Car service from Heathrow to Central London

July 19, 2008 10:23 AM

Heathrow to Central London. Which car service do you recommend?

I'm always exhausted after transatlantic flights. Sick of the tube and Heathrow Express. Want someone with a sign to be at the arrival gate and drive me to SW3. Recommendations for reliability/decent price much appreciated.

posted by meerkatty to Travel & Transportation around London, England (7 answers total)

Airport express are fine, though in my experience any cab firm is OK
posted by A189Nut at 11:52 AM on July 19, 2008

addison lee is always fairly reliable, but costly by comparison to most taxi firms
posted by ascullion at 1:19 PM on July 19, 2008

Best answer: I like Green Tomato Cars. They use Toyota Priuses (so you get a consistent and relatively new car), are pretty reasonably priced, and are reliable.

One issue with getting a car from Heathrow is the inevitable traffic jam on the A4 from Heathrow in to Central London...
posted by techrep at 3:59 PM on July 19, 2008

Whichever firm you get, you're looking at an average of £40 - 60 for that fare. Get a firm price when you book, and stick to that price.
posted by Happy Dave at 4:20 PM on July 19, 2008

I've done this a few times. At risk of derail, I'd just put forward the view that it's not worth it: Heathrow Express plus taxi from Paddington is cheaper, barely any more complex, more 'luxurious' than many minicab firms, and gets you to your bed, your shower, and your coffee machine much quicker.
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 10:28 AM on July 20, 2008

Response by poster: It's actually vastly complex if you now land at Terminal 4. The Heathrow Express doesn't go to Terminal 4 anymore. The train you must now take to connect to the Heathrow Express 1,2,3 stop has been so full both times I've had to make this transfer that I've waited up to an hour. Just to actually get to the Heathrow Express!

I ended up taking a taxi this morning due to running out of time to research/book a car yesterday. It cost £45 and after a long transatlantic flight, was well worth it.

Thanks for all your responses - I'll get my act together and look into your suggestions for the next time I have to fly transatlantic in a few weeks.
posted by meerkatty at 12:23 AM on July 21, 2008

Since you're going to do this again, let me put in a good word for the lovely woman, Bea, who drives my elderly relatives around London/locally and also comes to get us from the airport(s) when we (the expats) go back to visit -- I don't know if she'll want her info spread all over the internet (she limits her work as she is also the primary caregiver for her elderly mother), so mefi-mail me if you're interested. She is utterly reliable and her prices are in line with what has been quoted above, but perhaps you, like me, have a preference for recommendations for specific individuals?
posted by obliquicity at 5:47 PM on July 21, 2008