Getting from Heathrow to final destination (Devon in this case)?

Hi,

Just hoping for some advice on getting from the airport to my final destination (likely Exeter).  The trick is that I will have three pets in huge carriers and luggage!  I just imagine my husband and I standing in the airport surrounding by all of our stuff with no idea how to move it all! 

We checked into getting a driver but it would be $1500 so that is way too expensive for us.  Not too keen on renting a car either.  Does anyone know how hard it is to get to the train from heathrow?  What if we need to switch trains?  Will we have time to get our stuff off the train?  I am not 100% sure how much luggage we will bring yet.  Part of the reason why is because I don't know how we will transport it to exeter with us so I am thinking two suitcases and two carry-ons. 

Thanks in advance!!!

You really need to rent a car. There is no way to do it with all of the stuff plus three pets in carriers!!

That is a LOT of stuff for the train as there are likely to be stairs. In an ideal world, I would actually suggest finding somewhere to stay the night nearby (if you don't want to drive immediately after a flight) and then renting a car. It's not difficult to get to the train, per se, but I would worry about you being able to have enough room for everything and exhausting yourself trying to carry it all!
You can check national rail to plan your journey--definitely check it out!

You really need to rent a car. There is no way to do it with all of the stuff plus three pets in carriers!!

Ditto. 

A big no to the train.  You'd have to change at Reading and likely somewhere else too, and it's hard to tell which train to take when you're not familiar with the system.  Plus, with that amount of luggage (the pet carriers alone!) it'd be a nightmare.  Are you sure there's not a cheaper taxi service?  My MIL got us a taxi from Somerset to Heathrow and back for a lot less than $1500, and it's only an hour or so farther to Exeter.  IMO that's the best option--straight to where you need to go, no hauling luggage, no driving in traffic, etc.    

You could consider hiring a man and van service. Check out anyvan.com where you can list a job and couriers then bid on the job. It will give you a good idea of how much hiring a driver and van to move your stuff will cost. Usually one person can ride in the van, but you could probably find one where both of you can go. Otherwise one of you might have to get the train, but at least without all your stuff!

I googled 'taxi heathrow to Exeter' as an example, and came up with lots of links such as: http://exetercabs.co.uk/ and http://www.airporttravelsouthwest.co.uk/ .

I'm sure you will find a large minivan or minibus available to collect you, luggage and pets at a much more reasonable price than $1500!

I googled 'taxi heathrow to Exeter' as an example, and came up with lots of links such as: http://exetercabs.co.uk/ and http://www.airporttravelsouthwest.co.uk/ .

I'm sure you will find a large minivan or minibus available to collect you, luggage and pets at a much more reasonable price than $1500!

Thank you all so much!  I will look into those links.  I would prefer to have someone drive us.  Train sounds terrible just as I suspected and I worried about driving on the left side of the road.  I will let you know.