Any London blokes here??

Cajun

I am planning a trip to the UK in April; arriving at London Heathrow Airport and my final destination is Norwich Train Station (I'll meet friends there). (Fying to Norwich via Amsterdam is an additional £325). What is the best way to complete the final leg of this journey friom LHR Airport?
Is catching a train at Liverpool Street Station the best choice? If so, what is the best method of getting to LSStation from LHR Ariport? Taxi? Bus [UEA]? Is the Tube an option?
Does the bus run from LHR Airport to Norwich??
Thanks in advance.

Gavin Gilbert

I'm assuming you've discounted cycling

I'd take the Heathrow Connect or Heathrow Direct train from the airport directly to Paddington Station, and from there either the Hammersmith & City Line directly to Liverpool Street, or the Bakerloo line to Oxford Circus to change for the Central Line to Liverpool Street.

If you're travelling at weekends then beware that large sections of the network close for upgrading work - details can be found here:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2625.aspx

Taxis from Heathrow can be expensive, I would imagine a journey from the airport to Liverpool Street would cost in the region of $160.

el_presidente

You definitely want Liverpool Street for trains to Norwich.

The Heathrow Connect/Direct trains are expensive (abot £20 i think) but quick. If you are on a budget take the piccadilly line tube which is slower but much cheaper. there will be buses too but I have no idea of costs or frequencies. Definitely avoid a cab unless there are about 4 of you as it will probably be slowest and most expensive of the lot.

steve-m

el_presidente wrote:

You definitely want Liverpool Street for trains to Norwich.

The Heathrow Connect/Direct trains are expensive (abot £20 i think) but quick. If you are on a budget take the piccadilly line tube which is slower but much cheaper. there will be buses too but I have no idea of costs or frequencies. Definitely avoid a cab unless there are about 4 of you as it will probably be slowest and most expensive of the lot.

Heathrow Express is the expensive one, connect is cheaper, about £7 one way.

---CameraLucida---

I'd get the piccadilly line from heathrow then change at barons court to the district. Get off at Aldgate and then 5 mins walk to Liverpool street.

The reason I change at barons court is because the trains are on the same platform just opposite sides so no carrying bags up and down around the tube station. The district line normally has more space for luggage as well.

lost_in_thought

Heathrow express is £17 one way, 15 mins to Paddington, Heathrow Connect is about £12, 40 mins to Paddington, then as others say Hammersmith and City or Circle line to Liverpool street.

If you're feeling thrifty, the tube is the cheapest way by far - £4.00 for a single from LHR to Liverpool street, piccadilly line to Holborn then Central line to Liverpool Street, but a lot slower than the options above - it'll take about 1hr 15.

You'd be very well advised to buy your ticket from Liverpool Street to Norwich well in advance, they can be up to £40 bought on the day, this is the link:

http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/

Do NOT get a taxi. It will cost you in the region of £80 at the least, and take ages.

A bus will be very slow, and I don't know of one that goes from London to Norwich without a tiresome series of changes and a lot of waiting.

owenlars

In case you are confused, you do need to get to Liverpool Street. Use the Underground from Heathrow by whatever route appeals to you on the map it will cost you £4 and take about an hour. Liverpool Street to Norwich is about 2 hours and will cost you about £40 you can get details and even book tickets in advance (cheaper)which you can pick up from machines at the station here. http://www.thetrainline.com

owenlars

LIT

Looks like exactrly the same thought slightly different approach, trip should work just as well

Owen

roger_merriman

I know this is a bike forum, but other posibilty is to hire a car does depend on the time though M25 is horrible traffic but out of time a car should be quick though it's mostly a non motorway journey. Train/tube is almost allways quicker. Still be slow.

snakehips

Being a simple soul I would just get the tube from Heathrow to Holborn where the Picadilly meets the Central Line , and get on that.
Booking the ticket to Norwich early could indeed save a bundle. Last year we only paid £6 from Ipswich to Liverpool St for our Dunwich return. Full fare was about £30



Snakehips Bikes

rupertm1

Another ticket site worth a look at is http://www.raileasy.co.uk/ I got some £6 tickets on here too..for both Norwich and Darsham (Dunwich, for the return leg of the Dunwich Dynamo) Singles are normally cheaper.

You will want to get a Bus or Taxi from Norwich train station to the UEA as the main campus is out of the centre of Norwich ( A fine City)..Bus number 25 from the station to the UEA..

http://www.uea.ac.uk/services/students/International/handbook0809/prearrival/gettingtonorwich

Anyone up for the Dunwich Dynamo this year??

artaxerxes

Being a simple soul I would just get the tube from Heathrow to Holborn where the Picadilly meets the Central Line , and get on that.
Booking the ticket to Norwich early could indeed save a bundle. Last year we only paid £6 from Ipswich to Liverpool St for our Dunwich return. Full fare was about £30

Agree with this suggestion, problem with the Heathrow Express is that it stops at Paddington which is on the wrong side of London for you (Paddington is West Central, Liverpool Street is East Central). The good thing about the Central Line is that it takes you all the way to Liverpool St without having to walk around the streets with luggage. Also
if you are arriving on a week day, if possible try to travel after the morning rush hour (after 9:30 am).

Dudu

Cajun wrote:

I am planning a trip to the UK in April; arriving at London Heathrow Airport and my final destination is Norwich Train Station (I'll meet friends there). (Fying to Norwich via Amsterdam is an additional £325). What is the best way to complete the final leg of this journey friom LHR Airport?
Is catching a train at Liverpool Street Station the best choice? If so, what is the best method of getting to LSStation from LHR Ariport? Taxi? Bus [UEA]? Is the Tube an option?
Does the bus run from LHR Airport to Norwich??
Thanks in advance.

The best rail route would be:
Heathrow-Paddington - Heathrow Connect
Paddington-Liverpool St - Underground (Hammersmith & City (pink on the map) line)
Liverpool St - Norwich - National Express East Anglia

All these carry bikes outside the rush hour.

Buy National Express tickets in advance online if you can (http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/).

If you're going to UEA, there'll be a bus from Norwich City centre (it used to be route 510, but that was about n years ago when I was a student there). It's a short trip (about three miles) slightly uphill, if you're bringing a bike. I think there are shuttle buses from the station to the city centre, otherwise it's another short (about a mile) slightly uphill trip.

mattybain

Cajun wrote:

I am planning a trip to the UK in April; arriving at London Heathrow Airport and my final destination is Norwich Train Station (I'll meet friends there). (Fying to Norwich via Amsterdam is an additional £325). What is the best way to complete the final leg of this journey friom LHR Airport?
Is catching a train at Liverpool Street Station the best choice? If so, what is the best method of getting to LSStation from LHR Ariport? Taxi? Bus [UEA]? Is the Tube an option?
Does the bus run from LHR Airport to Norwich??
Thanks in advance.

Yes there is a bus direct from Heathrow to Norwich takes about 3hr 50, not sure how that compares to the train but at least you don't have to change.

You can check out the timetable on http://www.nationalexpress.com

Cajun

From what I gather, Paddington Station is West of Heathrow Airport and I need to go East and since I'll be dragging luggage and possibly be with 1 crutch (I just had Meniscus cleaned out) so I'd like to keep my ride-changes & walking distance to a minimum....

Remember, I won't have a clue as to where I'm at; only know where I WANT to get to...and don't want to wind up IN Liverpool, :evil: just Liverpool Street Station 8)

Best advice?? (from Dudu)
The best rail route would be:
Heathrow-Paddington (via Heathrow Connect ) This is a train, not a bus?

Paddington-Liverpool St - Underground (Hammersmith & City (pink on the map) line) 'Tube'??

Liverpool St - Norwich - National Express East Anglia

Thanks again..

mattybain

Cajun wrote:

so I'd like to keep my ride-changes & walking distance to a minimum....

Thanks again..

Honestly depending on what time you arrive I think the Coach (bus) will be best for you, it's direct and you don't have any stress about changing or ending up in Liverpool!! you just get on it and get off when you get to Norwich

lost_in_thought

Cajun wrote:

From what I gather, Paddington Station is West of Heathrow Airport and I need to go East and since I'll be dragging luggage and possibly be with 1 crutch (I just had Meniscus cleaned out) so I'd like to keep my ride-changes & walking distance to a minimum....

Actually, Paddington is north-east of Heathrow.

For you on crutches struggling with a bag, it's much harder. What's your budget for this section of the trip? Which terminal are you flying into at Heathrow? Having done a fair bit of travel on crutches myself over the past 3 months this is important info!!

The bus sounds utterly tortuous, but will probably involve the least walking.

BTW, the Heathrow Connect is the stopping train from Heathrow to Paddington, the Heathrow Express is the fast train.

MichaelW

Its much easier and cheaper by coach direct from Heathrow Airport to Norwich coach station. National Express run the service but I dont know what number it is.
You can buy tickets at the airport.

You can take bikes suitable boxed-sometimes but I once had my bike rejected because other peoples many suitcases have priority over bikes. Grrr. I had to pedal down to the railway station and take the National Express train instead. Cant even use a competing company.

el_presidente

I once saw an American lady having a huge row with a tube ticket seller - she kept askign for tickets to Liverpool, the tube guy said well I can sell you one but it will cost you £50, are you sure you don't mean Liverpool Street?

the American insisted a) she wanted Liverpool and b) it was nowhere near £50. She was screaming and shouting. To the tube guy's credit he kept his cool and she eventually agreed that yes she did mean Liverpool Street!

TopSpin

check out this website

http://www.transportdirect.info/web2/

It's a route planner for the UK. I reckon the bus from the airport to Norwich is the best if you're on crutches. Seems you'd want the least changes.

Dudu

Cajun wrote:

The best rail route would be:
Heathrow-Paddington (via Heathrow Connect ) This is a train, not a bus?

It's a train. This one is far cheaper and only a little slower than the Heathrow Express.

Paddington-Liverpool St - Underground (Hammersmith & City (pink on the map) line) 'Tube'??

It's a sub-surface line (mostly) i.e the trains are as big as overground trains (actually, slightly bigger) and take bikes outside the rush hour (free). <nerd>This line was built by Mr Pullman, who invented the Pullman car</nerd>

Liverpool St - Norwich - National Express East Anglia

Thanks again..

I never catch a long-distance bus if I can avoid it. They're uncomfortable for anyone taller than 5ft, get stuck in traffic and make me throw up.

NB Heathrow is about 15 miles to the West of London. Paddington is on the western side of central London.

Cajun

It looks like I have two more changes after leaving Liverpool Street Station:
Is this right???????????
Outward journey: Tuesday 14 April 2009 Station Arr Dep Travel by Service Provider
LONDON LIVERPOOL STREET 15:12 Tube
LONDON EUSTON 15:40 15:40 Train VIRGIN TRAINS
STOCKPORT 17:36 17:58 Train NORTHERN RAIL
NORTHWICH 18:40

mattybain

Cajun wrote:

It looks like I have two more changes after leaving Liverpool Street Station:
Is this right???????????
Outward journey: Tuesday 14 April 2009 Station Arr Dep Travel by Service Provider
LONDON LIVERPOOL STREET 15:12 Tube
LONDON EUSTON 15:40 15:40 Train VIRGIN TRAINS
STOCKPORT 17:36 17:58 Train NORTHERN RAIL
NORTHWICH 18:40

That is NORTHwich and not NORWICH, it's in completely the wrong part of the country (NW instead of E)

There are direct trains to Norwich.

I am assuming you orginally meant Norwich as you mentioned flying there. There is no airport in Northwich.

biondino

Cajun wrote:

It looks like I have two more changes after leaving Liverpool Street Station:
Is this right???????????
Outward journey: Tuesday 14 April 2009 Station Arr Dep Travel by Service Provider
LONDON LIVERPOOL STREET 15:12 Tube
LONDON EUSTON 15:40 15:40 Train VIRGIN TRAINS
STOCKPORT 17:36 17:58 Train NORTHERN RAIL
NORTHWICH 18:40

Only choose this option if you want an hilarious tale of travel woes with which to entertain people at parties, as opposed to wanting to get to Norwich.

artaxerxes

Only choose this option if you want an hilarious tale of travel woes with which to entertain people at parties, as opposed to wanting to get to Norwich.

Yes, I remember a few years ago a Japanese woman was found wondering the streets of Torquay at night in a confused state. The police picked her up and called the Japanese embassy, turns out she thought she could take a train from London to Turkey...

snakehips

A few years ago a continental lorry driver tapped Kingston in to his GPS and ended up in Kingston upon Hull (or Hull as it is more commonly known) instead of Kingston Surrey.

We all went short of Stollen and Bratwurst that Christmas !

MichaelW

If you have any doubt whether you should travel to Norwich or Northwich, may I suggest Norwich as the better alternative. It is, as the label says, a fine city.

Cajun

Everyone is right... my fingers and brain hadn't had their 2 cups of Green Tea....

Thanks to all once again. I have purchased my Heathrow Express ticket to Paddington Station and a ticket from Liverpool Street Station to Norwich Station (from Britrail; tickets are good for anytime for 6 months) should arrive by FedEx in a couple of days... Naturally, the flight prices have lowered and it seems that I could now have flown in to Norwich (via Amsterdam) for about the same price; but as they say; 'hind-sight is 20/20'.... the prices could have gone up too...

FYI: I am meeting my Son (45yo); we just found each other in August 2008... He visited me, his new brother and 3 sisters here in the US in October, 2008.. Really a great (soppy...is that the right 'English' term for tearful??) story for the ladies but a genuine happy story for all of us... He's not a biker; into Archery, Squash, Weight lifting and some pub-crawling, so I'll be getting reuinited with a good old Black 'n Tan and a game of 501 very soon... (Tell Phil Taylor to be on the lookout for me :shock: ... I'll have 'A bit of Power' tattooed on my forearm )

My sincere thanks to all who took time to reply....I know this is a biking forum, but I knew I'd find some great 'Brits' here with the right input...


I would like to add that I will be meeting with his Mum as well; she and I met in the Blue Room Pub (now the Compleat Angler) across from the Norwich Train Station....and our story should make a nice book but may only appeal to the 'soppy' types... 46yrs of 'miscommunication' could have changed 3 lives....

mattybain

MichaelW wrote:

If you have any doubt whether you should travel to Norwich or Northwich, may I suggest Norwich as the better alternative. It is, as the label says, a fine city.

Yep there is no doubt, having a sister in Norwich and living near Northwich you *definitely* want to go to Northwich.

I am not sure what Nortwhich's moto is but it sure aint a fine city!!

Feltup

Cajun: Soppy Yank ;-) Hope you have a great trip!

p.s. what part of the States are you from?

Cajun

Feltup wrote:

Cajun: Soppy Yank ;-) Hope you have a great trip!

p.s. what part of the States are you from?

Opelousas, Louisiana..(pronounced: Op - a - loo - sus).Ancestors were exiled from England to Nova Scotia; Maryland and then migrated to Louisiana) Before the exile, my Gt-Gt-Gt-Gt-Gt-Grandfather married a lady from La Rochelle, France......

Really looking forward to seeing the UK once again; I truly loved the UK for the 2.5yrs I was there...