensington using worldairporttransfer.com

That's about right for two seats-in-van, airport concourse - hotel.

Kensington means your hotel will be one of the first.

So, depending on your outlook:

No free tour of London :(

or

No trawling fellow-pax' hotels until reaching yours :)

JB :)

Thanks to the OP for asking this question...I was stressing about this very same thing! Thanks to all who responded. You've given me something to look into.

The tube is less than 5 pounds

The tube is less than 5 pounds

Yes, and from S.Kensington, you don't even have change lines. You pay for pampered door to door service, I'd rather take my savings and buy myself a few extra drinks on board.

We used SimplyAirport and they were great. We pre arranged the cab to pick us up on a specific day and time at the hotel we were staying. We called the day before to confirm it and they were there right on time. It cost us about 25 pounds for door to door service with a LOT of luggage.

Cheers

Len

We used a taxi from our Kensington Court hotel (Milestone) to LHR.. only the 2 of us and 4 pieces of luggage ($55.00 USD)...

The tube is less than 5 pounds

So the Tube is not a solution for everyone.

But the Tube is distinctly unsuitable for many people who have cruise luggage with them, particularly if they are going to a station that's difficult to get out of. Such people could be a danger to themselves and to other passengers.

 

So the Tube is not a solution for everyone.

If you can roll two suitcases through an airport and up/down an escalator, how is that different from rolling two suitcases through a tube station?

If you can roll two suitcases through an airport and up/down an escalator, how is that different from rolling two suitcases through a tube station?

Many tube stations have stairs and very long connection walks. Many travelers are unable to lug suitcases up and down stairs.

If you can roll two suitcases through an airport and up/down an escalator, how is that different from rolling two suitcases through a tube station?

A lot different !!!...Everyone at an airport is doing it and the bags they may or not be wheeling are usually small carryon type ...Most at the tube station are commuters in a hurry and knowing "exactly" where they are going...Avoid the tube with luggage..Airports are set up for travelers with luggage.. tube stations are usually not ;)

Avoid the tube with luggage..Airports are set up for travelers with luggage.. tube stations are usually not ;)

Also bear in mind that parts of the system date back to the 1860s and were originally worked by steam engines - imagine...:)

Thanks to the OP for asking this question...I was stressing about this very same thing! Thanks to all who responded. You've given me something to look into.

That makes two of us! :confused::eek::)

The Heathrow Express is a excellent service, nothing like the tube, easy clean and efficient with plenty of space.

Avoid the tube with luggage, it is a nightmare, many of the stations don't have lifts and it isn't easy to cram youself and your bags in the tube, bearing in mind you are probably going to have to stand until you get out of town.

I would suggest that you get a cab to Paddington and then take the Heathrow Express, much cheaper than a car or van and really is extremely easy - even with luggage.

When you get to Paddington, get a luggage trolley, you have to leave it at the station, but you can pick another one up at Heathrow. Make sure you get out at the right terminal, it stops at a few. There is a screen inside the Express that will tell you where you are.

We actually stayed at a hotel near Heathrow recently and communted by Express into London. It was a cheaper way of doing the city and put is in a good position for Legoland, which my dd wanted to see.

If you are coming into London from Heathrow, just make sure the ticket you get takes you into the Central area - Zone 1, if you are staying in the Centre.

Was just in London and did exactly what K8T suggested. It was £34 for a R/T Heathrow Express ticket, and £20 for a taxi (I was staying near Tower Bridge).