Transportation in London

Because there were 4 of us, we used Uber to get from LHR to central London. It was £52 for the Uber XL ride on a Sunday mid-day in November 2019. To reach the Uber pick-up location at Terminal 5, exit the terminal and cross into the parking structure. Take the elevator to the 1st floor and immediately turn left to find Row R. Uber takes 40-60 minutes to get from LHR to central London. It all depends on the traffic. Check first before counting on using Uber. They may no longer operate in London.

Alternatively, you can take the Heathrow Express. It's £37 for a roundtrip ticket per person. It's a 15-minute ride to Paddington Station.

Once in Paddington, you'll need to use the Tube to get to your final destination.

Purchase an Oyster card--refundable deposit of £5 and load it with a minimum of £5. You get a discount off the cash price of a Tube ride. Each ride on the tube is £2.40 with the Oyster card and it tops off at £7 per day. Essentially, after 3 rides, all additional rides that day are free. The Oyster card can also be used on buses.

At the end of your trip, turn the card in to get your £5 deposit and up to £10 refund of any unused amount left on your card.

The London Tube is efficient, convenient and clean. You generally don't need to walk more than 10 minutes to reach a Tube station.

Some of the Tube stations are connected to Rail Stations and these are attractions of their own. Get out at the Paddington Station to see the canals.

There's a blue velvet Paddington Bear to greet you under the bridge.

Inside the station, you'll fid a Memorial to those who fought in WWI & WWII.

Under the big clock at Platform 1, you'll find a bronze statue of Paddington Bear.

He replaced the stuffed Paddington that used to sit in a glass case.

Nearby, you can sit on a bench with Paddington.

Visit the Paddington store to pick up an adorable stuffed Paddington Bear Christmas ornament--£7.99. Also, pick up a free Pawprint Trail map and follow Paddington Bear in the neighborhood surrounding Paddington Station.

Harry Potter fans will want to visit Kings Cross Railway Station. Near Platform 9, you'll find a Harry Potter shop and next to it is Platform 9 3/4, complete with a luggage trolley. The trolley is only displayed when the shop is open. There are props available. You can wear a scarf, wave a wand and get your picture taken.

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