Getting to the Midlands from London, Manchester or Birmingham

I'm looking at booking my flights for the move over there, and need to get to the East Midlands. From where I'm leaving, most flights only go to London (Heathrow). I understand that I need to get to St Pancreas Station to get the right train (and then make 2-3 changes to get there). As we will have lots of luggage, I'm wondering about the logistics of getting to the station. From what I can tell, it would either be a very expensive taxi ride, or a very long journey on a coach. I don't want to try and navigate the tube with luggage after a 30 hour flight!

Birmingham, on the other hand, looks like it has easy access to a train station that would take me directly to the Midlands (with only 1 change I think). Manchester looks like it would involve lots of changes.

Has anyone made this journey, and have any tips on managing this? It's so hard to find these things out ... I don't know how good/accurate the online 'travel planner' is, as using sites like National Rail seemed to give me different options.

I've looked at flying to somewhere like Glasgow and then flying to the East Midlands airport, but this could be problematic given how much luggage we will have.

where in the East Midlands are you going?  If you fly into Manchester, you can take the train directly from Manchester airport and if you're going to any of the "major cities" in the midlands (Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, even Peterborough), you should only need to change once, at Sheffield.  If you're going to a smaller town, there'll be more changes. If you can get a flight into Birmingham that entails less changes then great, although I don't know how close the airport is to the main train station.  The thing I love about Manchester is that the train station is quite literally directly attached to the airport, which makes things a lot easier.

St Pancreas Station

From there to the heart of the country...   Or Liverpool maybe? (No, that's Euston)

  The thing I love about Manchester is that the train station is quite literally directly attached to the airport, which makes things a lot easier.

AFAIK it's the same at Birmingham also.  At least I know there is a BHX stop on one of the lines...

Where in the East Midlands are you going? I'll be living in Lincoln, and I have to switch trains once in Newark Northgate coming from London, but coming from Birmingham, I'd still need to switch.  You can take the Underground from Heathrow or the direct train, however the direct train does not go to St Pancras, so you would still need the underground. If you're flying into Gatwick, there also is direct train service into London. 

From Manchester and Birmingham, you are less likely to have a fast train, if that matters at all.

If you can be more specific, we can help you a bit better

Also, there is an East Midland Int'l Airport as well.

If you're flying into Gatwick, there also is direct train service into London. 

Among the various train companies which serve Gatwick Airport station, First Capital Connect (FCC) run trains from Gatwick which go right through London and out the other side, as it happens the part of the trip North of London is along the Midland Main Line, so you can change at Luton or Bedford and get on a train that left St Pancras. This avoids using the Tube.

Among the various train companies which serve Gatwick Airport station, First Capital Connect (FCC) run trains from Gatwick which go right through London and out the other side, as it happens the part of the trip North of London is along the Midland Main Line, so you can change at Luton or Bedford and get on a train that left St Pancras. This avoids using the Tube.

Yes but be cautious, as that line is RIFE with huge delays/cancellations at the moment.

It's slow, but will get you through London without the Tube, yes.

As far as Birmingham is concerned, "Birmingham International" is the station for the Airport - they are linked by a free automated shuttle car system (there must be a better description of it than that!). Birmingham is a smaller airport and therefore easier to navigate than the London ones, IMHO.

The main interchange in Birmingham is Birmingham New Street (10 mins or so from international on a non-stop service), which is quite a large station so leave yourself plenty of time to change trains there. There are services from New Street through to Leicester, Derby, Nottingham etc. - and many other places besides.

There is also an airport not far from Nottingham - East Midlands Airport - but it's not as good on public transport links (connecting buses from Derby and Nottingham, though they're not that fast in my experience!).

Also note that there is a direct rail service hourly during the day from London Stansted that runs to Peterborough (90minutes), Leicester(140 minutes) and Birmingham. That may suit better as the station is under the airport and you wouldn't have to change trains at any really busy stations.

Can you be more specific about where in the East Midlands you want to get to?

Since you say you will have lots of luggage going on the tube in London is not a very good option.  But even if you were to take a taxi to St Pancras catching a train with lots of luggage would not be ideal.  There is not a luggage space on the Midland Mainline train either.  I would suggest that you spend a bit of extra money and hire one of the many airport transport (taxi)services that serve the area.  Train fares are expensive, off peak for me on the Midland mainline service from Wellingborough is over £30.  Depending on how many of you are travelling it might actually be cheaper to hire the airport taxi.  To give you an idea look at www.londonheathrowcars.com  A single trip to Northampton (which is east midlands) in a people carrier for up to 5 people, 5 suitcases and 3 pieces of hand luggage is £149

Are you sure going by coach isn't a better option?  I know the coach journeys can be long, but after going into central London, switching trains several times, etc. the time can feel about the same.  If you can find a coach that goes directly to your town, you can at least spend those 3 or 4 hours uninterrupted while saving yourself the hassle of dragging luggage from train platform to train platform...

We live in Nottingham and have tried every combination. If you are flying into Heathrow, the coach, National Express, is by far the fastest and most economical option. The coach will pick you up at terminal 2 or 5. The biggest downside to the bus is that the bathroom is usually unusable, so you must prepare! It takes between 2.5 hours to 3 hours.

If you go through the center of London and then up on East Midlands trains, it will take you at least 50 minutes to get to St. Pancras--however you do it. Then you have 2.5 hours on the train, which runs hourly until about 22:30. The trains are a little bit more comfortable, but if you are going on a peak hour, I'd recommend getting a seat reservation. Purchasing a ticket online, three days in advance, will cut some costs. If you are travelling mid-day, you could order your ticket through www.megatrain.com (three days in advance) and save a lot of money.

Flying into Manchester and taking the combination of trains from there will take at least 3.5 hours to Nottingham. Each way involves transferring at least once. The more north you go, the more prone to flooding...so it could take longer from here as well... I'm not choosing the Manchester option anytime soon again.

So, with luggage, I'd do National Express. Without luggage and the ability to meet a friend for lunch in London, I'd do the train.

Why not rent a car?

If you have a lot of luggage you might think about some of it being 'nicked' There are professional well organised thieves who use Heathrow as their work place.

Don't know much about the train issue - but will say that if I have a choice between Birmingham and Heathrow airports I would choose Birmingham.  It's tiny compared to Heathrow, getting through customs was far faster and the luggage area is small and easy to navigate- basically like a small airport in the US - like Austin or Orange County - as opposed to Denver or Chicago.

Good Luck!

Don't know much about the train issue - but will say that if I have a choice between Birmingham and Heathrow airports I would choose Birmingham.  It's tiny compared to Heathrow, getting through customs was far faster and the luggage area is small and easy to navigate- basically like a small airport in the US - like Austin or Orange County - as opposed to Denver or Chicago.

Good Luck!

With lots of luggage, definitely Birmingham or Manchester. 

Why not rent a car?

If you have a lot of luggage you might think about some of it being 'nicked' There are professional well organised thieves who use Heathrow as their work place.

What? When were you last at Heathrow?

Doria, I'd be tempted to get a connecting flight to East Mids, it would be a lot easier than attempting to cross London with tons of luggage to St Pancras, you're looking at about an hour on the tube for that.