Knightsbridge, thirty minutes from Terminal 5

How quick is the drive to Heathrow?

Quicker than from almost anywhere else in central London. The car heads west along Knightsbridge and the Brompton Road or the Cromwell Road, over the Hammersmith flyover and onto the M4. Off-peak, that takes about 32 minutes to the central terminals, and a few minutes more to Terminal 5.

On weekday mornings and Friday afternoons, the Cromwell Road westbound and the M4 between Chiswick and the airport both slow down, and 45 minutes or more is realistic. For a long-haul evening departure, a pickup about three hours before the flight leaves room for the traffic and for Heathrow’s busy evening security queues.

Where does the Congestion Charge start?

At Hyde Park Corner. Knightsbridge itself lies just west of the zone’s boundary, so a pickup here, heading west to Heathrow, does not incur the charge. A journey that starts on the eastern side of Hyde Park Corner, or one that crosses into the zone on the way to London City in charging hours, does.

Our quotes are built from the address and the route, so the charge is included only when it genuinely applies.

How do hotel and residence pickups work?

The large hotels on Knightsbridge and around Hyde Park have their own forecourts or set-down bays, and door staff who handle luggage for departing guests every day. Tell us the hotel, and the chauffeur will pull into the forecourt and come to reception if you want. For the Hyde Park-facing residences, which often have a security desk and a lower ground entrance for cars, add the building’s instructions to your booking.

Around the Brompton Road, stopping is heavily restricted at most times. For a pickup from a store or a restaurant, the chauffeur will wait on a nearby side street, such as Hans Crescent or Basil Street, and send you the spot.

How much room will shopping take?

More than most people expect. Store bags, boxed shoes and gift boxes are bulky rather than heavy, and a family returning from a week in London can easily fill a saloon’s boot before the suitcases go in. If you have been shopping, tell us roughly how many bags and boxes you have in the booking notes.

The V-Class takes six large cases and has room for boxes behind the rear seats; for two travellers with a lot of purchases, it is often a better fit than the saloon. If you are shipping larger items home separately, the concierge can usually arrange it.

What happens around Hyde Park Winter Wonderland?

From late November to early January, Winter Wonderland draws large crowds to the south-east corner of Hyde Park. The roads around Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge are busy from the afternoon into the late evening, especially at weekends. The same happens on summer evenings when big concerts are held in the park.

On those dates, we suggest a slightly earlier pickup for evening flights. For arrivals, the chauffeur will approach from the Cromwell Road rather than through Hyde Park Corner.

What about London City and Gatwick?

London City is about ten miles east and takes around 38 minutes, via the Embankment and the Limehouse Link, and nearer 55 minutes at busy times. Gatwick is about 39 miles south, around 69 minutes, usually via Chelsea Bridge or Vauxhall and the A23, or the A3 and the M25. Luton is roughly an hour and a quarter via the Westway and the M1, and Stansted about an hour and a half.

Can the chauffeur meet arrivals and bring them to Knightsbridge?

Yes. Many hotel guests arrive at Heathrow and want to go straight to their hotel. The chauffeur follows the flight, waits in arrivals with a name board, and brings you to the hotel entrance. If your room will not be ready, the hotel will usually hold your luggage, and the chauffeur can wait while you check in.