Heathrow to Knightsbridge

How long does the drive take?

About 32 minutes off-peak and around 46 minutes in the weekday rush. The route is the M4, the Hammersmith flyover, the Cromwell Road and the Brompton Road, and it rarely needs a detour. On an early morning arrival, before about 07:00, it is often under half an hour.

The slowest part is usually the Cromwell Road between Earl’s Court and the Natural History Museum on a weekday morning, where the traffic lights and junctions come thick and fast.

How does arrival at a Knightsbridge hotel work?

The large hotels on Knightsbridge and around Hyde Park Corner have forecourts or set-down bays, and door staff who will take your luggage as soon as the car stops. Tell us the hotel, and the chauffeur will pull in at the right entrance.

After an overnight flight, you may arrive well before check-in. Knightsbridge hotels are used to this and will hold your bags; many can offer breakfast or a lounge while your room is prepared. If you would rather go straight to a café or a store, the chauffeur can drop you there and take the luggage on to the hotel.

What about apartments and residences?

The residential buildings around Knightsbridge, many with 24-hour security desks, often have their own vehicle entrance or a lower-level drop-off. Add the building’s instructions to your booking, and the chauffeur will follow them. For houses on the squares behind the Brompton Road, the chauffeur will stop as close to the door as the street allows and bring the bags to you.

If you are arriving for a long stay with a lot of luggage, the V-Class takes six large cases and makes a single journey of it.

Is there a Congestion Charge?

No. The zone’s western boundary is at Hyde Park Corner, just east of Knightsbridge, and the route from Heathrow along the Brompton Road stays outside it. If your address is on the eastern side of Hyde Park Corner, the charge may apply during charging hours; we build the quote from your exact address.

Should you take the Piccadilly line instead?

The Piccadilly line runs directly from Heathrow to Knightsbridge station, which is convenient on paper. In practice, it is a slow line with many stops, the carriages are crowded at busy times, and Knightsbridge station has escalators and stairs to street level. With a small bag and plenty of time, it is a fair choice.

With luggage, after a long flight, or arriving with family, the car is quicker on this route and a great deal easier.

How does the chauffeur meet you at Heathrow?

The chauffeur follows your flight and waits in the arrivals hall of your terminal, holding a board with your name. For guests of a particular hotel, we can put the hotel’s name on the board as well, if you prefer. The walk to the car park beside the terminal takes a few minutes, and the chauffeur handles the luggage.

Landing at Terminal 4?

Terminal 4 sits on the southern side of the airport, away from the central terminals and Terminal 5, and it handles a number of airlines from the Gulf, Asia and Europe. The car park is close to the arrivals hall, but the road out runs along the southern perimeter to the A30 or round to the M4 via the airport’s eastern side, which adds a few minutes compared with the central terminals.

That makes no real difference to the plan. From Terminal 4, allow about 35 minutes to Knightsbridge off-peak. The chauffeur knows the exit routes and chooses the quicker one on the day. If your airline moves you to a different terminal at short notice, a message is enough; the chauffeur will walk across or move the car.

What about the return to Heathrow?

Leaving Knightsbridge for a long-haul evening flight, allow about three hours from pickup to departure; the westbound Cromwell Road and the M4 are busiest from about 16:00. If you have been shopping, tell us how much you are taking home, so we can send a car with enough room. Heathrow’s £7 drop-off charge is included.

Can the chauffeur make a stop on the way?

Yes. A common request on the way back to Heathrow is a stop to collect purchases held at a store, or luggage from a hotel after a late check-out. Add the stop when you book, and we will include it in the fixed price and allow time for it in the pickup.