Kensington and Chelsea, straight down the Cromwell Road

How long does it take to reach Heathrow?

About 28 minutes off-peak and around 41 minutes in the weekday rush. From South Kensington and Earl’s Court, the car joins the Cromwell Road almost immediately and runs west to the Hammersmith flyover and the M4. From Notting Hill and North Kensington, chauffeurs often use the Westway and the A40 instead, and the time is similar.

For a long-haul morning departure, a pickup about three hours before the flight is usually enough. For an evening flight, particularly on a Friday, allow a little more; the Cromwell Road westbound is busy from mid-afternoon.

Is there a Congestion Charge on journeys from here?

No. The whole of Kensington and Chelsea is outside the Congestion Charging Zone, and the route to Heathrow runs west, away from it. Journeys to London City, which run east, may pass close to the zone; chauffeurs use routes that avoid it where possible, and if the charge ever applies to a route, it is included in the fixed price.

How do pickups work on squares and mews?

Many streets in the borough are narrow, one-way and lined with resident-only parking, and many garden squares have access on one side only. Mews are often too narrow for a larger car to turn. Give us the exact address, and for a mews house, tell us which end of the mews to use.

The chauffeur will usually stop at the mews entrance or on the square and come to your door for the bags. For hotels on the Cromwell Road, in Knightsbridge and around Kensington High Street, the chauffeur waits at the hotel entrance and can come to reception if you ask.

What about Gatwick from the borough?

Gatwick is about 40 miles away and takes around 70 minutes off-peak, via Battersea Bridge or Chelsea Bridge and the A3 to the M25, or through Clapham and the A23. In the rush, allow an hour and three quarters.

The rail alternative is the Gatwick Express from Victoria, which is quick once you are there. With a family or heavy luggage, the car from your door avoids the crossing to Victoria and the walk along the platforms.

How long are the drives to London City, Luton and Stansted?

London City is about 12 miles away but takes around 46 minutes, because the route crosses central London to the Docks. Luton is about an hour via the Westway, the North Circular and the M1. Stansted is the longest, at about an hour and a half.

For business travel to Europe, Heathrow is often quicker to reach from this borough than London City, even though City is closer on the map.

Can you collect from embassies and museums?

Yes. Many embassies and residences in Kensington have security arrangements, and some require the vehicle registration in advance. Tell us the building, and we will send the details you need. For museum events in South Kensington, the chauffeur will wait at an agreed point near the Exhibition Road entrances, where stopping is easier.

What is the drive home from Heathrow like?

Short and direct, which is why so many residents book the return leg as well. The chauffeur follows your flight, waits in the arrivals hall of your terminal with a name board, and walks you to the car park beside the terminal. From there, the M4 and the Cromwell Road bring you into the borough in about half an hour outside the rush.

Many long-haul flights land between 05:00 and 07:00, when the inbound roads are still quiet. Later in the morning, the M4 into London builds, and the chauffeur may use the A40 into North Kensington instead. The fixed price does not change with the route or the traffic.

Where can you read more about each district?

We have separate guides for the busiest parts of the borough, each with its own drive times and pickup notes: Chelsea, South Kensington, Knightsbridge and Notting Hill. They cover the local details, from the King’s Road on a Saturday to the Notting Hill Carnival weekend, that do not fit on a borough-wide page.

Which car suits a Kensington journey?

The E-Class and the S-Class are the usual choices; both take three passengers and two large cases. For families and shopping-heavy departures, the V-Class takes six passengers and six large cases, and it is easier to load in a narrow street than two separate cars.