[FamilyVacation]

Is there a practical route from Greenwich or Lewisham to Heathrow that uses only National Rail (not the Underground)?

[RJ]

Originally Posted by FamilyVacation

Is there a practical route from Greenwich or Lewisham to Heathrow that uses only National Rail (not the Underground)?

Hi,

I can only suggest you take the bus 436 direct from Lewisham to Paddington, where you have a choice of taking the Heathrow Express, or slower but cheaper Heathrow Connect National Rail services.

The 436 is a slow bus and feels a bit on the squalid side at the best of times, but it will get you there.

[Ivo]

If you wish to avoid the Underground, you alternatively could try the following:

Lewisham or Greenwich to London Waterloo East (changing at London Bridge if necessary)
London Waterloo to Feltham
285 or 490 bus to Heathrow Airport

Far cheaper than Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect, and reduces the time spent on a bus.

But, to answer your question, unless you fancy a long walk, the answer is no. Sorry.

[island]

No practical one that I'm aware of; to do it all on NR would be via Waterloo East, Staines, Reading, and Hayes & Harlington and take most of the day!

[Slough]

New cross gate to Richmond on London overground , 490 bus from Richmond to heathrow

Or
New cross gate to west Croydon London overground , x26 bus to heathrow air port

[34D]

Originally Posted by FamilyVacation

Is there a practical route from Greenwich or Lewisham to Heathrow that uses only National Rail (not the Underground)?

Which aspect of the underground are you trying to avoid?

-is it the claustrophobia of being in a small train in a hole in the ground?

-do you need level access for wheelchairs or prams?

-do you want to avoid something that will be rammed with people?

[hairyhandedfool]

Not strictly NR only (it does involve walking), but from Lewisham go to New Cross, up the East London Line to Highbury and Islington (or Canonbury), head west on the North London Line to Acton Central, walk to Acton Mainline and then head to Heathrow via Hayes and Harlington. However, I think the walk is of a fair distance and the journey is probably not doable on one ticket.

[Indigo2]

I too would recommend via Waterloo East/Waterloo to Feltham and then bus from there (285 to terminals 1/2/3, 490 to terminals 4/5). I have done this journey (from Hither Green to Heathrow) in the evening peak and found it very satisfactory, although the train from Waterloo to Feltham was pretty packed.

[Deerfold]

Originally Posted by FamilyVacation

Is there a practical route from Greenwich or Lewisham to Heathrow that uses only National Rail (not the Underground)?

To be pedantic no, as the line stops being National Rail a little after Hayes & Harlington...

[island]

Originally Posted by 34D

Which aspect of the underground are you trying to avoid?

-is it the claustrophobia of being in a small train in a hole in the ground?

-do you need level access for wheelchairs or prams?

-do you want to avoid something that will be rammed with people?

An answer to this might better shape the potential replies we can give. Paging FamilyVacation!

[phil35]

Slightly off topic I guess, but I need to get back from Heathrow to Kings Cross in a couple of months. Am I right in thinking these are the options I have?

- Underground all the way (cheapest, but slowest)
- Heathrow Connect to Paddington then Underground from Paddington to KX (medium cost, medium speed)
- Heathrow Express to Paddington then Underground from Paddington to KX (most expensive, quickest)

I've took the tube the last time I had to do this, and I didn't really mind the longer journey time. There's no reason for me to take either of the Heathrow Express / Connect services is there?

[Deerfold]

Originally Posted by phil35

Slightly off topic I guess, but I need to get back from Heathrow to Kings Cross in a couple of months. Am I right in thinking these are the options I have?

- Underground all the way (cheapest, but slowest)
- Heathrow Connect to Paddington then Underground from Paddington to KX (medium cost, medium speed)
- Heathrow Express to Paddington then Underground from Paddington to KX (most expensive, quickest)

I've took the tube the last time I had to do this, and I didn't really mind the longer journey time. There's no reason for me to take either of the Heathrow Express / Connect services is there?

There's not a huge difference in the journey times of the Piccadlly line and Heathrow Connect if you're heading for Kings X assuming no problems on the tube.

Another option (though not particularly useful for this journey) is NX Coach Heathrow-Victoria Coach Station, walk to Victoria, Victoria Line to KX. Coaches are typically every half hour.

[DVD]

I don't go to Heathrow very often but always use Heathrow Express. Yes it costs a small fortune - but I get a third off with my Gold Card - and the trains are ever so comfortable. The last time I did the trip (also from SE London) I got a black cab from Charing X to Paddington, hate lugging heavy luggage on buses or trains.

[bicbasher]

Originally Posted by Slough

New cross gate to Richmond on London overground , 490 bus from Richmond to heathrow

This would require a change at Clapham Junction on a direct Southern service (Mon-Sat only) or on London Overground at Crystal Palace, then a Southern to CJ before changing for a SWT service.

[FamilyVacation]

Originally Posted by island

An answer to this might better shape the potential replies we can give. Paging FamilyVacation!

Sorry for the delay in responding. We will have a lot of luggage, so I'd like to avoid stairs and long walks. This will be on a Sunday morning, so hopefully nothing will be too crowded. Sure, it would be nice to be aboveground, but not if it adds hours to the trip. I have a decent Underground routing (DLR and Circle to Paddington), but there are trains through Lewisham and I thought maybe there would be a train connection to Paddington where we could pick up Heathrow Connect or Express.