On Mar 16, 11:04*pm, Paul Corfield wrote:
On Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:34:21 +0000, Joe wrote:
Hi all,

Just trying to work out what the best way of doing Central London to
Heathrow Airport on Oyster PAYG is (without using Piccadilly line).

Unless you are a long way off the tube network then I'd use the tube.

I heard that there was a bus from Hayes/Harlington so might be worth
taking FGW or Heathrow Connect (interestingly their website says PAYG
not valid but the map seems to disagree) to there before changing.

I had reason to go to Hayes and Harlington last week and the train was
pretty quick. Shame the walk at Paddington to reach the damned platform
took almost as long as the train journey! *Seriously though Paddington
is a dreadful interchange unless you are very lucky with a H&C train and
the platform allocation for the FGW train. *The nightmare that is
Paddington station - stairs, overbridges, ramps etc and then queuing for
another ticket and then waiting for a train and then slogging to the
platform - is not worth contemplating. It's bad enough unencumbered but
with luggage there is no way I would use it to get to Heathrow.

The bus is the 140 which is a frequent route and runs 24 hours a day.
The stop is literally outside the front door of the station.

Any better ways?

Honest answer - if you can use the tube then do so. I use it from
Walthamstow changing at F Park and every journey I've made has been
flawless.

You can often catch up by one train changing at Finsbury Park and
Green Park, despite the long change, worth doing if the wrong terminal
comes along first.
How about Cockfosters - Finsbury Park - Oxford Circus - Ealing
Broadway for Heathrow Connect, then bus 140, or 350 if you're going to
Terminal 5 (not 24h)
IME Ealing - Oxford Circus is as fast or faster by the Central line.