Another thing to mention is that both Elizabeth Line and Piccadilly will be included in the daily cap if using contactless. So if you're planning on doing a lot travelling around London the same day, it's even more economical.
Yeah, but the 7 day cap on your credit card is only for the calendar week. The 7 day Oyster travelcard is for any 7 consecutive days. Nobody ever says that on these videos.
On our recent trip to London, we took the Picadilly Line from Heathrow to Russell Square, where we were staying. We missed the morning rush, so it wasn't too crowded. And while the train made a few stops along the way, we found it to be an easy and enjoyable ride.
I’m a Londoner myself and that’s a very good option. The Elizabeth Line is the best in my opinion in terms of speed vs price, but it really depends on where you are staying as to which train you should get.
Yeah as a (West) Londoner, I would suggest that anyone staying near a Piccailly Line station should probably just run with that. It ain't like the Liz doesn't get crowded. If you are staying near a District Line station in Central London on the Tower Hill branch like Sloane Square, it may still be the eaiest option to get the tube and change at Barons Court (v. easy transfer). Transferring from the Liz isn't always that much fun.
i liked the way that the last time i went to heathrow bus station, the co-driver was hilarious..."and that no entry sign"...at arrival at heathrow bus station....omg...and the co-driver's top tips on the "no-entry", the reversing and the "hogging" the lanes....omg, he was a newbie, but his crew-mate did practically everything for him!....i bet his thought on his first journey "this isn't for me"...normally on national express i have a lot of fun...
We had the pleasure of meeting you 3 weeks ago upon our arrival in London, while my husband and I were waiting for the Piccadilly line and you were filming this video! Thanks to our being your faithful followers and watching all of your videos in California previous to our trip, we were able to navigate for the city of London at easy, and to enjoy many of the activities that you suggest in other videos. You are very accurate and reliable with all the information you share, and very nice in person!! Thank you Jess. PS. You are right, the "Tube" option was very hot, crowded and took a long time to get to our destination, but oh well, we wanted the total local welcoming British experience! ha I have to say that on the way back to Heathrow, that was the most efficient option.
What I think is important/interesting to note with Heathrow Express: Depending on how long in advance you know which days you'll be arriving and leaving, you can get tickets at a very reduced price!
@@MichaelCorleone562 Its still no use unless you literally are staying on the doorstep of Paddington. If you are staying deep into the West End, then you will still have the hassle of either hailing a taxi or having to carry luggage onto the underground, which at certain times of day will be busy.
If you have a lot of luggage and are travelling by train, might be a good idea to choose a route so you change trains at step-free stations (clearly marked on the tube map). This way you can avoid crowded escalators or stairs. All Elizabeth line stations are step-free by design and most are very spacious, being built with higher capacity in mind. Another point about the Elizabeth Line is the trains are much longer than tube trains. Central stations can have two exits, which can be in or near two different tube stations (eg Moorgate/Liverpool Street). So you may need to know the correct exit for your interchange. Or follow the signs of course.
Avoid Stratford if you can. Claims to be step free but to get out the station you have to use a series of lifts from platform going up a level down a level and finally out by going up another level , but we found the lift failed and had to lug heavy suitcases up a flight if stairs. Horrible experience.
My wife and I visited the UK in October 2023 from Australia. Straight after arriving at Heathrow, we boarded a National Express bus to Southampton, stayed there 2 nights and boarded a ship to Norway on a 2 week cruise. Once back in Southampton, we took another National Epress bus to Victoria Street bus station. We stayed in London for a week (at West Kensington), and took the Tube every day to see the sights. A lovely young lady that worked at Earl's Court station recommended we get a weekly Oyster pass that covered 3 zones. I think it cost us £80 for the week. It was much cheaper than paying daily. When we were leaving, we took the Tube back to Heathrow, and even though it was well out of our ticketed zone, it accepted the card at the end. For the first few days, travelling on the Tube was a bit confusing, but once we realised the zones and the colour of the lines, we were old hands after a week 😊
I was there last month and took the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to Tottenham Court Road and then decided to walk to my hotel because I didn't want to climb those stairs in the Piccadilly Circus station and hurt my wrist in trying to carry my luggage 😅 thanks to your videos and tips I managed to get around on the tube easily just with my Apple Pay on Apple Watch. I met a American middle age couple who was surprised that Apple Watch could be used to tap in/out while her husband was searching his pockets for the card to tap out 😅
I’m a Londoner myself so can confirm you made exactly the right decision there. All the stations on the Elizabeth Line are step free, whereas the Piccadilly line stations in central London are old and only have escalators which could be difficult with large bags.
The new Elizabeth line carriages look very nice. Piccadilly Line trains are super frequent around 5 minutes. A very good option if you choose a hotel in the Hounslow area. Sure, it is a 45 minute train ride to central London but hotels are much more affordable.
Hello, as most of the people who see your videos, I'm thinking about comming to London. Your videos are very nice and everything is well explained. I'd like to leave a sugestion for you, maybe work on for tourist: a video where it is explained the oyster BUT for who have childrem under 18. It will be very nice and I haven't see nothing about it. Thank you.
Thanks! We have talked about paying for children on the tube in many videos and pieces of content :) Like this article: loveandlondon.com/how-to-pay-for-kids-on-londons-public-transport-when-visiting-london/
We stay near Paddington so the Elizabeth line was our first choice. Although it was about 9am we had no problem finding a seat and sorting our luggage. The step free access was also great with our wheelie bags. Our return trip was on the Heathrow Express, but because we had booked through "Trainline" 3 months in advance, the costs were comparable to the Elizabeth Line.
We usually take the Picadilly line as we take a train out of Kings Cross to northern England. Works fine and takes an hour. There are lifts (elevators) at Kings Cross so it's super easy if you have lots of luggage.
One other thing that could be mentioned is the amount of walking you may have to do when reaching your travel option. For example, getting from Terminal 2 to the Heathrow Express/Elizabeth line station has you walking down a considerable length of underground tunnels.
I agree, it probably took me a good 1/2 hour to make it to the platform and that is after a 10 hr. Flight, queuing through Customs, and dragging your suitcase behind you. For someone like me whose mobility is slowing down, the should have installed portions of moving walks or a trolley to take people like me.
Also after the walk which took me 10 minutes, you may have to wait another 10 minutes for the train to arrive. So the 15 minutes to London on the Heathrow Express is not 35 to 40 minutes. Then if you have to take the underground or taxi from Paddington you could end up with a 1 hour journey.
This is also true of National Express. We had packed for a 3 week trip and carrying our luggage through terminal 3 to the station was quite an experience.
I stayed in the Kensington area of London recently. Took the Heathrow Express in but took the Picadilly Line back to Heathrow. Nice to know there are options via public transportation. 😊
Piccadilly Line is definitely the best option if you’re staying in Kensington. Heathrow Express is expensive, takes you to the wrong part of central London, then you have to pay for the underground anyway to get onwards to Kensington.
I used the Elizabeth Line to get to/from my hotel in Shoreditch a few weeks ago. It typically runs great, AND the fare you pay goes toward your daily fare cap if you use the Tube services later in the day. One caution: Allow enough time back to Heathrow if traveling from London. The day I left, Elizabeth Line had severe delays due to a trespasser. It also messed up Heathrow Express, so just an example of always getting to the airport early!.
Underrated comment - this is absolutely true. Last week, I walked the eight minutes to my Elizabeth Line station to pick up my "on-time" - according to their app - train to T5, and it was cancelled when I'd arrived. Never trust TfL, always have a plan B and a plan C.
I won’t be getting to Heathrow till 11pm. What’s the best option? I’ll probably be too late for the Elizabeth or Heathrow express. I’ll be staying near paddington station.
we can definitely work together to create something beautiful called immense success. the million dollar figures are very attainable off the charts actually ... let's share massive profits
The Victoria Station/Terminal area gives me the stresses. I can’t abide being near there. This is a great video for advice getting from Heathrow- I really like taking Heathrow Express- of course it depends on where you stay, like Jess said. But it’s comfy and quick. ❤🇬🇧
I've only flown from to Heathrow once and took the Tube option and it is very convenient but yeah, if it's crowded and carry big luggage it's a uncomfy
In 2019 we were staying a 2 minute walk from King's Cross. Took the Tube around 330 to 430pm without any issues or problems with space for our luggage. Would do again.
I've never been to London, cuz i am afraid that I'd be lost, it's indeed very complicated especially if one is a lone traveler like myself, so I guess my dream to visit London won't be fulfilled anytime soon.
Well Jess, amazing timing. I am from London but haven't left the country since COVID and the Elizabeth line being introduced to service. So coming back from Madrid to Heathrow next Wednesday, I was starting to search the best way to get back and you saved me a job! Thanks. Just one thing about the Piccadilly Line, it actually goes to North London as opposed to North East London with the end of the line being Cockfosters, but unlike me I doubt many of your subscribers will go North of Kings Cross. Great video as usual and you helped a local out here!
I'll be in London June 2024, I'm trying to figure the oyster card out. I am reading that it is not available to non-UK citizens. ?? Any help is much appreciated.
I use the Piccadilly line to east London then change to the DLR, this works for me if I'm only carrying one bag. Any more I book a car service. The tube is cheap and cheerful and even better, that drove one of the tunneling machines that built the Victoria Line back in the 1960s. If you do take the Heathrow Express from terminal 4, do admire the station as I worked on the construction of that as an Inspector of Works. Thanks for the post, put over in a very way, sadly Heathrow is a hodge podge of terminals spread about all over the place and not a good advert for LONDON. PS: I flew into Heathrow as a kid in 1952 aboard a BOAC 4 propeller aircraft, from Accra in West Africa via Tripoli and Rome to refuel. It took 25 hrs. But I did see the Queen's coronation, so that's two I've seen.
If you buy the Heathrow Express tickets online in advance (at least 90 days) it's only BP5.5 each way per person. I recently visited London and did this. The best option for people who plan in advance!
Traditionally, I have used the Heathrow Express as my default method, but with recent trips, I have used the Tube when I either had no choice (cancelled flights are no fun) or wanted to get as close as possible to where I needed to be. My upcoming trip will have me on the Heathrow Express again, BUT as I will be travelling on to Scotland and eventually returning to London, I WILL find out just how good the Elizabeth Line is. Already got the tickets booked.
Great Video. We took the Elisabeth Line from Heathrow when we had a day trip Düsseldorf London. We used the oyster card and because the day Limit is 15 pounds it was very cheap travelling to and back with the Elisabeth Line the same day plus using the tube the day over. The only bad thing was that we were very confused in the beginning because we could 't find the Elisabeth Line. We weren' t aware that it runs as a train, we always looked for the signs for underground. It took us a while ;-)
The Piccadilly Line (Tube) may be a cheap option but with luggage it can be a nightmare. In central London the platforms are deep surface and access to/from street level is via escalators, similarly interchanges between lines will involve stairs - so not pleasant with luggage. The plus point is that some stations have had upgrades for ‘step-free’ access, so that they are wheelchair friendly and this means lift access from the platform to the ticket hall and street or to another line. It’s worthwhile checking online with Transport for London TfL if a tube station near to where you are staying has step free access and therefore lifts. The Elizabeth Line stations were designed for step free access including interchanges such as Tottenham Court Rd or Farringdon.
The Elizabeth Line in morning rush hour is like World War Z. The Heathrow Express is worth every penny. The Tube is not that bad after morning rush. But do not try to go cheap to London because there is nothing cheap in London. Save up for it and then spend it and have a good time. The Thames water taxi to Greenwich and other places is a lot of fun.
London can be expensive, but do your research. There are lot of things to see that are free or reasonably priced. Most of the big museums and art galleries are free for example. You could waste a lot of money and time visiting the London Eye. Or pay just £6 and climb the historic Monument. Or visit the Skygarden or the newer Horizon 22, the tallest viewing platform in Europe, for free. Though you do need to book.
Also, most people plan their trips at least three months in advance so why wouldn't you take the Heathrow express for £5.50 per person for 90 day advanced purchase. The London eye is definitely a crowded ripoff there are many much better options another one is the IFS Gondola that takes you 300 feet above the Thames for a really reasonable rate.
Wow. I took Elizabeth line yesterday to Heathrow Terminal 2, the bloody train was over 25 mins delayed from Canary Wharf; it’s just too unpredictable with delays, and I missed my flight to Brussels, I learnt a harsh lesson of leaving earlier… I’d definitely take Heathrow express from Paddington or consider flying strictly from Gatwick via London Bridge overground
Great information but it should be noted that your National Express coach ticket will only include one suitcase per ticket. Extra suitcases cost £10 each.
4:30 It can be cheaper to buy tickets in advance. Booking around 8 weeks in advance with a railcard I found a single on HX for around £10! (Think it's for a weekday!)
I travel light with just a backpack and carryon, so the Piccadilly line works fine for me as long as it’s after the morning rush. Just try to get a seat near a door at Heathrow, because it will get more crowded as you get closer to Central London. If you have larger luggage, the Elizabeth line would probably be better as the trains have more space. If you have large or multiple bags, be aware that in some Underground stations you will have to go up some stairs before you get to the lifts or escalators.
Also worth mentioning the Elizabeth Line stations in Central London all have lifts to street level, as opposed to most of the Piccadilly Line stations which only have escalators, which could be difficult if you have large bags.
This is a good video but the best option isn't mentioned, which is the Heathrow Express 90 day advance which is £5.50. If you are making a trip to London you should plan at least this far in advance in order to get a decent hotel so why wouldn't you book the Heathrow express then too?
We stayed at a hotel near the Gloucester Road Tube stop. So, taking the Piccadilly Line was easy, particularly with a Sunday morning arrival at Heathrow.
I really love your taste and style always so chic. My faves would be the kislux leather backpack and the Swarovski pave diamond ring so gorg. Thank you for your recommendations.
Took Heathrow Express to Paddington and then a taxi from Paddington to my hotel. I’m leaving London in a few hours and I’m doing the same on the way back. I was staying in Pimlico and it was about 30 pounds. Highly recommend.
Elizabeth line is the best option and most comfortable in my opinion. Brand new trains with proper ventilation unlike the tube where you’ll need to bring your own oxygen tank to breathe! 😂
It at least used to be the case that journeys between the three rail stations within Heathrow (Terminal 5, Terminal 4 and Terminals 2 & 3) by whichever means is free of charge, i.e. your card doesn't get charged when you tap out. This may be relevant because Heathrow Express doesn't go to Terminal 4.
I took the elizabeth line from the airport to the city. But when i flew back home, i was coming back to london from nottingham. I decided to take the coach back as i don’t want to keep on transferring trains with all my luggages. I was a solo traveller, so the coach during the end of my trip worked for me as i just sat comfortably on the coach. I absolutely loved the elizabeth line train i took at the start of my trip though 🥰 i was already in london around 630 and was already on the train an hr later. Wasn’t that crowded and it was a very comfortable ride 👍🏻 love the efficiency of trains ❤
Always get a black taxi it can cost between £55-£100 but it’s depending on what part of London you are gong to. The drivers know exactly where they are going and can get you to your destinations again depending on where you are going between 30-50 minutes. Iv found this to be the easiest way to travel from the airport into central London and the most stress free plus getting in a London black taxi you can see all the sights on your way. Plus the black taxis know there way around better than any other pre booked company’s.
Good to know. We're taking a girls trip (first time in London) in sept. Initially we were just going to take the tube but we'd love to see the city as we're getting to Mayfair.
@@mujernica Go to the taxi rank which has taxi marshals they will ask you where you are going and put you in a taxi will cost around £85 for all of you and you can see some of the sights on you way 👌🏻
As a word of advice when travelling to Heathrow Airport on the Piccadilly line and you want a cheaper fare (even it's a bit inconvenient if you have a lot of luggage),you can tap out at Hatton Cross and then tap back in and you can travel to any Heathrow station for free due to Hatton Cross becoming part of the Heathrow Free Travel Zone in September 2022
Busses/coaches mostly leave from T2/3. That said if you need to transit between there and T4/5, you can do so for free on the tube or Elizabeth line using a contactless card. Maybe good to know too if you're not even going to London, but catching a connecting flight!
If you're booking your trip to Heathrow far enough in advance, the Heathrow Express can be very cheap - as low as £5.50 if you book early enough. If you pay on the day, you will end up paying the most expensive price of £25 per head. Otherwise, the Elizabeth Line is probably the best balance between price and convenience. I would only recommend Taxi if you have mobility problems amd your final destination isn't anywhere near a train or tube station. London black cabs can use bus lanes but can also hit traffic so likely to be a slower option unless you're travelling late at night.
On my most recent visit I arrived from Dublin and decided to see what the fuss was about the Elizabeth Line (I normally just take the Picadilly). Aer Lingus from Dublin arrives to Terminal 2, so there was a substantial walk to the Elizabeth Line platform to begin with, and which I feel effectively negated the time-saving advantage that would have otherwise been there. When taken together with the higher cost, I will concede that the Elizabeth Line was at least less crowded, but I'll continue taking the Picadilly Line in future.
Flown into London 3 times in 10 years, and usually use the Piccadilly or the Heathrow Express. But this was before the Elizabeth Line was open. So will take that, or H Express next time, or maybe even a coach so I can see something.
I would suggest having some podcasts to listen to while on the go, one thing to consider is that at times it’s hard to charge a mobile phone in public transport. Not all trains are fitted with chargers so a small power bank might be worth having especially if you’re using your phone to pay for things.
was returning from Tokyo to London Heathrow a couple weeks back, used the Heathrow express as part of my journey to return to London Kings Cross so I could catch a train back up North. Although Im a UK resident I am not a London expert by a longshot, and I took the Heathrow express expecting it to be the same as any other tube train, the only thing I had on my mind was getting back home as quickly and conveniently as possible. Used my debit card for payment and didn't get my travel bill till a couple days later, and when I saw I was charged almost 30 quid to take 2 tube trains to kings crossed i was absolutely shocked, especially after returning from Japans super affordable train fares. I thought I might have forgot to scan a gate somewhere and thats why I was being charged so much. This video enlightened me why my travel bill was so much, thanks for the info
Heathrow Express is really kind of a gimmick now especially vs the Elizabeth line - though the Tube is still fine imo if you're not in a rush, especially if it goes where you need to :)
Last time I was in London I lived at Seven Sisters, which was great as I was coming from Stansted - it takes about 30 minutes to get there from the airport by train calling at Tottenham Hale and about 15 - 20 minutes to get to the city center by tube (Victoria Line) from there.
Do you have a video or suggestion about locker storage for a layover? I'm arriving at Heathrow but leaving later in the day from Gatwick. I don't want to be an obvious tourist with my luggage in tow. 😞
In central London, Paddington station (where mainline trains from Heathrow arrive) and both Victoria station and London Bridge station (where mainline trains to Gatwick depart) have privately-run luggage storage facilities. There are normally also a few businesses around the major stations also offering storage. There's a good article about luggage storage options across London on the Love and London website. Not sure if it can be linked, but it's titled 'Where Can You Store Luggage In London?'
If I take the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to Farringdon, and do a transfer to ThamesLink via National Rail (with Brighton being my final destination), do I have to “tap-out” from the Elizabeth Line? Or can I do a rail-to-rail transfer and simply “tap-out” at Brighton to cover the entire rail trip?
I’m a Londoner so you can trust me on this one! Yes, you will need to “tap-out” at Farringdon. Providing you have already purchased a separate ticket from Farringdon to Brighton, you can “tap out” on the Oyster pad as you head towards the Thameslink platforms, then board the train straight away. This ‘completes’ your Elizabeth line journey and charges you the final cost from Heathrow. If at this stage, you didn’t yet have a ticket to Brighton on Thameslink, you would instead need to need to “tap out” at the main ground level gateline and purchase a paper ticket from the machines, which you can use to re-enter the station. Hope this make sense and has cleared up any confusion!
@@underground1019 …..thanks for replying. Just to clarify, if I don’t already have a ThamesLink ticket, I tap-out from Liz Line, then purchase a paper (National Rail/ThamesLink) ticket, then enter back into the same station from which I just exited from, and follow the signs to ThamesLink (instead of Liz Line)?
Jess, thanks for all of your content on London, it's extremely helpful. I will be arriving in London this Saturday, and was looking at options for getting from Heathrow to the Waterloo station. Unfortunately, our flight doesn't arrive until late and it looks like the Elizabeth line and others don't run after 11:00 p.m. on Saturdays. I have read that there are Night Tube routes running. It looks like I could get from Heathrow to the Jubilee line at Green Park and then catch it to Waterloo. Does that sound like a good option? Is the Night Tube safe for travel? It will likely be midnight before I actually board the train. Many thanks again for the great content!
Adjust timings in Google Maps to see what's available for that time. And if you don't see much, pre-book a taxi! www.book-online-transfers.com/en/loveandlondon-airport-taxi
At Terminal 5, the Tube station and Heathrow Express station are on the same level but there is no access between them; you have to go up to ground level and down again. Which is why, when asked by an American couple on the Tube platform how to get to the Heathrow Express, I found myself uttering the words "You can't get there from here". 🙂
Just came back from a trip to London and we used the Elizabeth line to Paddington and vice versa. Our flight arrived at 7am on a week day so we caught a bit of people's daily life at the different stations along the way, which we liked. It's very well indicated in the airport despite being quite a walk from Terminal 2, but this is to expect in such a big place like Heathrow. Very useful video for people who never visited London.
When I was last in London I showed a total lack of imagination by staying in Earl's Court and taking the Tube in to town. 🙂 I did, however, book a taxi back to the airport. Early on a Sunday morning and all that...
On Heathrow Express, Kids even were free in First Class. So, when traveling alone with my three kids, it was a comfortable, easy and not too expensive option. For me, it was worth the money.
Last month, I visited London and opted for the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to Tottenham Court Road. I chose to walk to my hotel from there, mainly because I wanted to avoid those strenuous stairs at the Piccadilly Circus station. Carrying my luggage, I was afraid of hurting my wrist! 😅 Thanks to your informative videos and helpful tips, I was able to navigate the Tube effortlessly, using just my Apple Watch with Apple Pay. It was a game-changer! I even met a friendly American middle-aged couple who were pleasantly surprised by the convenience of Apple Watch for tapping in and out, while her husband fumbled through his pockets searching for his card to tap out! 😅 The experience reminded me of the efficiency of services like Express Parking, making travel so much more convenient.
Last time I went to London, in 2017, I just got the Tube to Green Park and it was about 10 minutes’ walk to where I was staying. It was morning rush hour but it turned out to be still easy for me because my suitcase was still in Nairobi. 🤬🤬🤬 To be fair, that turned out not to be a problem because two days later my bag turned up at my door.
Got back from London a few days ago. I pre-booked the Heathrow Express. Got it for £26 return, knew well in advance, but couldn't ever get it cheaper. I think it's a good option for Solo travellers who haven't been before or in a long time (my case 2006).
Just got back from London yesterday!! I loved being back in my favorite city! The tube is soooo easy, safe and convenient! The only reason I took a taxi to Heathrow was because I had heavy luggage because I was in Italy for a wedding beforehand but if I was just visiting London with smaller luggage I’d def take the Elizabeth line
I just got home from a trip to London. Taking the Elizabeth line to and from Heathrow couldn’t have been easier. Also the Citymapper app is excellent. The Freenow app was the way to go while in Edinburgh.
Taxi is the least convenient you can be stuck in traffic for 4 hours and that before you hit Hammersmith. Elizabeth line is quickest and easiest and cheap.
Nice video. You can also take a double decker bus for less but it will take upwards of 2 hours to east London, not to mention changing buses often. Another thing I've ran into is some trains being off line when you want to get to the airport. I usually take the Elizabeth Line from White Chapel to Terminal 2 & 3 @ Heathrow, but on my last trip(7th trip to London)2 weeks ago, the Elizabeth line was down so I had to take another route that had many more stops which took longer. So It's always a good idea to check the "Tfl go" app before you head out the day of your departure, to see if your train will be running normally. I always try to get to the airport 3 hours early. I have missed a flight before due to a long security check cue. BTW, I spend about 19 lbs from Heathrow to Forrest Hill(which is southeast London) by taking the Elizabeth Line to White Chapel and then overground to Forrest Hill. That takes about 1 hour.
