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Paris Toolkit Airport & cruise transfer details to Kings Cross/St Pancras
In-depth transport options to Kings Cross/St Pancras from airports and cruise ports
King's Cross and St Pancras is a major transport hub, both for travelling within London and getting to the airports and beyond, a major plus of choosing to stay in the area.
Kings Cross and St Pancras are two physically separate railway stations next to one another, sharing the same Underground Station. The hotel district revolves around the two stations. If you are staying in a hotel in the Kings Cross St Pancras area, odds are that every time you leave the hotel you will be walking to the stations to go somewhere else. There is little in the area itself to keep you here for long.
Staying in Kings Cross and St Pancras
Nearly all the accommodation in Kings Cross and St Pancras is very close by to the stations. Easily walked to even with luggage, but there are a few exceptions. As Kings Cross and St Pancras is a major transport hub that allows easy access to the rest of London, it will be worth staying within easy reach of the station to make all your trips as simple as possible.
Public transport
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.
Kings Cross and St Pancras local public transport connections
King's Cross St Pancras is a major transport hub and there are direct trains to Luton, Gatwick and Heathrow airports as well as Dover cruise/ferry port. Trains go every few minutes to and from Heathrow using the London Underground.
The London Underground runs every couple of minutes between about 5.30 am and midnight on weekdays and at weekends it runs 24/7, useful if you are transferring to Heathrow from Kings Cross at the weekend, using the Piccadilly line. THe buses run 24x7. Night buses that run when the Underground is closed on weekdays provide an alternative if you have a very early or late flight. There are many services that run all night through the district to places like Victoria, Paddington, Liverpool Street and Marble Arch connecting to airport services.
Late flight, early hotel check-out dilemma?
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 airport's passenger terminals have manned left luggage desks.
Unfortunately, all of the left luggage offices at both airports and train stations are run by the same company, The Excess Baggage Company. 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.
Layover tours: Solution to late flights from Heathrow and Gatwick
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 Euston 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 has just hosted the Royal wedding between Harry and Meghan.
You are taken to Windsor from your hotel 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 Kings Cross and St Pancras
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 luggage onto escalators and long corridors.
There is a 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 will take slightly longer to reach Paddington.
Fastest
The Heathrow Express train to Paddington Station is the fastest, most comfortable option, which is two or three times faster than any taxi. It is also quicker than the TFL Rail Heathrow option which stops at stations along the same route.
The Heathrow Express trains run every 15 minutes and take only 15 minutes to reach Paddington station.
From there you will need to take a taxi for a further 15-min to get to the Kings Cross St Pancras area of London.
Taxi & private cars
You’ll know you have arrived in London when you see its famous black cabs form the taxi rank outside each terminal at Heathrow.
Journey times will be 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.
Private cars and charter buses
London black taxis are on the expensive side. 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 much cheaper than using the Heathrow Express train.
For groups of 6 or more a private charter bus is definitely worth considering. Vehicles from 8 seats to 50 seats are available, offering a door to door service between your airport terminal and hotel. For larger groups you will make good savings with a low cost per passenger.
Gatwick Airport transfer options to/from Kings Cross St Pancras
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.
easyBus run a small van type bus to West Brompton Underground, both with indirect London Underground services to Kings Cross St Pancras.
Fastest
The Thameslink Trains run frequently between St Pancras and Gatwick. The alternative option is the Gatwick Express to Victoria Station, a dedicated airport train for which you pay a significant premium.
Alternatively use the slower Southern Trains. These use the same tracks but will make several stops along the way.
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 personalised door to door service.
Taxi and private cars
Travelling into central London by vehicle is a frustrating option - there are no fast road links. It’s usually a slow, stop, start endurance test, often with added road congestion delays. Unless you are a sizable group, its much faster, cheaper and more comfortable if you get the train to Victoria, then take a taxi from there.
Stansted Airport transfer options to/from Kings Cross St Pancras
Cheapest
The cheapest option from Stansted into London is by bus. National Express run a direct service between Stansted and Victoria from where you can catch a tube to Kings Cross.
You can also use Airport Link's Stansted to Liverpool Street service and get the tube to King's Cross.
Fastest
Stansted Express is the dedicated airport train priced at a premium for the speed, frequency and comfort.
Liverpool Street is the terminus of the Stansted Express in London, but it's quicker to get off at Tottenham Hale Station and then get the Victoria Line to Kings Cross St Pancras.
Groups
For groups of 8 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 personalised door to door service.
Taxi and private cars
Stansted is a long way outside of London, about 40 miles from Kings Cross and St Pancras. At peak hours during working days there will be road congestion, delays and the distance means the price will not be cheap. Stansted private cars with meet 'n greet as you exit customs at Stansted are also available.
Luton Airport transfer options to/from Kings Cross St Pancras
Cheapest
The cheapest option from Luton into London is bus. National Express run a cheap and frequent 24/7 bus service that terminates at London Victoria. For Kings Cross St Pancras, you get off at Baker Street from where the Circle Line of the London Underground goes to Kings Cross St Pancras. easyBus also run a cheap bus service that terminates at Baker Street.
Fastest
The faster but more expensive alternative to the bus is the Luton train. It is not a dedicated airport train, but it stops at St Pancras Station. The Luton train doesn't go into the airport itself, use the shuttle bus (part of your rail ticket) which connects the passenger terminal at Luton airport with Luton Parkway Station, just a 5-min journey away.
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 make savings with a low cost per passenger, as well as the benefit of convenience.
Taxi and private cars
Luton is a long way out of London, about 35 miles from Kings Cross and St Pancras. At peak hours during working days there will be road congestion, delays and the distance means the price will not be cheap. Luton private cars with meet n greet as you exit customs are also available.
City & Southend Airports transfer options to/from Kings Cross St Pancras
London City Airport
City Airport is served by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which 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.
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.
You can then use the Circle Line of the London Underground which connects directly between Liverpool Street and Kings Cross St Pancras.
Southampton cruise port to/from Kings Cross St Pancras
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 Kings Cross and St Pancras, a taxi to/from Victoria may cost you as much as the bus fare to Southampton.
There are also direct trains on most days between Victoria and Southampton, these take a longer route to the Waterloo trains. The Victoria and Waterloo lines to Southampton interconnect at Clapham Junction, a few miles south of Victoria.
There are 4 cruise terminals at Southampton, you will need to take a short taxi ride between Southampton Bus or Rail Station to access 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 all the hotels in Kings Cross St Pancras and pick-ups from many hotels in Kings Cross and St Pancras, so there will be one close 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.
Full day guided tour transfers between Southampton and Kings Cross St Pancras hotels are available visiting world-class attractions like Stonehenge and Windsor Castle.
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 2 choices, one is direct, the other a full day tour transfer visiting Salisbury, Stonehenge and Windsor Castle.
Groups, bus charters and private cars
Southampton is a 2-hr drive from Kings Cross St Pancras by private vehicle. Vehicles from cars to large buses are available to charter either direct or stopping off along the way, Windsor Castle and Stonehenge are the most popular stops.
Dover cruise port to/from Kings Cross St Pancras
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 which is a fair distance from Kings Cross St Pancras. The alternative trains from 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 Kings Cross and St Pancras and pick-ups from many hotels in Kings Cross and St Pancras, so there will be one close to your hotel.
Price is competitive even against public transport when you factor in the taxi transfers at either end. There is also a much more relaxed luggage policy.
The London to Dover cruise bus picks up at Kings Cross and St Pancras hotels and will be at your cruise terminal around lunch time with an optional visit to Dover Castle available.
The Dover to London cruise bus service has a choice of a direct van shuttle or two tour transfer options, one visiting Leeds Castle and Canterbury the other visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour with hotel drop offs in the late afternoon/early evening.
Groups, bus charters and private cars
Dover is 2-hrs drive from Victoria 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.
