Bath Travel Forum

Hello, I need to get from Bath to Heathrow by 1:00 PM on a Wednesday in September. I checked the Brit Rail site, and it says I can take a train leaving Bath around 11 AM, and can arrive at Heathrow by about 1 PM. However, the details state that the first part of the journey is by rail, but then we must take a bus from Reading to Heathrow.

Has anybody here ever done this? If so, is the transfer from train to bus fairly straightforward in Reading, and is the bus known to usually run on schedule? Otherwise, does anyone know of an easier way to get to Heathrow from central Bath (for four adults)?

Thanks!

There is a train from Bath to London Paddington every hour, from there you can take the Heathrow Express. Not the least expensive choice, but the easiest.
Have you checked National Express?They might have direct coaches.

There is a National Express coach leaving Bath at 10, arriving in Heathrow at 12:25.
http://www.nationalexpress.com/bp/b2.cfm?id=82866575

The bus from Reading to Heathrow is a perfectly normal and regular Railair service. It runs on schedule, and timings make allowance for known traffic conditions (ie the journey is timetabled for slightly longer at busy times). I have used it with no problems, and would most certainly use it in preference to going into London and then out again.

However, if the Bath train is delayed for any reason the coach will not wait (nor would any other coach/train link, so this applies however you travel). In that case you would simply get the next one.....they run about every 30 minutes, I think. The website for the coach is:
http://www.railair.com/
but your train ticket ensures your booking etc. You won't need to do anything else.

If you are worried about timings why not get a slightly earlier train from Bath?

O..........and the transfer is entirely straightforward. The bus stops immediately outside the station (there is a waiting lounge/toilet should you need it)and is well-signed from the platforms, less than 5 minutes walk from the furthest.

That's great--thanks for the info from both of you. I like the idea of the National Express coach straight from Bath to Heathrow just because of the simplicity, but the rail transfer seems easy enough, too. I've traveled by rail a lot in the UK, but for some reason I've never run into the need to do part of a journey by bus. I appreciate the info and advice!

Tara