Getting Into London
You've arrived in the UK, successfully negotiated
your way through Customs &
Immigrations, and suddenly you find yourself
alone with your luggage and uncertain of what to do
next. Chances are you'll be heading in to London,
so it makes sense to plan now for how you're going
to travel those last few miles to your final destination.
From Heathrow
By Tube - The Piccadilly Line begins at Heathrow
Airport (there are stations servicing Termals
1-3, and Terminal 4), travels through the south-western
suburbs towards central London, bisects the heart
of the city, and then veers northwards towards it's
final stop in the northern suburbs at Cockfosters.
It should take approximately 45 minutes to reach central
London on the Piccadilly Line, with trains running
every 3-5 minutes for much of the day. Tickets should
be bought at the airport Tube station, either from
the automated machines or from the counter (the latter
will probably involve a long wait in line).
By Express - The Heathrow
Express leaves the airport (from both of the two
stations there) every 15 minutes. Travelling non-stop
to Paddington in central London, the Express journey
time is only 15 minutes and is a more luxurious option
than the Tube. Standard adult fares (one way) are
£12.
By Bus - The A1 Airbus departs from each terminal
for Victoria Station on a regular basis, with a journey
time of approximately 1 hour. Expect to pay more than
the Tube, but to have dedicated luggage space. The
A2 Airbus heads to Russell Square, on the northern
side of the Thames (and close to the Contiki Headquarters).
By Taxi - A taxi into London will cost anywhere
up to £40, and will have a similar journey time
as the other modes of transport (45minutes to an hour).
Black cabs are licensed and therefore a safer (if
more expensive bet), while unlicensed mini-cabs operate
on a "consumer beware" basis.
From Gatwick
By British Rail & Express - BR links into
London leave from the South Terminal, with a Gatwick
Express service providing a half-hour journey into
London Victoria Station. The Express journey time
is only 30 minutes and is priced at £10.50 for
a standard adult fare (one way). Allow at least double
that amount of time for the regular train link.
By Bus - Various bus services operate from
Gatwick, but with London's congested roads you should
allow approximately 2 hours to reach the Victoria
depot. r London Victoria. Travelling non-stop,
From Dover Sea Port
By Train - Connex
SE operate a regular service from Dover Priory
to London Charing Cross or Victoria, with a travel
time of approximately 2 hours.
By Bus - National
Express (amongst others) operate a regular bus
service from the docks and Dover town centre for London.
The journey time will vary between 2 hrs 20 mins and
3 hrs.
|
