St John’s Wood, an easy start north and west

Heathrow or Luton from St John’s Wood?

Both are realistic, which is unusual for central London. Heathrow is about 39 minutes away off-peak via the Marylebone Road, the Westway and the A40, or about 57 minutes in the rush. Luton is about 53 minutes away via the Finchley Road, the A41 and the M1, or about 77 minutes in the rush.

For long-haul flights, Heathrow usually has more choice. For short-haul holidays and city breaks, compare the flights from both airports, because the difference in drive time is only a quarter of an hour.

How do match days at Lord’s affect journeys?

On Test match days and other big fixtures at Lord’s, the St John’s Wood Road, Wellington Road and Grove End Road are busy from early morning, with crowds arriving on foot from the Underground and taxis queuing at the gates. The roads clear during the day and fill again at the close of play.

If your pickup falls on a match day, we will suggest a time that avoids the start and the end of play, or a meeting point on a quieter street. The chauffeur will approach from Maida Vale or Primrose Hill rather than past the ground.

What about the tourists at Abbey Road?

The zebra crossing outside the Abbey Road studios draws visitors taking photographs all day, and traffic on Abbey Road often moves slowly past it. It rarely causes long delays, but for addresses on or near Abbey Road, the chauffeur may use Grove End Road or Hamilton Terrace instead to avoid stop-start traffic with luggage on board.

How do pickups from villas and gated homes work?

Many of St John’s Wood’s large houses sit behind gates, with a driveway or a forecourt. Give us the gate code or tell us whether someone will open it, and the chauffeur can pull in to load the luggage off the street. For the mansion blocks on Prince Albert Road and around the high street, give us the block name and the entrance; a porter can usually tell you when the car has arrived.

Can you collect from the American School in London?

Yes. At the start and end of terms, and before long weekends, many families leave directly from the school. School pickup and drop-off times are busy on Loudoun Road and the streets around it. Tell us the pickup time and the gate, and the chauffeur will wait at an agreed point nearby. For families with luggage already in the car, we can collect from home first and then the school.

What is it like coming home late from Luton?

Straightforward, and one of the best reasons to book a car rather than rely on trains. Many holiday flights land at Luton late in the evening, and the rail journey back involves the shuttle to Luton Airport Parkway, a Thameslink train to West Hampstead or St Pancras and then a taxi or a bus. With luggage and tired children, that is a lot of changes at midnight.

The chauffeur follows your flight, waits in the arrivals hall with a name board and takes the M1 and the A41 home. At night, the whole journey often takes under 45 minutes.

Which route runs past Regent’s Park?

Chauffeurs heading for Heathrow from the south of the district usually take the Outer Circle or Park Road down to the Marylebone Road, then the Westway. On summer weekends, the Outer Circle can be slow with visitors to the park and London Zoo, and the chauffeur may use Lisson Grove instead. From the north of the district, the Finchley Road and the A41 give a clear run to the North Circular for Luton, and sometimes to the A40 for Heathrow.

Is St John’s Wood inside the Congestion Charge zone?

No. The zone’s northern boundary is the Marylebone Road, which lies south of Regent’s Park, and all of St John’s Wood is outside it. Journeys to Heathrow and Luton do not enter the zone.

What about London City, Gatwick and Stansted?

London City is about 11 miles east and takes around 44 minutes across north and east London. Gatwick is about 43 miles south, around 81 minutes, crossing the whole of central London. Stansted is about the same, via the North Circular and the M11. For all three, allow generous margins.