Heathrow Express v Heathrow Connect

SuzySu

Hi

I'm going to Heathrow (T3) next weekend and am trying to decide between the Heathrow Express (expensive but fast) or the Heathrow Connect (cheaper but slower).

Does anyone have any recommendations or advice about one over the other?

Thanks in advance for your help.

KeithP

You've pretty much summed up the differences.

You need to decide which is more important to you.

Have you considered Piccadilly tube?
Cash cost is £4.50 per adult single trip... but takes longer.

SuzySu

Thanks Keith. Yes, I have considered the tube but there is nowhere to put luggage and I don't fancy standing for most of the journey. I also think the few pounds saved (over the Connect especially) wouldn't make up for the 90 minute journey.

I just wondered whether there was anything else I should be aware of. For example, is there a longer walk from one platform to the terminal building than the other? Just little things that might help me decide.

Thanks for your quick reply.

pompeyrich

Are you travelling with anyone? 50% off H.Express for 2 or more people travelling together HERE

orangemonkey

They do have the same walking distance from what I remember. Have never used the express, but the connect was very comfortable for me, with more than enough storage space. was pretty empty when I used it.(twice now) Also had a railcard discount on it which made me happy.

Would happily recommend the connect for a 10 mins diff

duchy

I think it's really over priced and only use it when I really *have* to. Really depends if you have the time to get the Connect and the time of day. For me any advantage is wiped out by the tube *to* Paddington.

My favourite way to go now is train from Waterloo to Feltham and get the local bus with my Oyster-quicker than the tube , reasonably priced and Waterloo is no harder to get to than Paddington for most. Only time I've ever had trouble getting a seat is about 5pm-even in the morning peak it's not crowded as most people are travelling into London not out.

There's actually two buses from the station forecourt one to the Heathrow bus station-the other goes to T4.

I don#t use the tube anymore -changing lines is a pain with luggage and the journey seems endless and airless. If I'm arriving back into Heathrow and need to get to Victoria with bags I get the National Express for the same price as the tube and zero steps to deal with.

There's a few under-advertised ways to and from Heathrow -I discovered a bus from Heathrow to East Croydon last month that takes Oyster for £1.20 Pretty good for those on that route-I'm going to hop on the train at East Croydon to Gatwick for a bargain £6.20 total fare Heathrow to Gatwick next month.

moonrakerz

SuzySu wrote: »

Thanks Keith. Yes, I have considered the tube but there is nowhere to put luggage and I don't fancy standing for most of the journey. I also think the few pounds saved (over the Connect especially) wouldn't make up for the 90 minute journey.

The Picadilly Line tube trains to Heathrow have extra luggage space and it doesn't take 90 minutes to get there.
Unless you are travelling to Heathrow during the evening rush you won't have to stand.

(Tip........Don't get on the first train if it looks busy, watch it arrive and leave and see if the front or rear of the train is emptiest, then go and stand in the appropriate place on the platform for the next train. It always amazes me how people all clump together by the entrance to the platform - then complain about how crowded the tube is !)

hannhol

Bear in mind that 'extra luggage space' on the Picadilly line is relative to how much luggage you have, and if you go during the busy times (Morning and evening), most commuters will not consider luggage space anything other than extra standing room.

blindman

SuzySu wrote: »

Thanks Keith. Yes, I have considered the tube but there is nowhere to put luggage and I don't fancy standing for most of the journey. I also think the few pounds saved (over the Connect especially) wouldn't make up for the 90 minute journey.

I just wondered whether there was anything else I should be aware of. For example, is there a longer walk from one platform to the terminal building than the other? Just little things that might help me decide.

Thanks for your quick reply.

The tube from KX to LHR takes 55-60 minutes.

If you have an Oyster card the cost is £4.20 in peak times (Cash is £4.50) but the off peak times it's £2.40

Get on the very last carriage, it's usually emptier than the rest.

The walk from the tube station to LHR T3 has moving walkways and escalators.

I found the walk from the Connect service to be the longest. The walk from the HEX is possibly just shorter than the tube at LHR T3.

If you are coming into London anywhere near KX then the tube is the easiest IMHO.

alanrowell

Unless you are arriving in London at Paddington then you are going to have to use Bus / Tube / Taxi in order to get to Paddington. So your presumed problems with other means will affect you anyway.

So where are you coming from as otherwise you might go to a lot of time and effort which won't benefit you at all.

duchy

OPs location shows on her post as Essex so Liverpool Street or Central line presumably(which was what I meant in my post about Paddington/Waterloo not making a difference for most)

Depending on where in Essex you're travelling from there's the feeder coach from Stratford to Victoria and then onto Heathrow for around £8 single which might be easier if you have lots of bags -I guess it's a trade off between speed, steps and time