Travelling to England, need help... (Updated 19.08.2006)

Yeah, Heathrow Express rail link from Paddington to Heathrow in just 15 minutes for £15. Twas my direct link last year cause I'm classy At least, it saves you from 45 mins trip from the city center to the airport by tube

Spotnick wrote: Ok, I'm booking this this week-end.

So far, here's my plan:

Departure from Montreal at 19:45 - October 22nd (so I'll be in London on the 23rd at 7:30)

Staying in London until the 29th

Train from London to Wolverhampton on the 29th (time to be decided)

Hotel Britannia in Wolverhampton (already booked) on the 29th

Train from Wolverhampton to London on the 30th (early in the morning)

Departure from London - October 30th at 14:00, back in Montreal at 16:25

Now, Expedia has a pretty good deal at 100$/night at the The Strand Palace in London, I didn't check much, but is that a shite hotel? 3 stars though, and is it in the middle of nowhere?

My biggest concern is the trip back home, from Wolverhampton to London by train then the Heathrow for the flight back home. I'm no expert, but that might be risky, I have no idea how much time it takes to go from the train station to the airport, and the security at the airport will still be crazy then... maybe I should play it safe and come back the next day? What do you people think?

And I guess I should buy concert tickets.. might be a good idea, would be stupid to bet on the guest list after buying plane tickets...

I've just spent a full week in London and stayed at The Strand Palace. I couldn't fault it at all, plus it's really central. It's a big hotel, but has character. Out of the places i've stopped in whilst in London, this is definitely my favourite.

I know that you've already booked your flight but I was in Manchester in May and I stayed in a hostel. It was the cleanest newest hostel we came across. I think they had recently renovated the place. Highly recomend...

http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/HiltonChambers-Manchester-14065

Vik D - Serotonin wrote: I know that you've already booked your flight but I was in Manchester in May and I stayed in a hostel. It was the cleanest newest hostel we came across. I think they had recently renovated the place. Highly recomend...

http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/HiltonChambers-Manchester-14065

Not a lot of point in staying in Manchester for London gigs though Vik, is there?

Spotnick, I also hope to get to Heathrow on Monday Oct 30 from Wolverhampton to catch my early afternoon flight to Vancouver. It might be a bit tight with the trains. Maybe those of us who have to get to Heathrow can hire a cab to take us, we can all split the fare. (We could negotiate a fare ahead of time with a cabbie). That would likely be faster than taking all those trains. Unless some friendly NOOLer wants to give us a lift to Heathrow Monday am... I would be willing to pay for a reliable quick ride.

Honestly don't know what you are flapping about. If you get the 8.02 or whatever it is from Wolverhampton on the Monday morning, you will be at Euston station in London at 10am. It takes twenty minutes on the tube to get to Paddington, then a further 20 minutes to get to Heathrow. Your flight is what, mid afternoon? You'll be at Heathrow by 11am if don't dawdle between connections.

Thanks for the advice, Old Monkey.

My flight is at 13:30, and I think they want you to check in 2 hours ahead these days for international flights. So it is a wee bit tight. i am a bit nervous about managing train to Euston, then tube to Paddington, then is it a bus to to Heathrow? All that in just a few hours in a foreign country! We North Americans aren't used to trains remember!

But you would recommend that over hiring a car to take us striaght from Wolves to Heathrow? There is also a National express bus that goes from Wolves to Heathrow.

cheers,

Rob

Hiring a cab from Wolverhampton to Heathrow will cost you well over £100, it is not worth it at all.

If your flight is 13.30 then you are going to struggle anyway to be honest unless you get the earliest train from Wolverhampton on the Monday morning. National Express Coach will take a long time to get there, you may as well leave straight after the gig rather than getting a hotel if you are going to use the coach to get to Heathrow from Wolverhampton.

It's no problem at all to get to Heathrow before noon if you get up early enough. No way will you find me getting on a 5am train though!

Spotnick wrote: Just scored 2 Wolves tickets off eBay, so that's a pain less.

Now all is left is train tickets.

What I need to know is if it's better to buy them in advance or not.

Definitely yes - tickets can be cheaper in advance, and some journeys you have to pay a higher fare still if you don't get an advance ticket.

Well, Spotty, if you are going for the 5 am train, I guess i will too! I also thought about renting a car, but i agree driving on the wrong side of the road in a foreign country is a bit intimidating. Unless some local wants to take the wheel for us.

Well Spotty, I am thinking the best option is just to hire a cab to take us from Wolves direct to Heathrow Monday am. Even if they charge $200, divided by 3 or 4 people would be worth avoiding the hassle and stress of trying to take a train, then a tube then a bus to get to Heathrow in time. I will have my sis with me, so we can split 3 ways, or even 4 if there is someone else who wants to join us. I think there is even a website where we can negotiate a set rate off-meter ahead of time if we want to.

Let me know what you think...

Robert Roy wrote: Well Spotty, I am thinking the best option is just to hire a cab to take us from Wolves direct to Heathrow Monday am. Even if they charge $200, divided by 3 or 4 people would be worth avoiding the hassle and stress of trying to take a train, then a tube then a bus to get to Heathrow in time. I will have my sis with me, so we can split 3 ways, or even 4 if there is someone else who wants to join us. I think there is even a website where we can negotiate a set rate off-meter ahead of time if we want to.

Let me know what you think...

I would suggest that $200 is a conservative amount, maybe add another $100 and you'll be nearer the mark - Wolverhampton is roughly 200-odd miles away from Heathrow...

If you are seriously looking at this you need to look at airport transfer specialists, a minibus to Heathrow would be £140 between eight

Heathrow £115 car £125 estate £135 5/6 seater £140 minibus

http://www.centraltaxis.uk.com/content/airport.html

Google link for other firms http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2004-45,RNWE:en&q=airport+transfers+wolverhampton

James Thomas wrote: If you are seriously looking at this you need to look at airport transfer specialists, a minibus to Heathrow would be £140 between eight

Heathrow £115 car £125 estate £135 5/6 seater £140 minibus

http://www.centraltaxis.uk.com/content/airport.html

Google link for other firms http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2004-45,RNWE:en&q=airport+transfers+wolverhampton

Hey thanks for the info! That sounds pretty good to me.

All those wanting to share a car or mini-bus from Wolverhampton to Heathrow on Monday morning, Oct 30, say "Ayy"!!! The more people, the cheaper it will be. If Spotty is in with me, that would be 3 already.

Ok, I am in on the central taxis of Wolverhampton, sounds like the easiest safest way to get to Heathrow on-time on Monday am. Anyone who wants to share the ride with myself and my guest, let me know, I will charge you a small nominal fee of $40 Canadian or 20 GBP.