Very fast (Heathrow Express)

Member Name: REALTRAVELLER

Product:	Heathrow Express
Date:	24/07/09 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast

Disadvantages: Expensive

I have used the Heathrow Express service for many years.

The Heathrow Express is the name of the fast and direct train service connecting Paddington train station to Heathrow Terminals.

It starts at 5.10 am and runs until after midnight and the journey takes 15 minutes. If you take it from Paddington train station, you will have to go to platforms 6 or 7 for the departure. There are ticket machines and ticket kiosks where you can buy the ticket, which costs 16.50 Pounds for one way journey.

If you arrive at one of the terminals at Heathrow, you should follow the signs for Heathrow Express, they are quite visible and easy to find.

In the past I used to come to London on business and I found that this service cuts a lot of travelling time into the City, both the financial City and the West End. Upon arriving at the Paddington I took a taxi, and the only drawback is that some time it took up to 30 minutes for a taxi to be available. Then the recession came and taxis are now aplenty!

The carriages are comfortable, never over packed, although I had to stand on a couple of journeys at peak times.

There is also a business class service, which is much less crowded, and you can pick up a copy of a complimentaty Financial Times there, but I do not think it is worth.

There are carriages where the usage of mobiles is not allowed, and I tend to go to those since I hate when business people discuss deals over their mobiles. Too many people have ego problems and seem only too keen to show the world that they have something important going on.

The other way to reach central London from Heathrow is by Tube. It is much cheaper, but it takes a bit longer, although for some destinations on the Piccadilly line the difference is actually not that big.

If you plan to go to the East of London or the City, I think that the Paddington Express is the fastest way, chepest it is not.

Summary: Fast but expensive