February 23, 2024
Destination: London
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From London To… A US Traveller’s Guide to Getting Around England
Whether you’ve dreamt of seeing the landmarks of London, fantasized about the rolling hills of the English countryside or yearned for a greater understanding of British history and culture, the United Kingdom continues to hold an allure for those across the Atlantic.
For US travellers planning a trip to England, you’ll likely arrive at one of London’s two main airports, Heathrow or Gatwick. But then what? How do you navigate English trains and buses? What the heck is ‘the tube’?
This guide is intended to be the perfect travel companion and aims to help you from the comfort of your aeroplane seat through to your intended destination, wherever that may be.
Although England isn’t a large country, certainly in comparison, to the US, there are various ways to get around and it can quickly become confusing and stressful for those not in the know.
With decades of experience organising walking and cycling tours in all corners of England, we know everything about travelling From London To…
Chapter 1
6 essential things Americans need to know when planning to fly to London
Among the many important things to know about when visiting the UK, (including vital things like Visas and Passports) we think it’s sensible to consider the ins and outs of your first few hours in England.
Things like should you fly into Heathrow or Gatwick? What do your onward travel plans look like? Should you visit London too? Let’s delve into these.
30
The number of US airports with direct flights to Heathrow
85%
of US visitors fly into London Heathrow
52 °F
is the average temperature in London
67%
of US travellers visit London as part of their trip to England
1. Heathrow or Gatwick?
London Heathrow accounts for over 85% of US travellers arriving in Britain, but is it the best airport for US travellers to fly into?
Choosing between Gatwick (LGW) and Heathrow (LHR) airports can be a tough decision, especially for US travellers who are visiting the UK for the first time. Both airports are located near London city centre and offer a wide range of onward transport links to help you reach your final destination. However, several key differences between the two airports may help sway your mind.
US Airports & Airlines
One of the first things to consider when choosing between Gatwick and Heathrow is which airport and airlines operate at each airport.
At our last count, over 30 US airports were offering direct flights to London Heathrow – not a surprise seeing as Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe.
From San Francisco (SFO) on the West Coast, Denver (DEN) in Colorado and over to a string of airports on the East Coast, including Boston (BOS) and Orlando (MCO), there’s plenty of choice for US travellers looking to fly to Heathrow.
Gatwick meanwhile is only served from 9 US airports – including Las Vegas (LAS), Washington (IAD) and Miami (MIA).
If you’re a fan of one particular carrier and that takes precedence, when you’re planning a trip, we’ve listed out some popular major carriers that fly to Heathrow.
American: Los Angeles (LAX), Dallas (DFW), Chicago (ORD), Philadelphia (PHL) and New York (JFK)
Delta: Atlanta (ATL), Detroit (DTW), Boston (BOS) and New York (JFK)
United: San Francisco (SFO), Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), Washington DC (IAD) and Newark (EWR).
Location
Let’s be clear on this one, both Heathrow and Gatwick are located a good way outside of London’s city centre, although Heathrow can claim to be closer as the crow flies.
The distance between Heathrow and central London is around 15 miles, while the distance between Gatwick and central London is around 30 miles.
That being said, there’s not a great deal in it when you compare each of the airport’s quickest ways to get to central London. The Heathrow Express train service takes just 15 minutes to run from the airport to London Piccadilly – a central London station with access to both the tube and trains to other England towns and cities.
Meanwhile, the Gatwick Express service takes 30 minutes to reach London Victoria train station from the airport.
Onward Travel
Due to its connectivity, Heathrow probably just edges Gatwick thanks to the additional versatility offered by access to the London Underground or Tube network. There’s not one, but two London Underground lines that link with Heathrow.
The new Elizabeth Line is another excellent option for travellers looking for onward travel from Heathrow Airport. It’s a speedy, hygienic, and fully air-conditioned tube service that connects all Heathrow Airport terminals. It takes you to many central London tube stations, including Paddington, Bond Street, and Farringdon, as well as other stations along the line.
Alternatively, travellers leaving Heathrow can take the Piccadilly Line, which is another tube service that travels to and from Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3, 4, and 5. It takes approximately 50 minutes to reach Piccadilly Circus tube station in central London from Heathrow Airport.
When it comes to other onward transport links both Heathrow and Gatwick offer a wide range of options to help you reach your final destination. There’s a good selection of buses and coaches, private taxis and of course access to hire car firms.
Airport Facilities
Both Heathrow and Gatwick offer a range of facilities to help you pass the time while you wait for your flight. Heathrow is the largest of the two airports and offers a wide range of shops, restaurants, and other amenities. Several lounges are available to passengers, including those operated by airlines and independent operators.
Gatwick is smaller than Heathrow but still offers a range of shops, restaurants, and other amenities. Several lounges are available to passengers, including those operated by airlines and independent operators.
2. Red-eye? Time for some shut-eye
Although it varies from airline to airline, most transatlantic flights are overnight, meaning most arrivals from the US arrive in the morning, UK time. It can be a sensible idea to book some accommodation in London, or even near your arrival airport before continuing your onward journey the next day.
Even a kinder flight time across the Atlantic can leave you a little weary, so a couple of days in London will help you readjust to the new timezone before you embark on your onward journey.
3. London calling
According to data from Visit Britain, around 67% of US visitors to our shores include London as part of their trip.
From must-see, albeit busier attractions like The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace to those lesser well-known sites, there’s enough to see and do in London to last a lifetime.
As we’ve already alluded to, you could always visit London before the main part of your trip begins. Enjoy some downtime in your accommodation, and settle into the rhythm of being away from home before heading out to see the sites.
4. The weather can be bad, but it’s not always raining
Whether you’re planning a trip to Ecuador or England, it’s important to pack for the weather.
The weather in the United Kingdom is known for its unpredictable nature. Even in the summer, it is not uncommon to experience the odd cold spell or sudden rain shower.
There’s also a noticeable difference in weather patterns between the North and the South. Southern England, particularly the South-West, generally has milder weather compared to the rest of the country. London has an average temperature of 52 °F (11°C) whilst further North, Edinburgh, in Scotland has an average temperature of 48°F (9°C).
Whether you visit England in Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter, it’s always a good idea to take seasonality into account when coming to see us, much like you would back home.
The shoulder season of spring can quickly flip between the cold and dark of winter to the warmth and brightness of summer. Summer’s are generally warm but not too hot. In recent years there have been several heat waves.
For residents like us, Autumn is perhaps our favourite time of year – a perfect, seasonal mash-up that delivers stunning sunrises, enchanting smells and wonderful colours.
Moving through into winter. England can be afflicted by snowfall and ice in December, January, February and March, but these cold spells don’t tend to last longer than a week.
Ultimately, regardless of the time of year you visit, it is always recommended to pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, especially if you are planning to go hiking.
On a similar theme, it’s a good idea to bring a few jumpers. Depending on the season, gloves and a hat may be necessary, typically from November to March. In the summer, lighter clothing should be more than fine for most of the time.
And before we move on, let’s make one thing clear – it’s not always raining in England – it’s a British Weather Myth! London doesn’t even rank in the top 15 American cities with the highest levels of precipitation.
5. Research (and book) your onward travel plans from the airport before you arrive
Like any arrival in a foreign country, it’s easy to become bewildered when touching down in England. Reading the wiggly worm Tube map or pronouncing far-off place names like ‘Glou-chester’ (Gloucester), ‘War-chester’ (Worcester) or ‘Ma-rey-le-bone’ (Marylebone) – these are things that can easily start your trip off on the wrong foot.
Throw a different currency into the mix and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. For peace of mind, we’d recommend at the very least booking the outward leg of your onward travel before flying.
Of course, as part of your booking, onward transfers are sometimes included. Luxury London Tours, for example, tend to include private transfers directly from London Heathrow or London Gatwick airports to the centre of town.
6. Choo-Choo-Choose the train
Train travel within England is often the fastest and most reliable way to transfer from your arrival airport and onwards to your destination. It probably suits for the return leg too of course.
Bus or coach travel is also available, however, this generally takes longer and is less reliable than the train.
Private car transfers are also possible but these tend to be expensive and beset by traffic woes. After flying all this way, England’s motorways generally aren’t the place you want to spend the majority of your holiday time.
Chapter 2
Ways to travel around England
Trains, planes and automobiles. In chapter 2, Onward Travel, we look at the various methods of transport Americans can use once they’ve touched down in London.
2000+
Train stations in England, Scotland and Wales
12,000 miles
Total Distance of National Cycle Network Routes in the UK
25,796
Roundabouts in the UK
5 months
How far in advance some train tickets can be purchased
Go by Train
Discovering England by train is not only an eco-friendly way of travel but also a scenic and relaxing experience. With over 2,000 stations covering England, Scotland, and Wales, the rail network makes it easy and efficient to explore different parts of the country.
Travelling within regions and towns is also made easier with various options to plan your journey and buy tickets. You can purchase tickets from large travel agents, online ticket providers, and railway stations.
Buying your ticket in advance can save you money, and sometimes buying two separate singles can be cheaper than one return, so it’s always worth checking before booking.
As a general rule of thumb, travelling North to South is usually easier (and faster) than going East to West. Happily, for international visitors flying into London, the capital city has by far and away the greatest breadth and frequency of services.
In our experience, the best website for train travel is www.thetrainline.com where you can investigate timetables and book your tickets. Depending on the exact route you are booking for, tickets are released between 2 and 5 months in advance. The Train Line also has an accompanying smartphone app which enables travellers to store their tickets digitally – saving the need to carry around paper tickets that might easily get lost.
Another method of booking a rail journey is www.nationalrail.co.uk – it offers similar functionality to The Train Line, but will always route your booking through the train operator that is running your journey.
Additionally, tourists can opt for a BritRail pass, which offers unlimited journeys and various discounts, giving you the freedom to travel around at your own pace. Americans can purchase a BritRail pass from providers like ACPRail.
If you want to get canny, you can try using a favourite website of ours www.splitmyfare.co.uk to save money on your train fare. Input your journey start and end point and the website can figure out whether buying two tickets from A to B and B to C rather than one ticket from A to B is cheaper. Split My Fare claims this can save you up to 90% off the price of the original ticket, but in our experience, it’s generally a good deal less than that.
Go by Bus
Travelling by coach can be a cost-effective option for those on a budget, although it may take longer than travelling by train or car.
If you have a destination in mind, it’s recommended to plan and book your coach in advance with major operators such as National Express or Megabus.
Go by air
If time is of the essence, then travelling by air is a viable travel option as major cities and some towns have good airport connections. Domestic flights between major cities like London to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen take around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
However, it can be quite expensive and factor in getting to and from the airports can reduce your free holiday time.
Go by Car
Travelling by car does have its advantages and with a large variety of car hire firms available in England, inbound visitors to the country are spoilt for choice.
Additionally, the network of motorways around the country helps you get most of the driving done quickly. As far as extra motoring charges go 99% of roads in England don’t require a toll to drive on them.
When you’re driving around Britain, you have the freedom to discover its varied landscapes, cities, towns, and secluded coastal areas on your terms.
For US visitors there’s the inevitable alteration from driving on the right back in the States to driving on the left in England. Plus, wherever you intend to travel in England by car, you’re bound to come across a roundabout. There are over 25,000 in place to manage traffic at junctions, that’s three times as many as in the US, despite the UK being over 40 times smaller than America.
Walk or go by bike
Adventure or active travel is a fantastic way of seeing the world let alone England. Travelling by foot or pedal doesn’t just immerse you in the landscape of the country, and do wonders for your physical and mental health, but it’s also easily the most sustainable way of getting around.
Whether it’s choosing to hire a bike for a couple of hours or walking from your accommodation to places of interest, being active is good for you and the place you are visiting. Plus who wants to spend their precious vacation time cooped up in a car, stuck in traffic?
Like other countries England is grappling with severe underfunding of cycling-specific infrastructure, that said since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, great strides have been made in increasing the number of dedicated cycle lanes in towns and cities up and down the country.
There’s also the National Cycle Network or NCN, whose 12,000 miles of routes crisscross the country. These routes are generally well-signposted, have lower traffic volumes and have been designed to take into some of the best riding in the county. For anyone looking to undertake a cycling tour in England, try your best to seek these routes out.
Chapter 3
Onward travel
Whilst London’s appeal continues to endure it’s no surprise that visitors to England want to explore further afield than the capital city. But how do you make your way down to Cornwall or up to Scotland?
For each onward destination, we’ve highlighted some travel options that take you from Heathrow to the chosen region.
38
The number of trains per day between London and Moreton-in-Marsh
50 minutes
The average delay time when travelling by car between London and Cornwall
2 hours 39 minutes
Quickest train between London and the Lake District
8:40pm
The weekday departure time for the Caledonia Sleeper train from London to Inverness
London to the Cotswolds
Depending on how you get from London to the Cotswolds it takes roughly two hours to reach the land of honey-coloured stone and traditional English countryside views.
Taking the train is the best way to get to the Cotswolds, with the station at Moreton-in-Marsh our recommendation. With over 30 trains per day leaving London Paddington, starting just before 5 am, the frequency should fit in with your travel plans.
The Cotswolds is a great place to stay in and of itself. But nearby, you can explore the charming cities of Bath, Oxford, and Birmingham, along with the birthplace of Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon, to the north, the magnificent Blenheim Palace to the east, and the ancient wonder of Stonehenge to the south.
London to the Cotswolds
Option 1: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. London Paddington to Moreton in Marsh. Time: 2 hours
Option 2: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. London Paddington to Kemble. Time: 2 hours
Option 3: Elizabeth Line to Hayes & Harlington. Hayes & Harlington to Reading. Reading to Bath Spa. Time: 2 hours
London to Cornwall
Option 1: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. London Paddington to Penzance. Time: 5 hours
Option 2: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. London Paddington to St Erth. St Erth to St Ives. Time: 6 hours
Option 3: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. London Paddington to Truro. Truro to Falmouth Docks. Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
London to Cornwall
By car – on a good day – Cornwall is around 5-6 hours from London. Unfortunately, this journey is almost always beset by travel woes. Government data shows that on average England car drivers experience a delay of 10 seconds, per vehicle, per mile. That time would add over 50 minutes extra to a car journey from London to Penzance, Therefore, we’d heartily recommend taking the train from London to Cornwall.
Penzance, at the very tip of Cornwall, is easily accessible via a direct 5-hour train journey out of London, Paddington. Just be sure to sit on the left-hand side of the train to get the best views across the coast and out to the English Channel.
For access to the eastern fringes of Cornwall, the train stations at Bodmin Parkway and Liskeard are your best choices. For travel to the North coast of Cornwall including Newquay and beautiful St Ives, you simply need to make a change of train at either Par or St Erth.
For the South Coast of Cornwall, the stations you need to know about are Truro and Liskeard. They’ll take you down to the lovely seaside village of Looe, or the much bigger town of Falmouth.
London to Devon
Much like Cornwall, whilst Devon is accessible via road, we’d suggest international travellers, especially those travelling via London, take a train to Devon.
Exeter St. David’s is the county’s main train station, which is accessible via a direct 3-hour train journey out of London, Paddington.
Journeys to other train stations in Devon, Barnstaple in the North of the county for example, usually involve a change at Exeter St David’s.
London to Devon
Option 1: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. London Paddington to Exeter St David’s. Time: 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes
Option 2: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. London Paddington to Plymouth. Time: 3 hours
Option 3: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. London Paddington to Exeter St David’s. Exeter St David’s to Barnstaple. Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
London to Northumberland
Option 1: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. London Paddington to London Kings Cross. London Kings Cross to Newcastle. Time: 4 hours
Option 2: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. London Paddington to London Kings Cross. London Kings Cross to Cramlington Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
London to Northumberland
Heading in the opposite direction now and north to, well, Northumberland. This less frequently visited part of England is just over 300 miles from London – a similar distance to travelling from London to Cornwall.
It is possible to drive from London to Northumberland but the distance and potential traffic again make the train a better option!
For those arriving at Heathrow and wanting to get to Northumberland, the train station at the great city of Newcastle is the best train station to aim for. Take the Heathrow Express to Paddington, jump on a Hammersmith and City Line Tube to Kings Cross St Pancras before taking your final connection up to Newcastle.
London to The Lake District
Travelling from London to the Lake District can be surprisingly fast, especially if you catch a direct train from London Euston to Oxenholme, which takes around 2.5 hours. From there, you can take a connecting train to Windermere, which is the gateway to the Lake District. The train journey itself is a scenic route, passing through some beautiful countryside.
For the Northern Lake District, you could also choose to stay on the train as it leaves Oxenholme station and get off at either Penrith North or Carlisle.
Alternatively, you can drive from London to the Lake District, which takes around 4-5 hours depending on traffic.
Finally, being a popular tourist destination, there are coach services that run from London to the Lake District, which can be a more affordable option for budget-conscious travellers. The journey takes around 6 hours.
London to The Lake District
Option 1: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. London Paddington to Euston. London Euston to Oxenholme Lake District. Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
Option 2: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. London Paddington to Euston. London Euston to Carlisle. Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
London to Edinburgh & Scotland
Option 1: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. London Paddington to London Kings Cross. London Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley. Time: 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours.
Option 2: Heathrow Express to London Paddington. Hammersmith & City Line to Euston Square. Walk to London Euston. London Euston to Inverness Time: 12 hours
London to Edinburgh & Scotland
Getting from London to Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland is relatively easy, with a range of travel options available. The most popular way to travel is by train, with regular services departing from London King’s Cross station to Edinburgh Waverley station. This journey takes around 4.5 hours and offers stunning views of the British countryside and the opportunity to relax and enjoy the journey.
For ultimate convenience (and luxury) passengers could choose to take the Caledonia Sleeper train from London which travels overnight to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Fort William and even Inverness in the highlands. Departure times from London range depending on the destination but most are between 8 pm and 9 pm.
Given the distance involved, there are also direct flights available from London to Edinburgh, with a flight time of just over an hour. Several airlines operate on this route, including British Airways, easyJet, and Ryanair.
Once you arrive in Edinburgh, you can easily explore the rest of Scotland by train, bus, or car. Scotland has a well-developed transportation network, with regular trains and buses connecting the major cities and towns. If you prefer to drive yourself, car rental options are available in all major Scottish cities.
Chapter 4
Time to spare
Unless you plan a trip to England with military precision you’re bound to find yourself with time to spare. Whether that’s between travel connections or a longer period.
Fortunately for the time-poor traveller, there’s plenty to do near London Heathrow and London Gatwick. And for US visitors to London with more time, there are hundreds of things to fill your time during a layover tour of London.
£40-70
Uber fare from Heathrow to Central London
2500 acres
The size of London’s Richmond Park
50 minutes
Time taken to get from Heathrow to Kew Gardens
London Layover Tours
For US visitors with a layover in London, there are a variety of tours and activities available to make the most of your time in the city.
Organised layover tours can range from a few hours to a full day. Some of these tours will even include travel to and from the airport you’re flying out of. Or choose to go completely custom and organise something yourself. Just factor in the cost of transport to and from the airport.
As a rough guide, an Uber fare between London Heathrow and the central part of England’s capital city will set you back between £40 and £70.
If you have 24 hours in London for a layover tour, popular options could include sightseeing tours of iconic landmarks like Big Ben, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace. You could indulge in a food and drink tour, or even a wall-to-wall shopping experience.
For those who like to walk or cycle, you could choose to take in the sights with a walk along the River Thames or tag along on a themed walking tour such as Harry Potter or Sherlock Holmes. Prefer to cycle? Do what the locals do and take a spin out to Richmond Park and its 2500 acres.
Things to do near Heathrow
Heathrow is a bustling transportation hub located in the west of London, providing easy access to a range of popular attractions. Visitors can explore the nearby Windsor Castle, (20-minute taxi ride) take a stroll in the stunning Kew Gardens (50 minutes on the tube), or experience the thrill of Thorpe Park.
Things to do near Gatwick
Gatwick Airport is situated south of London and provides easy access to several popular attractions. Visitors can explore the nearby Hever Castle (30-minute taxi ride), enjoy a day out at Chessington World of Adventures, or take a walk in the beautiful countryside of the South Downs National Park (1 hour 30 minutes on the train).
Chapter 5
Sustainability
Travel can be an incredible force for good. Well-managed, sustainable tourism supports local economic development, sustains local communities and shines a light on vital conservation efforts. However, it would be wrong not to conclude that tourism contributes to the climate crisis.
In this section we look at what four steps US visitors to England can take, particularly in the field of transport, to lessen the impact of their holiday.
3500 miles
Distance travelled by Flight100, a Virgin Atlantic flight crossing the Atlantic powered by 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel
10 times less
A train journey from London to Edinburgh emits much less CO2 than the equivalent journey by car
10.4kg CO2e per night
The average emissions of staying in a UK hotel
Understand the sustainability of your airline
There are times when it’s not feasible to substitute air travel with another means of transportation – travelling from the US to London is arguably one of these.
If you have a small window of one or two weeks to travel across the world you probably don’t want to spend a significant portion of that time on a train or crossing the ocean. So what can be done?
Air travel is, for obvious reasons, a hard thing to de-carbonise but most airlines have made at least some form of sustainable commitment. Usually, this is along one of three themes. One, moving to alternative fuels. Two, using the most efficient fleet of aircraft. Three, achieving net-zero waste or reducing single-use plastic on board.
Distinguishing between airlines that are genuinely making a positive impact through the methods listed above and those that are solely targeting eco-conscious travellers through carbon offsetting schemes can be challenging – but here are two examples.
Virgin Atlantic are making genuine attempts to make their operations more environmentally friendly. In late 2023, they flew what they termed ‘the world’s first sustainable aviation fuel flight’. Leaving from Heathrow the plane flew the 3500 miles to JFK airport powered mostly by recycled vegetable oil.
Delta Airlines is also aiming for 10% of its flights to be run on more sustainable aviation fuel by 2030. With a long-term goal of achieving a net-zero operation in 2050.
Information about choosing a low-carbon flight is also becoming easier to find, with search platforms like Google Flights displaying the emissions of specific flights.
After arriving, take the train
Once arriving in England, travelling by train is faster, sometimes cheaper, more enjoyable and ultimately better for the environment than other modes of transport. If you can, take the train to travel around England.
Data collated in 2023 by a UK rail group intermated that a rail journey from London to Edinburgh would emit 12.5kg CO2e per passenger, compared to 136.4kg CO2e per passenger for the equivalent journey by car.
Train companies in England are also taking steps to move to battery-powered trains – one recent test finished with a train travelling over 80 miles on battery power alone.
Make walking or cycling part of your trip
By incorporating walking or cycling into their holiday, travellers keep their impact on the environment they are visiting as light as possible. Group walking or cycling holidays can also help reduce emissions as they rely on transfers undertaken in buses, coaches or minivans.
Choose your accommodation wisely
A key factor in any holiday’s total emissions is the accommodation in which travellers choose to stay. Lights, heating, water, food and drink – these things all add up.
London’s hotels (and the wider UK in general) are generally at the lower end of the emissions spectrum when compared to other countries around the world. Data shows that the average UK hotel stay emits 10.4kg CO2e per night. Far, far less than a stay in the Maldives (152.2kg CO2e per night) or Saudi Arabia (106.4kg CO2e per night).
So what steps can travellers take? As awareness of sustainability in hospitality has grown accommodation providers are mapping their emissions for a nightly stay and making that information available to customers. Websites like Staze and Book Different help you choose a stay based on the carbon rating of different hotels.
Chapter 6
Useful Links & Resources
Visit England: The official tourist board of England
The Train Line: Train tickets and timetables
TFL: Transport For London. Plan a journey in London
Heathrow Express: Book tickets from Heathrow to central London
National Cycle Network: Information on the routes by guardian charity, Sustrans
Met Office: Weather forecasting in the UK
The Countryside Code: A guide to the outdoors in England and Wales
The Highway Code: Rules and regulations for driving in England
