Pick-up time from LHR

My flight times have been changed and we now arrive at Heathrow @ 0750 (terminal 5).

 

Looking at National Express, I have a choice of scheduling a pick-up at 0855, 0910, 0930 or 1105.

 

Assuming that 0855 and 0910 may be pushing it to clear customs and immigration, would 0930 be too early to schedule or should I play it safe and schedule the 1105 pick-up?

 

Obviously, I don't want to be rushed and worrying about missing the bus but at the same time don't want to spend 3 hrs at the airport if it's not necessary.

 

Thanks for any opinions

Hmmm, something's adrift somewhere. :confused:

 

Emerald Princess sails out of Southampton Mayflower terminal on 25th October.

For 25th October, from Heathrow Terminal 5 to Southampton coach station the Nat Express website is showing me coaches at 08.30 (too early for you), or 10.00 (ideal - plenty of time for delays but not hanging about too long), or 12 noon, or 13.45 (probably too late).

The coach picks up on the concourse at T5, no need to go to Heathrow's central bus station.

All times priced at £18.30.

You'll need a taxi from Southampton coach station to your cruise terminal, about 5 minutes / £6 excluding any snarl-up in the docks (busy turnaround day).

 

(There's also a coach that day at 08.50 from T5 to "Southampton cruise terminal" but that's a red herring. It's for a Fred Olsen ship, out of a different cruise terminal, and double the fare. :eek:)

 

Best bet is to book the 10.00 - if it all goes seriously belly-up, you can switch to the noon coach (subject to availability) for a small admin fee.

 

If all else fails there's a frequent train service to Southampton. Unpopular because it starts with an included RailAir shuttlebus to a mainline station, where you switch to a direct train to Southampton. So it's not as simple or as cheap as Nat Express & it's the same total journey time. But the service is roughly half-hourly & no need to pre-book. Useful as a Plan B.

 

D'you want to re-check your journey details?

 

JB :)

Edited April 21, 2014 by John Bull

Thanks for the info, JB--some additional info. We are arriving 3 days prior to the cruise(0750 on Oct 22) and taking Nat'l Express to Victoria Coach Station.

Edited April 21, 2014 by nitenurs2

Thanks for the info, JB--some additional info. We are arriving 3 days prior to the cruise(0750 on Oct 22) and taking Nat'l Express to Victoria Coach Station.

 

Aha, that explains it.

 

9.30's just a little tight but should be OK.

And 11.05 makes for quite a long cigarette break.:rolleyes:

I'd go for the 9.30, cos of the option to switch to a later coach.

 

But no need to wait til 11.05. There's much more frequent Nat Express services to London Victoria coach station from Heathrow central bus station, check out the Nat Express timetable.

Central bus station isn't walkable from T5, it's the other side of the airport & I'm not sure of transport between the two - that needs a Heathrow specialist, hopefully one will be along soon ;).

 

JB :)

Edited April 21, 2014 by John Bull

Central bus station isn't walkable from T5, it's the other side of the airport & I'm not sure of transport between the two - that needs a Heathrow specialist, hopefully one will be along soon ;).

Exit from customs and walk north along the building. (The easiest way of working this out is to face the Costa Coffee which is immediately opposite the exit from customs, and then turn right and walk in that direction, so that the glass external wall is to your left.) When you see the signs for Heathrow Express, follow them and go down to the platform using the lift (elevator). Take the train one stop to Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3 - this is free, so no need to buy a ticket. Exit from the station and follow the signs for the central bus station, which should be fairly close by - it's been too long since I used the HEX T123 station so I can't remember exactly where it tips out.