Fastest way into London from the West

[768]

I live in Worcestershire and have a meeting in Westminster tomorrow. FML.

Usual choice is to drive via the M40 to Uxbridge (~1hr45 says Google so probably less) and get the tube in from there (~50 minutes says TfL so probably more). Usually involving catching a tube in the wrong direction if I have to change. And I can't log in to the website to top up my Oyster card because public transport.

Trains in from this direction seem to be considerably longer, more expensive and generally uncomfortable, than driving.

Can I do better, can you park somewhere convenient to get straight on the Heathrow Express, or is it a case of parking away from a terminal and waiting for then catching a bus in? I know it's expensive, but if I can knock half an hour each way off the journey it'd be worth it to me.

Wembley Park underground seems a shorter ride in than Uxbridge, but only has 80 parking spaces so I'm guessing I won't get one arriving after 11am.

[tuffer]

Park at Heathrow T5 and catch Heathrow Express but that takes you to Paddington. Drive to Reading and catch a Train to Waterloo then walk across the bridge. Drive to Swindon and 1 hour to Paddington.

[mandos_01]

Is train the entire way out of the question? I don't know the transport links in Worcester well, but if you can get to Birmingham New Street easily enough its only an 1h 24 into Euston

If you're very rural, ignore this!

[tomtom]

Heathrow Express is bullst. If you just miss one, you wait 15 mins for the next one and you lose any time advantage over the tube.

I'd just jump on the Piccadilly line, change at South Ken, Circle or District to Westminster.

edit: Oh, you're not flying. Yeah, get a train to Waterloo instead.

[768]

tuffer said:

Park at Heathrow T5 and catch Heathrow Express but that takes you to Paddington. Drive to Reading and catch a Train to Waterloo then walk across the bridge. Drive to Swindon and 1 hour to Paddington.

Reading is a longer drive and then longer on a train than Uxbridge for me. Swindon looks close; 1hr10 drive, 1hr to Paddington and 12 min tube journey, if I timed arriving for a train at Swindon perfectly it would be a little better, if not then a little worse.

mandos_01 said:

Is train the entire way out of the question? I don't know the transport links in Worcester well, but if you can get to Birmingham New Street easily enough its only an 1h 24 into Euston

If you're very rural, ignore this!

I'm only 30 miles from there. About 1 hour drive or 2 hours by train.

[seiben]

If it helps you no longer need an oyster card. Just tap in and out of the tube using a contactless bank/credit card and you'll be charged automatically

[768]

seiben said:

If it helps you no longer need an oyster card. Just tap in and out of the tube using a contactless bank/credit card and you'll be charged automatically

Result. Thanks.

[tuffer]

Depends where you are in Worcestershirer but how about a train from Moreton in Marsh to Paddington, takes two hours.

[JB!]

M40, Bicester, Less than 1hr from either Bicester North or Bicester village into Marylebone, then tube or bus? There are a few good apps for London public transport mapping which show all options.

[Big Pants]

JB! said:

M40, Bicester, Less than 1hr from either Bicester North or Bicester village into Marylebone, then tube or bus? There are a few good apps for London public transport mapping which show all options.

This, in spades.

Once at Marylebone exit the station, turn left and walk the full 4 minute journey to Baker St (quicker than getting the tube, IMHO). From there it's Jubilee Line southbound to Westminster, no more than 20 mins tops.

If you can get to Birmingham Snow Hill or Moor St it's the same train, just a little longer. Bests driving back to Worcestershire from Bicester, though.

[miniman]

tuffer said:

Drive to Reading and catch a Train to Waterloo then walk across the bridge. Drive to Swindon and 1 hour to Paddington.

Reading to Waterloo is a horrible journey, stops every 3-4 minutes and takes 90+ minutes. Reading to Paddington is 30 minutes.

I would do it as mentioned Moreton in Marsh to Paddington, 1:40

[Steve Campbell]

Bicester definitely. If you want to drive further south, park at Beaconsfield or Gerrards Cross and get the same train in to Marylebone then switch to tube. Twice as quick as the tube lines from Uxbridge going in (~25 mins from GC to M)

FYI from your old route, Hillingdon tube is easier to get to than Uxbridge.

Edited by Steve Campbell on Tuesday 18th July 19:15

[Black can man]

768 said:

I live in Worcestershire and have a meeting in Westminster tomorrow. FML.

Usual choice is to drive via the M40 to Uxbridge (~1hr45 says Google so probably less) and get the tube in from there (~50 minutes says TfL so probably more). Usually involving catching a tube in the wrong direction if I have to change. And I can't log in to the website to top up my Oyster card because public transport.

Trains in from this direction seem to be considerably longer, more expensive and generally uncomfortable, than driving.

Can I do better, can you park somewhere convenient to get straight on the Heathrow Express, or is it a case of parking away from a terminal and waiting for then catching a bus in? I know it's expensive, but if I can knock half an hour each way off the journey it'd be worth it to me.

Wembley Park underground seems a shorter ride in than Uxbridge, but only has 80 parking spaces so I'm guessing I won't get one arriving after 11am.

Have you got a parachute ?

[768]

Black can man said:

Have you got a parachute ?

Why - I've got a double bed sheet and I've made my peace with not getting home tomorrow. If you can get me over central London I'm happy to chance it. How deep is the Thames?

I think I'll go with Hillingdon, if I can get a parking space I'll save a few minutes, if I can't I can fall back on Uxbridge.

[wobert]

M40 to Ruislip Manor, park in Ashburton Road (free and 5 mins from the tube station)

Metropolitan line into central London.

I do this every 3 months when my lad has to visit Moorfields Eye Hospital on City Road.

On a good day, less than an hour car to hospital.

[mybrainhurts]

[768]

Wikipedia said:

Trebuchets compete in one of the classifications of machines used to hurl pumpkins at the annual pumpkin chunking contest held in Sussex County, Delaware, U.S. The record-holder in that contest for trebuchets is the Yankee Siege II from New Hampshire, which at the 2013 WCPC Championship tossed a pumpkin 2835.8 ft (864.35 metres). The 51-foot-tall (16 m), 55,000-pound (25,000 kg) trebuchet flings the standard 8–10-pound (3.6–4.5 kg) pumpkins,[27] specified for all entries in the WCPC competition.

Lacks sufficient distance I fear.

[mybrainhurts]

768 said:

Wikipedia said:

Trebuchets compete in one of the classifications of machines used to hurl pumpkins at the annual pumpkin chunking contest held in Sussex County, Delaware, U.S. The record-holder in that contest for trebuchets is the Yankee Siege II from New Hampshire, which at the 2013 WCPC Championship tossed a pumpkin 2835.8 ft (864.35 metres). The 51-foot-tall (16 m), 55,000-pound (25,000 kg) trebuchet flings the standard 8–10-pound (3.6–4.5 kg) pumpkins,[27] specified for all entries in the WCPC competition.

Lacks sufficient distance I fear.

Patience, mon brave, I'm working on it...everything forward and trust in the lord.....

[51mes]

Steve Campbell said:

Bicester definitely. If you want to drive further south, park at Beaconsfield or Gerrards Cross and get the same train in to Marylebone then switch to tube. Twice as quick as the tube lines from Uxbridge going in (~25 mins from GC to M)

FYI from your old route, Hillingdon tube is easier to get to than Uxbridge.

Edited by Steve Campbell on Tuesday 18th July 19:15

I do the same from High Wycombe, has the advantage of being above the A404, straight into Marylebone, then a quick walk down Baker street to our office for me... I've even done this from Warwick Parkway and Solihull before - works well every time. All have plenty of Parking.

S.

[768]

The drive in was easy, took nearly 15 minutes off the ETA.

Hillingdon car park was full, with drivers just looping the car park glaring at new arrivals. No sign of a trebuchet either, must have just missed each other.

So back I went to Uxbridge. Where it didn't take my contactless credit card.

Hate this journey.