Heathrow T5 to Central London

[Foxy1980]

Hi all, I am after a bit of advise really, next month I am travelling back from T5 to Central London on a weekday evening approx 22-23:30, I am debating whether or not I should get the Underground (every 5-10 mins it seems to be) and it taking 45-50 minutes to Central London or take the Heathrow Connect which even though less frequent is another option to the often panned on this site Heathrow Express which is ridiculously priced for such a short journey...?
I have an Oyster Card, however from reading the sites I cannot use this from T5 so if I was using the Underground, I take it its just best to buy a single ticket to Zone 1 or should I decide to use the Connect service it seems I can use my Oyster from Hayes & Harlington, would there be enough time to jump out of the train and "touch in" at H&H and reboard the train to optimise my use of Oyster and just buy a ticket from T5 to H&H or is this too risky and I'm best to biet the bullet and just buy a single ticket for £9.50 from T5 to Paddington?
I'm not sure if anyone maybe does this route regularly or knows if the above suggestion is possible or they can advise my best source of action to take, but any advise welcomed...

Thanks in advance

 

[Mojo]

It depends where about in central London you are travelling to, and what is more important to you, time or speed.

If you are travelling on the Underground then of course you can use your Oyster card regardless of which station you are travelling from.

 

[yorkie]

Hi all, I am after a bit of advise really, next month I am travelling back from T5 to Central London

Where in Central London?

I am debating whether or not I should get the Underground (every 5-10 mins it seems to be) and it taking 45-50 minutes to Central London or take the Heathrow Connect which even though less frequent is another option to the often panned on this site Heathrow Express which is ridiculously priced for such a short journey...?

Only you can make that decision, but I would see Heathrow Express as a waste of money.

I have an Oyster Card, however from reading the sites I cannot use this from T5 so if I was using the Underground,

I don't know where you read that, but travel wholly within the airport area is free, e.g. T5 to T4, with no Oyster or ticket required, so maybe you read that and misunderstood.

You can, of course, use Oyster from T5 on LU, and it will be the usual fare for the relevant Zones (single fare finder) at the relevant time. In this case, £3.

I take it its just best to buy a single ticket to Zone 1 or should I decide to use the Connect service it seems I can use my Oyster from Hayes & Harlington, would there be enough time to jump out of the train and "touch in" at H&H and reboard the train to optimise my use of Oyster and just buy a ticket from T5 to H&H or is this too risky and I'm best to biet the bullet and just buy a single ticket for £9.50 from T5 to Paddington?

You could use a paper ticket from T5 to Hayes & Harlington and then use Oyster from there, however it is unlikely that you would be able to re-board the same train.

I'm not sure if anyone maybe does this route regularly or knows if the above suggestion is possible or they can advise my best source of action to take, but any advise welcomed...

Best is subjective.

For someone who is well-off and doesn't need to worry about money and has a hotel in Paddington, Heathrow Express is best.

For someone who has a limited supply of money and is going to a destination on the Piccadilly Line, then the journey time is insignificant and it's arguably more convenient to get a direct train anyway.

 

[Foxy1980]

Hi there, thanks for your reply. It would actually be St Pancakes I am looking to get in Central London, so the Piccadilly Line all the way should I choose this option. Looking at the timings of The Tube or train/tube options there doesn't look too much in it, so it was more price I was looking at and as I mentioned, the option of the Oyster from H&H being possible or not by using Heathrow Connect......
The pricing I have found is Oyster from T5 to St Pancakes is £3 single from the tfl site, offset this against either £9.50 for the whole route from T5 to Paddington or the split option of £5.60 T5 to H&H and £3 Oyster fare from H&H to St Pancakes

thanks

 

[island]

No contest really, the Picc is cheaper and far more convenient. It is difficult to impossible to use both a paper ticket and PAYG Oyster on HC without having to wait 30 minutes at Hayes & Harlington for the next service. If you buy a paper ticket from Heathrow to London Terminals you're then looking at another £2.10 to get from Paddington to St. Pancakes on the H&C.

 

[Foxy1980]

Many thanks to all, decision to made to use The Rude Tube,

 

[ModernRailways]

Just a suggestion, but what you could do is use Heathrow Connect to Hayes and Harlington then catch the next service (FGW) into Paddington using Oyster or a paper ticket.
Also, if you were to look at fares and it turns out to be cheaper to travel from Terminals 1,2,3 instead of from Terminal 5 just select T 1,2,3 as travel between Heathrow's terminals is free on Heathrow Express and Connect.
Although Heathrow Express is pricey it tends to be a lot nicer than the tube and offers a bit more luxury. Plus at the time you are travelling you may be better to take the train to Paddington, especially if your on your own.

 

[sheff1]

Although Heathrow Express is pricey it tends to be a lot nicer than the tube and offers a bit more luxury.

Hmm. I travelled on Heathrow Express once to see what it was like and was bombarded throughout the journey by irritating and loudly intrusive advertsing on the in coach monitors. The complete opposite of what I would class as luxury.

Ever since then I have used the tube ... at least there is a chance that the conversation of fellow travellers may be interesting.

 

[ainsworth74]

I travelled on Heathrow Express once to see what it was like and was bombarded throughout the journey by irritating and loudly intrusive advertsing on the in coach monitors.

There is a coach on each train where the monitors are muted (or at least very quiet) and on the odd occasion I've used HeX that's where I've sat and very pleasant it was to. Worth the extortionate fare in my opinion but I accept others won't agree.

 

[pethadine82]

another option is to take the 140 bus to hayes and Harlington and then any train to Padington

 

[thelongestroad]

I use the HEX but only because of the PRIV discount, and besides.. it's very convenient because I live at a destination served directly from PAD.

It's a premium service.. mainly attracting those on expenses I imagine! Or indeed those who just don't know any better. I digress anyway..

 

[jopsuk]

There is a coach on each train where the monitors are muted (or at least very quiet) and on the odd occasion I've used HeX that's where I've sat and very pleasant it was to. Worth the extortionate fare in my opinion but I accept others won't agree.

To get to Kings Cross St Pancras, using the Picadilly means avoiding the walk from the Express platforms up and over to the H&C platforms at Paddington

 

[ainsworth74]

To get to Kings Cross St Pancras, using the Picadilly means avoiding the walk from the Express platforms up and over to the H&C platforms at Paddington

It does but I don't mind the walk to the H&C platforms.

 

[Harlesden]

In response to ainsworth74, how can something be both "extortionate" and "worth it" at the same time? If it is extortionate, it is not worth it - and if it is worth it, it is not extortionate. I find the price of EC grub extortionate which is why I'm carrying my wine gums, Mars bars and Asda Jaffa cakes on my jaunt to Grimsby along with a bargain 4-pack of Tango.

 

[trek]

I'm in West London so I often use the connect, and I know people at Paddington who also use it because the Express is so expensive. We always have to try an time the walk so we don't have to wait long although after a flight running from security down to the train isn't exactly ideal One thing I noticed on Open train times is that some heathrow connect trains in the late evening are starting at Terminal 5 although that doesn't completely make up for the reduced (hourly) frequency) which might make it more inconvenient anyway.

During the day a FGW service tends to be a few minutes behind the Heathrow Connect in case you can't run off the train, touch in and back on again (possible if you get on the right door - there are no ticket barriers at Hayes and the entrance is opposite the train). Although you can't do this away from London as it would involve crossing the footbridge and back again, again the FGW service just before could help there.

Well all that was slightly off topic seeing as I would probably recommend getting the tube anyway since you're going direct and seem to have enough time. And as long as you don't put your bags in front of the door (I commute on the Piccadilly line and it is the worst part about it) I don't mind.

-- Edit: Changing to the H&C is all right as long as you don't have bags - I do it in about 1 minute if I really need to from the HC platform

 

[paddington]

I don't know where you read that, but travel wholly within the airport area is free, e.g. T5 to T4, with no Oyster or ticket required, so maybe you read that and misunderstood.

I believe you do need an Oyster to get free travel on the tube within Heathrow (but not to Hatton Cross)


The only time I would not take the tube to Heathrow is if I have a flight leaving at around 6-8pm, the entire population of Hounslow seems to be travelling home at that time.

 

[ModernRailways]

I believe you do need an Oyster to get free travel on the tube within Heathrow (but not to Hatton Cross)

No Oyster required, no paper ticket either, you don't need anything to be allowed travel. It's all completely free if you stay within the Airport terminals.

View this PDF, it also includes Heathrow Connect, but classes Heathrow Connect as Express. Link here if didn't work earlier: http://www.heathrowairport.com/static/Heathrow/Downloads/PDF/travel_around_Heathrow.pdf

 

[transportphoto]

No Oyster required, no paper ticket either, you don't need anything to be allowed travel. It's all completely free if you stay within the Airport terminals.

View this PDF, it also includes Heathrow Connect, but classes Heathrow Connect as Express. Link here if didn't work earlier: http://www.heathrowairport.com/static/Heathrow/Downloads/PDF/travel_around_Heathrow.pdf

This is incorrect. Oyster is required to travel on the tube between Heathrow stations (and Hatton Cross for transfer purposes only) for free.

No ticket is required on bus services within the Heathrow Free Travel area nor is it on HEX / HC. See the bottom of this page : http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/travel-between-terminals#table. The TFL Cash fare of £4.50 is payable if you wish to use the Underground between terminals, unless you hold an Oyster card.

TP

 

[Mojo]

This is incorrect. Oyster is required to travel on the tube between Heathrow stations (and Hatton Cross for transfer purposes only) for free.

No ticket is required on bus services within the Heathrow Free Travel area nor is it on HEX / HC. See the bottom of this page : http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/travel-between-terminals#table. The TFL Cash fare of £4.50 is payable if you wish to use the Underground between terminals, unless you hold an Oyster card.

TP

I can confirm Tp is correct. An Oyster card with the balance for the minimum fare from the station you touch in at is required for free travel on the Picc line west of Hatton + [but not to/from Hatton +].

 

[pinguini]

No Oyster required, no paper ticket either, you don't need anything to be allowed travel. It's all completely free if you stay within the Airport terminals.

View this PDF, it also includes Heathrow Connect, but classes Heathrow Connect as Express. Link here if didn't work earlier: http://www.heathrowairport.com/static/Heathrow/Downloads/PDF/travel_around_Heathrow.pdf

Yes you do because you still have to get through the ticket barriers

 

[cjohnson]

View this PDF, it also includes Heathrow Connect, but classes Heathrow Connect as Express. Link here if didn't work earlier: http://www.heathrowairport.com/static/Heathrow/Downloads/PDF/travel_around_Heathrow.pdf

The T4-T13 shuttle is technically Heathrow Express - operated by a 360 but has 2+2 seating and in the Express livery (aside from a few early morning Connect runs to/from Paddington).

 

[ModernRailways]

I've been allowed through the barriers with no ticket being shown or Oyster being touched in, I was also then let out. No questions asked.

 

[Mojo]

I've been allowed through the barriers with no ticket being shown or Oyster being touched in, I was also then let out. No questions asked.

On the Underground? You shouldn't do, as it is a compulsory ticket area and you may be liable for a Penalty Fare. The rules state free travel with Oyster only.

[I guess so as Heathrow Express/Connect doesn't have barriers]

 

[ModernRailways]

On the Underground? You shouldn't do, as it is a compulsory ticket area and you may be liable for a Penalty Fare. The rules state free travel with Oyster only.

[I guess so as Heathrow Express/Connect doesn't have barriers]

I thought that, but I asked at the barrier and they let me through.