Hi all and have patience with a newcomer.

I'm visiting London in a month -- for the first time -- and staying with a
friend who lives in Greenwich. Pondering the tube map from Heathrow, it appears
to be something like a 2-hour ride from the airport, to Green Park, to the
Jubilee line to South Greenwich. But then, I have no benchmark to judge how
long a ride it really is. Can anyone provide an estimate?

Being conditioned by New York subway maps, I have to admit the London schematic
map drives me nuts. I can't get a true sense of direction of how close a
station is to a landmark. Which leads to my next question ... do any geographic
maps of the tube exist? Where are they?

Well, it should be an eye-opener riding the London tube for the first time
after 3 years of living with New York subways. Anyone with experience commuting
on both transit systems who can venture opinions about the differences between
the two cities?

I've probably bothered you enough, but I welcome your opinions.

J

In message , Knotso
writes

I'm visiting London in a month -- for the first time -- and staying with a
friend who lives in Greenwich. Pondering the tube map from Heathrow, it appears
to be something like a 2-hour ride from the airport, to Green Park, to the
Jubilee line to South Greenwich. But then, I have no benchmark to judge how
long a ride it really is. Can anyone provide an estimate?

45 minutes from Heathrow to Green Park
10 minutes for interchange (see below)
20 minutes from Green Park to North Greenwich
--
75 minutes total

The Transport for London Journey planner gives timings:
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/index.htm
But beware that it can give some rather odd routes - you are better
asking here for details!

I seem to remember that the interchange at Green Park involves quite a
long underground walk - if you have heavy luggage it may be better to
change from Piccadilly to District at Hammersmith (simple cross-platform
interchange) and then pick-up the Jubilee line at Westminster (where
there are lifts and escalators).

However, note that the Jubilee doesn't go to "South Greenwich" - was
that a typo, or can you be more specific in where you want to end up?
There may be better alternatives, such as taking the mainline railway
out to Greenwich from central London (SE London is well served by
numerous commuter lines, and a branch of the Docklands Light Railway,
but is poorly served by the underground system.)

Being conditioned by New York subway maps, I have to admit the London schematic
map drives me nuts. I can't get a true sense of direction of how close a
station is to a landmark. Which leads to my next question ... do any geographic
maps of the tube exist? Where are they?

Not easy to find on the WWW, but there is a quite good one at the end of
the following PDF document (820K):

http://www.londontransport.co.uk/tfl.../marketone.pdf

If you take a look at this you will see how the Jubilee line runs well
north of the main part of Greenwich - although North Greenwich station
may well be a good option if you are going to be picked-up by car.

--
Paul Terry

Being conditioned by New York subway maps, I have to admit the London
schematic
map drives me nuts. I can't get a true sense of direction of how close a
station is to a landmark. Which leads to my next question ... do any
geographic
maps of the tube exist? Where are they?

There are some around but I can't say I've ever felt a need for them as the
stations are marked on street and bus maps and sooner or later one of those
will be required unless you are being met, in which case it isn't a problem.

The Jubilee Line goes to North Greenwich which is slightly off the beaten
track a bit. Unless that is where your friend has suggested you go to I
would suggest you ask him/her which station is the most convenient.
'Maritime Greenwich' is served by Greenwich station which is on the DLR and
also an overground line and the latter are often more convenient.

It might, for example, be more convenient to change from the Piccadilly to
the District Line at Hammersmith or Barons Court (you just walk across an
island platform there which is handy with heavy luggage) and then go to
Cannon Street for a direct train to Greenwich.

G.

Knotso wrote:
Hi all and have patience with a newcomer.

I'm visiting London in a month -- for the first time -- and
staying with a friend who lives in Greenwich. Pondering the
tube map from Heathrow, it appears to be something like a
2-hour ride from the airport, to Green Park, to the Jubilee
line to South Greenwich. But then, I have no benchmark to
judge how long a ride it really is. Can anyone provide an
estimate?

Allowing two minutes per station gives a reasonably accurate journey time.

(Knotso) wrote in message ...
I'm visiting London in a month -- for the first time -- and staying with a
friend who lives in Greenwich. Pondering the tube map from Heathrow, it appears
to be something like a 2-hour ride from the airport, to Green Park, to the
Jubilee line to South Greenwich. But then, I have no benchmark to judge how
long a ride it really is. Can anyone provide an estimate?

From the airport to Green Park is about 1 hour , maybe a bit longer. Then from
Green Park to Greenwich is about 15 - 20 minutes depending on the time of
day. This is of curse assuming there isn't the usual balls up on either line.

Well, it should be an eye-opener riding the London tube for the first time
after 3 years of living with New York subways. Anyone with experience commuting
on both transit systems who can venture opinions about the differences between
the two cities?

The MTA in new york can actually manage to run a reasonable service. LU can't.
In london there are forever delays , trains being reversed before they've
got to their destination because the train (ie driver) is running late (wants
to get home for tea), stations being closed because of some lift or escalator
not working, incorrect train arrival indicators and so on. Don't ever rely on
the tube to get you to your destination on time and this especially applies
when you're going to the airport on it.
Sorry , if this sounds negative but I'm a londoner and I've ridden on many
metro systems (including the NYC subway many times) around the world and IMO
the tube is one of the worst run and managed I've ever come across plus its
the most expensive.

B2003

(Knotso) wrote in message ...
Hi all and have patience with a newcomer.

I'm visiting London in a month -- for the first time -- and staying with a
friend who lives in Greenwich. Pondering the tube map from Heathrow, it appears
to be something like a 2-hour ride from the airport, to Green Park, to the
Jubilee line to South Greenwich. But then, I have no benchmark to judge how
long a ride it really is. Can anyone provide an estimate?

Being conditioned by New York subway maps, I have to admit the London schematic
map drives me nuts. I can't get a true sense of direction of how close a
station is to a landmark. Which leads to my next question ... do any geographic
maps of the tube exist? Where are they?

Well, it should be an eye-opener riding the London tube for the first time
after 3 years of living with New York subways. Anyone with experience commuting
on both transit systems who can venture opinions about the differences between
the two cities?

I've probably bothered you enough, but I welcome your opinions.

J


Look at www.thetube.com and click on routefinder. It gives a rough
idea of journey times.
Regarding geographic tube maps, the best modern map of the central
area is at wwww.fourthway.co.uk - click on 'The Real Underground', and
have a look through the options in the popup window.

HTH

In message , Knotso
writes
who lives in Greenwich. Pondering the tube map from Heathrow, it appears
to be something like a 2-hour ride from the airport, to Green Park, to the
Jubilee line to South Greenwich.

It's "North Greenwich", which is nowhere near what the locals would call
Greenwich. The actual centre of Greenwich is between the Cutty Sark and
Greenwich DLR stations. But don't try changing from the Jubilee to DLR
at Canary Wharf because it's a long way to walk. It would be much better
to get an overground train to Greenwich (probably from Charing Cross,
walk from Embankment tube, having changed at Hammersmith).
--
Roland Perry

In
Roland Perry wrote:

It's "North Greenwich", which is nowhere near what the locals would call
Greenwich. The actual centre of Greenwich is between the Cutty Sark and
Greenwich DLR stations. But don't try changing from the Jubilee to DLR
at Canary Wharf because it's a long way to walk. It would be much better
to get an overground train to Greenwich (probably from Charing Cross,
walk from Embankment tube, having changed at Hammersmith).

Yeah, I was thinking the overground train would be better since it
brings you quickly to Greenwich (town), and also Maze Hill. Though
I think most of them leave from Cannon Street, through London Bridge.
So that would be the District Line from Hammersmith to Cannon Street.
If you go to London Bridge then you're probably taking the Jubilee Line
anyway, so you might as well stay on and take a 188 bus from
North Greenwich.

I expect the overground trains aren't as tourist friendly as the tube.

--
kedron

Thanks all for correcting me. It was in fact the North Greenwich station.

It's looking like the Heathrow-Hammersmith-Westminster-North Greenwich option
is the best, since I'd like to avoid those 5-minute trudges up massive
stairwells.

thanks!

J

In message , kedron
writes
I expect the overground trains aren't as tourist friendly as the tube.

The commuter trains (as they are) are equally tourist friendly.
--
Roland Perry