# UK Dopers--Heathrow to Bradford? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287 "2004-11-30T05:16:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/1 "2004-11-30T05:16:37Z")
What would a taxi cost from Heathrow to somewhere in Bramford (near Leeds)? The only connection the travel agency can find for me is a 6 hour layover for a 1 hour flight. Is there any other way to make that trip (shuttle? bus?)–anything but driving, I wouldn’t trust myself to stay on the right (i.e. correct) side of the road. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/2 "2004-11-30T05:48:54Z")
I take it you 're going to Bra **d** ford. If that’s the case, there’s a coach service from Heathrow, which takes 6-7 hours depending on whether it’s direct or not. So, not much time saving over a flight, but it’ll be cheaper. A taxi ride of that distance would be very expensive. More details from [National Express website.](http://www.nationalexpress.com) ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/3 "2004-11-30T05:59:12Z")
You can do it by coach or train, but it would involve a couple of connections and between one thing and another would probably take up the bulk of six hours anyway. [www.nationalrail.co.uk](http://www.nationalrail.co.uk) is your resource for planning and pricing the journey by train; [www.nationalexpress.co.uk](http://www.nationalexpress.co.uk) for doing it by bus. I’ve no idea what a taxi would cost, but it would be a lot of money. If you take a taxi, agree a price beforehand; do not go by the meter. You might get a better price if you contact a cab company and book something in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/4 "2004-11-30T06:02:25Z")
I assume you mean Bradford, not Bramford which is a small town in Suffolk. The basic options are [train](http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourney/time_table/journey_requirements.asp?&T2ID=3492_2004113055257) or [bus](http://www.carlberry.co.uk/rfnshowr.asp?R=20905). The train takes four hours, but involves two changes in London. The bus takes a (doubtless scenic) six or seven hours. Unless you are rolling in money, a [taxi](http://www.skyportcars.com/pricesquote_75162.html) is really out of the question (£245 = $450) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/5 "2004-11-30T07:36:16Z")
I’d suggest that your best option is to fly to Manchester, which has far more services (including transatlantic and so may cut out the hellhole that is Heathrow) and is about two hours from Bradford via train (with one change). If Heathrow is unavoidable, you may be able to get the flight to Leeds Bradford cheaper, and with a better time, booking it yourself: the one airline operating the route is BMI, with four flights a day. (If doing it this way, you’ll still need to allow a fair bit of time to bet through immigration and check-in). Failing that, my recommendation would be to do it by train, but take a taxi from Heathrow to King’s Cross station (in central London), which reduces the journey to two trains and about 3 hours, via Leeds. A non-prebooked return ticket on any train after 9.30am is £66 (although there’s some restrictions on when you can make the return journey - train ticketing is a ludicrously complex system here). PS Why on earth do you have to go to that dump Bradford? PPS On the other hand, if you really are going to Bramford, I’ll see you there for a pint 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/6 "2004-11-30T07:38:24Z")
“… **get** through immigration…” …gambling in the arrivals hall is probably not a good idea 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/7 "2004-11-30T08:15:55Z")
…and with Expedia offering Denver-Manchester at $483, you’d be hard pushed to do cheaper via London. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/8 "2004-11-30T08:20:33Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > …and with Expedia offering Denver-Manchester at $483, you’d be hard pushed to do cheaper via London. You moonlighting as a travel agent, **g man**? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/9 "2004-11-30T08:22:44Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > You moonlighting as a travel agent, **g man**? 😃 (I’ve just got half an hour to kill) ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/10 "2004-11-30T13:46:19Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Failing that, my recommendation would be to do it by train, but take a taxi from Heathrow to King’s Cross station (in central London), which reduces the journey to two trains and about 3 hours, via Leeds. A non-prebooked return ticket on any train after 9.30am is £66 (although there’s some restrictions on when you can make the return journey - train ticketing is a ludicrously complex system here). However, depending on the time of day, a taxi trip from Heathrow to King’s Cross may well be rather expensive, or (more likely) take bloody ages. If you’re travelling _fairly_ light, say a man-handleable suitcase or smaller, then the Picadilly line takes you straight from Heathrow to King’s Cross. It’ll probably take an hour or so (it took me half an hour to get from North London, just north of Camden, to Victoria station at 5am once in a taxi, so, ymmv), but it will be cheaper – approx £4 for a one way ticket. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/11 "2004-11-30T15:05:20Z")
Yeah, what Angua said - jump on the Piccadilly line, it’ll take you straight there for around £5. A Taxi’ll set you back around £40, and save you around 15 minutes if the National Express is anything to go by. Bradford Interchange (the train station) is a dead end terminus too, so at least if you fall asleep you won’t miss your stop. I agree with Mr GorillaMan though, why o why do you want to go there? Its a fucking hole. I know, I lived there for 2 years. National Express from Victoria will take anywhere from 4 hours to 8, depending on how good the traffic is on the M1. If theres a big accident (often) expect BIG delays. The Bus numbers the 561 AFAIR, its the same one I use to go to Leeds, Bradford again being the Terminus. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/12 "2004-11-30T15:17:08Z")
> [@paulberserker](#): > > Yeah, what Angua said - jump on the Piccadilly line, it’ll take you straight there for around £5. And I’m not even a Londoner. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/13 "2004-11-30T15:47:44Z")
Probably quicker, but rather more expensive (£13 single, £25 return), than the Piccadilly Line would be the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then the Circle Line to Kings Cross. Rather less crowded, too. There’s a HX train every 15 minutes throughout the day (05.00 to 22.00) and the journey takes 15 mins - 23 if you are at Terminal 4. The Paddington-Kings Cross bit ought to take no more than 16 minutes. You might have to change trains (usually cross-platform) at Edgware Road. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/14 "2004-11-30T15:57:04Z")
> [@paulberserker](#): > > Bradford Interchange (the train station) is a dead end terminus too, so at least if you fall asleep you won’t miss your stop. Unless you’re on the Manchester Victoria to Leeds train, which carries on its journey in reverse… ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/15 "2004-11-30T15:57:15Z")
> [@seosamh](#): > > Probably quicker, but rather more expensive (£13 single, £25 return), than the Piccadilly Line would be the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then the Circle Line to Kings Cross. Rather less crowded, too. There’s a HX train every 15 minutes throughout the day (05.00 to 22.00) and the journey takes 15 mins - 23 if you are at Terminal 4. That would depend on the state of the Circle Line surely? Its been closed in the past at weekends for engineering work, and they are still doing engineering work around there. It’d depend when you’re travelling, and if the Gatwick Express is anything to go by, the Heathrow Express probably gets quite crowded as well. Anyone else think that this is starting to sound like a Mornington Crescent related discussion? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/16 "2004-11-30T15:59:45Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > Anyone else think that this is starting to sound like a Mornington Crescent related discussion? Silvertown & City Airport!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/17 "2004-11-30T16:04:10Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Silvertown & City Airport!!! 😃 Tower Hill! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/18 "2004-11-30T16:10:28Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > Tower Hill! > 😛 I think we need the northern variant, given the context of this thread…Oldham Mumps! ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/19 "2004-11-30T17:01:07Z")
There’s a nothern variant? Sure its just not played using stations on the Northern Line? I’d be really good at that one… ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287/20 "2004-12-01T22:16:55Z")
Yes, Bradford. Thanks everyone, you’ve talked me out of travel other than by plane. This is a business trip, so corporate travel is handling the bookings, but I was hoping someone local would know the simple way–which apparently does not exist. I’ll catch a nap and then the BMI flight. It’s a business trip, so I have no choice about the destination either. I understand that Leeds may have a bit of nightlife, so perhaps a taxi ride over there is in order. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-heathrow-to-bradford/277287.md?page=2)