Handy Information on how to get to London from afar

Disclaimer: This page is primarily targeted at those flying in....

Feel free to let us know when you are arriving. If many are arriving at once, we could arrange some group transportation...

Ok, I'm flying into Heathrow/Gatwick; now what?

Heathrow

There are 5 main ways to get into Central London from Heathrow:

Heathrow Express The Underground London Cab BusPicked up by car/driver

• The Heathrow Express: This is a direct train from Heathrow Airport to Paddington station. It takes 15 minutes and costs £25 for a round trip ticket. This is worthwhile for getting most places in Central London quickly. There are signs in every terminal directing you to the train and there are ticket machines. You can also buy a ticket on the train but it costs £2 more.
  If you are staying at the "official" hotel, the trip will require 2 changes:
1. Take the Heathrow Express to Paddington
2. Take the Bakerloo Line Southbound from Paddington to Oxford Circus
3. Take the Central Line Eastbound from Oxford Circus to St. Pauls

• The Underground: Take the Piccadilly Line all the way in! This is the cheapest way to get in to Central London and doesn't take much longer than any other route. Follow the signs to the Underground and buy and zone 1-6 single (£3.70). If you buy your ticket after 9:30am or on a weekend, and you plan to do more travel that day, buy a one day zone 1-6 travelcard instead.
  If you are staying at the "official" hotel, the trip will require 1 change:
1. Take the Piccadilly Line to Holborn
2. Take the Central Line Eastbound from Holborn to St. Pauls

• London Cab: Probably the most expensive way of getting to Central London. There are taxi ranks outside of the terminals. This will cost you about £40.
• Bus: The A2 Airbus operates from all terminals at Heathrow into Central London. There are two buses an hour and goes to Kings Cross via Holland Park, Notting Hill, Queensway, Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Baker Street, Great Portland Street, Euston and Russell Square from outside all Heathrow terminals. Prices: single £8, return £12
  If you are staying at the "official" hotel, you will want to get off at any station on the Central Line (Holland Park, Notting Hill, Queensway, Lancaster Gate or Marble Arch). It will then be a straight journey Eastbound to St. Pauls.
• Picked up by car/driver: You can have a driver meet you at the airport and take you into London for about £30 or £40. London Airport Minicabs quote doing this for £34. If you do not arrange this in advance, you can still call a mini-cab company once you arrive. Phone numbers are available from Heathrow Information booths.

Gatwick

Gatwick is the "other" international airport that serves London. It is significantly further away than Heathrow, but the airfares are often cheaper because of it. A number of the cheaper US airlines fly into Gatwick.

There are 3 main ways to get into Central London from Gatwick:

Gatwick Express Thameslink Picked up by car/driver

• The Gatwick Express: This is a direct train from Gatwick Airport to Victoria station. It takes 30 minutes and leaves every 15 minutes during the day and every half hour before 7am and after 8pm.Tickets are £21.50 per-person for a round trip, but have special rates for groups of 4.
  If you are staying at the "official" hotel, the trip will require 2 changes. this will take approximate another 20 minutes:
1. Take the Gatwick Express to Victoria
2. Take the Victoria Line Northbound from Victoria to Oxford Circus
3. Take the Central Line Eastbound from Oxford Circus to St. Pauls
• Thameslink: The Thameslink leaves from Gatwick Airport South Terminal. While this is not a non-stop train, it stops much closer to the hotel than the Gatwick Express. Schedules vary with up to 4 trains per hour, costing £9.80 for a one-way ticket. Again, there are special rates for groups of 4, with a group return for 4 costing £50 total.
  If you are staying at the "official" hotel, you're in luck, since you do not have to transfer at all. This will take approximately 40-50 minutes:
  1. Take the Gatwick Express to City Thameslink
  How to get to Stationers/Club Quarters
  
• Checker Cars: Gatwick uses the company Checker Cars as the official driven car hire service. You can reserve a car, or hire one on arrival from the booking office in the North Terminal arrivals area and the entrance to the South Terminal.