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Paris Toolkit Airport and cruise port transfers to Bayswater, London
Public and private transport options to Bayswater from airports and cruise ports
Bayswater is in the northwestern sector of the centre of London, on the northern border of Kensington Gardens / Hyde Park. Although central, Bayswater itself has no direct public transport to any of London's four major airports, nor indeed its cruise ports.
What to expect
A lot of the accommodation in Bayswater is easily walked to from the two underground stations, Queensway and Bayswater. However, many hotels do tend to drift into "marketing speak" and oversell the location when describing their proximity. In the Bayswater area, a common habit of hotels is to describe themselves as close to Paddington Station, without mentioning that it is a good 10-15 min walk to the station, even without luggage, from most Bayswater hotels.
Public transport connections to Bayswater
London public transport basics
When in London you will find the best and most convenient way to get around is by public transport. You can pay single fares for every trip, but this will soon add up and become expensive and time-consuming. You will save yourself a lot of time and money by purchasing the right pass before you get to your hotel, especially if London's public transport forms part of your hotel transfer.
Public transport passes in London can be complicated to understand, especially if you have children. Reading our Travelcard or Oyster Card page will help explain everything and save you money.
Bayswater local public transport connections
Heathrow is probably the only airport where the cost of a taxi transfer into London is worth considering. For most leisure travellers this can come within most transfer budgets.
It is then a question of how large a group you are, and the amounts of luggage involved. Which day and the time of day you will be travelling to London also affects taxi transfer times, as London does get congested during rush hours.
Bayswater has no direct public transport to any of the airport or cruise ports. The London Underground runs every couple of minutes between about 5.30am and midnight and buses run 24/7. Night buses that run when the Underground is closed will get you to Marble Arch and Victoria along the Bayswater Road at the southern end of Bayswater and at the northern end, several buses run to Paddington Station.
Late flight, early hotel check-out - what to do?
Left luggage
Most hotels would like you to leave your room by lunchtime. This can be a problem if you have luggage and a late afternoon or evening flight. However, if your hotel does not offer a left luggage service, then most of the main train stations in central London do. Also, all of the airports passenger terminals have manned left luggage desks.
Unfortunately, the same company, The Excess Baggage Company, runs all of the left luggage offices at both airports and train stations. This means there is no competition and as a result prices can be high. If you need to use this service we recommend searching for the Excess Baggage Company website and check current prices, opening hours and for any special offers.
Solution to Heathrow & Gatwick late flights: Transfer tours
There is another alternative to left luggage offices where you can make use of all your available time, rather than just hanging around before your flight. The historic town of Windsor is just outside of London and very close to Heathrow Airport.
We offer a layover tour service where you are picked up by a vehicle from your London Bloomsbury hotel and taken to Windsor. There is so much more to Windsor than the castle. It would take a couple of days to see everything. Eton College, Runnymede, Legoland, river trips, walks through the Royal Parks and of course Windsor hosted the Royal wedding between Harry and Meghan in 2018.
You are taken to Windsor from your hotel in Bloomsbury and left to explore independently, leaving your luggage safely with the vehicle. You will already have agreed a time when the vehicle will return with your luggage for the 15-20-minute journey to Heathrow Airport. Gatwick is an hour away.
A key aspect to this service is that you do not pay any waiting time as the company offering the service is based in Windsor, so it is the same cost whether you stay 3-hours or 10-hours in Windsor.
This is a private service, you set the times and the vehicles can range from cars to 50 seat touring coaches. So, if you want to make the most of your time in London even on your departure day then click the link below to learn more.
Windsor layover tours - late flight solution
Heathrow Airport transfer options to/from Bayswater
Fastest
The Heathrow Express train to Paddington Station then a taxi or Underground about a mile to your hotel in Bayswater is the fastest, most comfortable option. The trains run every 15-min and take just 15-min to Paddington.
There is a much cheaper, less publicised airport train called TFL Rail Heathrow (previously called the Heathrow Connect) that is not as frequent and makes stops along the same route as the Heathrow Express, so is slightly slower. You can also get off the TFL Rail Heathrow train at Ealing Broadway Station, which has a direct Underground link to Queensway.
Taxi & private cars
Journey times by taxi in London range between 45 and 75 minutes depending on traffic conditions. Road congestion delays are routine Monday to Friday between 6.30am and 10am going into London and between 3pm and 7pm coming out of London on work days. Additionally, going into London on Sundays from about 3pm until mid-evening will be congested.
Price is an issue for most people with London black taxis. Much cheaper licenced private cars offer an alternative and also perform Meet n Greet as you exit customs. For a small family, a private car may be cheaper than using the Heathrow Express.
Cheapest
The London Underground from Heathrow with an Oyster or Travelcard offers the cheapest option.
Journey times are about an hour. Be prepared for crowds and dragging your luggage up escalators and down long corridors.
Groups
For groups of 6 or more a private charter bus is worth considering. Vehicles from 8 seats to 50 seats are available, offering a door to door service between airport terminal and hotel. Larger groups get a low cost per passenger as well as the convenience of a personalised door to door service.
Gatwick Airport transfer options to/from Bayswater
Fastest
The majority of people flying into Gatwick transfer by train. The Gatwick Express to Victoria Station is the dedicated airport train for which you pay a significant premium to the slower alternative Southern Trains. These use the same tracks but as these are commuter trains, they will make several stops. From Victoria the London Underground runs direct to Bayswater.
Taxi and private cars
Travelling into central London by vehicle is a frustrating option and only for the most patient. There are no fast road links. It’s usually a slow, stop and start endurance test, often with added road congestion delays. Unless you are a sizable group, it's much faster, cheaper and more comfortable if you get the train to Victoria then take a taxi to Bayswater from the station.
Cheapest
The cheapest option from Gatwick into London is by bus. National Express runs a full-size bus from Gatwick airport to Victoria Coach Station, while easyBus offer a small van type bus to West Brompton Underground, both with direct London Underground services to Bayswater.
Groups
For groups of 12 or more a private charter bus is worth considering. Vehicles from 8 seats to 50 seats are available offering a door to door service between airport terminal and hotel. For larger groups you get a low cost per passenger as well as the convenience of a door to door service.
Stansted Airport transfer options to/from Bayswater
Fastest
Fastest option is by Stansted Express train - the dedicated airport train for which you pay a significant premium for the speed, frequency and comfort over the bus. It will not take you into Bayswater though - the terminus is at Liverpool Street - the other side of central London from Bayswater. You'll need to use the London Underground to Queensway from here.
Groups
For groups of 8 or more, you might want to consider a private charter bus. Vehicles from 8 seats to 50 seats are available offering a door to door service between airport terminal and your hotel in Bayswater. For larger groups you get a low cost per passenger as well as the convenience of a personalised door to door service.
Cheapest
The cheapest option from Stansted into London is by bus. National Express run a direct Paddington - Stansted Airport airport bus service from nearby Paddington Station or Marble Arch. The service is high frequency, operating 24 hours per day, seven days a week to Paddington.
Taxi and private cars
Stansted is a long way outside of London, about 40 miles from Bayswater. At peak hours during working days there will be road congestion, delays and the distance means the fee is not cheap. Stansted private cars with meet 'n greet as you exit customs at Stansted are also available.
Luton Airport transfer options to/from Bayswater
Cheapest
The cheapest option from Luton into London is bus. National Express run a cheap service that terminates at London Victoria. For Bayswater, you get off at either Baker Street or Marble Arch stops, about a mile from Bayswater. Night buses run between both Baker Street and Marble Arch to Bayswater all night, so there is no problem if you have a very early or late flight.
Fastest
The faster but more expensive alternative to the bus is the Luton train. It is not a dedicated airport train and for Bayswater, you get off at St Pancras Station. A direct London Underground link to Bayswater is available. There is a shuttle bus (part of your rail ticket) that connects the passenger terminal at Luton with Luton Parkway Station, for your train, just a 5-min journey.
Groups
For groups of 8 or more, you can consider a private charter bus. Vehicles from 8 seats to 50 seats are available offering a door to door service between airport terminal and hotel. For larger groups you get a low cost per passenger, as well as the convenience of a personalised door to door service.
Taxi and private cars
We should tell you that Luton is a long way out of London, about 35 miles from Bayswater. At peak hours during working days there will be road congestion, delays and the distance means the taxi fee will not be cheap. Luton private cars with meet 'n greet as you exit customs at Luton are also available.
City & Southend Airports transfer options to/from Bayswater
London City Airport
City Airport is served by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which for visitors you can think of as part of the London Underground. City Airport is in zone 3 of the London public transport system. You can use Oyster Cards and other London public transport ticketing options to interconnect between DLR and the Underground in one fare.
From City Airport the DLR interconnects with the London Underground at Canning Town, where you can take the Jubilee Line of the Underground to Baker Street, three stops from Bayswater on another Circle Line train.
For Lancaster Gate and Notting Hill get off the Jubilee Line train at Bond Street where the Central Line interconnects for Lancaster Gate and Notting Hill.
London Southend Airport
The only viable public transport between Southend Airport and central London are the regular trains that terminate at London's Liverpool Street Station. The Circle Line and Central Line of the London Underground connect directly between Liverpool Street and Bayswater and Lancaster Gate respectively. The only viable public transport between Southend Airport and central London are the regular trains that terminate at London's Liverpool Street Station.
Southampton cruise port to/from Bayswater
Public transport
The cheapest option on paper is to take public transport. The cheapest options are the National Express buses that terminate at Victoria Coach Station. The alternative, trains from Waterloo to Southampton are much faster and unlike the buses, luggage is only limited by the amount you can carry onboard. However, both Waterloo and Victoria are not close to Bayswater, a taxi to Victoria may cost you as much as the bus fare to Southampton.
It is possible to get to Southampton by train from Paddington Station. You will need to change trains at least once though. Paddington is less than a mile from Bayswater.
There are 4 cruise terminals at Southampton, you will need to take a short taxi ride between Southampton Bus or rail Station to your cruise terminal.
Cruise bus
A dedicated cruise bus operates in each direction between Southampton and central London connecting with individual cruise ships. It is a door to door service with drop offs at the hotels in Bayswater and pick-ups from many of the hotels in Paddington, so there will be one close by to your hotel.
Price is competitive even against public transport, especially when you factor in the taxi transfers either end with public transport. There is also a much more relaxed luggage policy.
The London to Southampton Cruise Bus offers two services one a direct van shuttle, the other visits Stonehenge on the way before continuing to your cruise terminal around 1.30pm.
The Southampton to London Cruise Bus direction service has 3 choices, one is direct, the others are full day tour transfers one of which visits Salisbury, Stonehenge and Windsor Castle with drops at Heathrow Airport and central London hotels.
Groups, bus charters and private cars
Southampton is a 2-hr drive from Bayswater by private vehicle. Vehicles from cars to large buses are available to charter either direct or stopping off somewhere along the way, Windsor Castle and Stonehenge are the most popular stops.
Dover cruise port to/from Bayswater
Public transport
The cheapest option is to take public transport. The cheapest public transfer options are the National Express buses that terminate at Victoria Coach Station. The alternative trains from London St Pancras to Dover are much faster and unlike the buses luggage is only limited by the amount you can carry on-board.
Neither bus or train public transport will take you to the Dover cruise terminals. It is a 5-min taxi ride from both bus and train stations at Dover to the cruise terminals.
Cruise bus
A dedicated cruise bus operates in each direction between Dover and central London connecting with individual cruise ships. It is a door to door service with drops at hotels in Bayswater and pick-ups from many hotels in Paddington, so there will be one close by your hotel.
Price is competitive even against public transport, especially when you factor in the taxi transfer costs at either end of your public transport journey. There is also a much more relaxed luggage policy.
The London to Dover cruise bus picks up from Bayswater hotels and will be at your cruise terminal around lunchtime with an optional visit to Dover Castle available. Alternatively there is an option for a private London to Dover cruise transfer visiting Leeds Castle in Kent.
The Dover to London cruise bus service has a choice of a direct van shuttle or a tour transfer option, visiting Leeds Castle and Canterbury.
You can also take a private Dover to London cruise transfer visiting Leeds Castle, Kent.
Groups, bus charters and private cars
Dover is a 2-hr drive from Bayswater by private vehicle. Vehicles from cars to large buses are available to charter either direct or stopping off somewhere along the way, Canterbury and Dover Castle are the most popular stops. Find out more about private vehicles Dover to/from London.
