London Travel Forum

Hi we are an Australian family of five looking for cheap accommodation near Heathrow airport on our last night after two months travel. We have a 9am flight to Australia and was initially thinking of staying at the St Pancreas Youth Hostel (have family rooms) after arriving from Paris on Eurostar. However I'm thinking that it may be a difficult task getting to Heathrow early to catch the 9am flight. We would probably need to be at the airport around 6am. My options are catching an early train to heathrow from St Pancreas if this is possible (with three tired kids in tow) or finding cheap (our budget will have certainly been blown by this stage) accommodation near the airport. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks Mike
(PS Have read the good advice detailed in Neweuropetraveler's posting below)

Heathrow is pretty well served by the tube and you can check your journey on the planner.

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

04:50 arr 5:41 would possibly suit you. You can get the Piccadilly line without having to change from Kings Cross / St Pancras Station.

Just remember to check your departure terminal as they are not that close to one another.

If you decide to stay at the airport there are numerous site offering choices such as

http://www.londontoolkit.com/lhr/holiday_inn_m4_lhr.htm

Cheap accommodation and airports don't really go together in the UK, I'm afraid. You'll need to book in advance anyway, so at least you will know it's going out of your budget.

Trains to Heathrow do not go from St Pancras. Both the Heathrow Express and the ordinary train ('Heathrow Connect) go from Paddington. You can also go by Tube all the way, which is cheapest (takes around 45 minutes).

I think you are right about staying nearer to Heathrow if you can. It won't be fun getting 3 kids up and out for 5am-ish.

http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/heathrow.htm will give you links to transport options, should you decide to stay in the city.

http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/heathrow_hotels.htm will give you a start on looking for somewhere to stay.

Just take an early Picadilly line tube train from Kings Cross/St Pancras to Heathrow.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1129.aspx

It is simple, easy and cheap.

G'day team, it never ceases to amaze me how good the advice is on this forum. Thanks heaps. I hope to buy you all a beer one day....sorry a pint...better get used to the lingo. Your advice and links have given me a lot to go on. Really appreciate it. Thanks. Mick