Balfe St, St Pancras, London – Directions

Travelling to London by Plane

Your flight into London can land at one of five airports. While City Airport is probably the closest to Central London, Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, Luton Airport and Stansted Airport are all only one hour or so away from Balfe St.

Travelling into Central London from London Heathrow Airport

 It is an easy journey from London Heathrow Airport to Balfe Street, as the local tube (subway) station, Kings Cross-St Pancras is on the line that runs directly to the airport. Take the Piccadilly line (dark blue on the tube map) from inside the airport to Kings Cross-St Pancras tube station (50-60 minute journey depending on time of day). From Kings Cross-St Pancras, it's a 3 minute walk to the house. If you are in a hurry, the more expensive route is the Heathrow Express train to Paddington (15 mins) and then a tube (Circle line � yellow line on the tube map) to Kings Cross-St Pancras (5 stops). This is quicker but it involves more struggling on and off trains with luggage.

Travelling into Central London from London Gatwick Airport

Take the First Capital Connect train from inside the airport to St Pancras station in London. The journey takes around 45 minutes. You can walk from St Pancras station (5 minutes).

Travelling into Central London from London Stansted Airport

Take the Stansted Express train from inside the airport to Liverpool Street Station. Then take the tube (Circle line � yellow line on the tube map) to Kings Cross-St Pancras tube station (five stops). Balfe Street is a 3 minute walk.

Travelling into Central London from London City Airport

Take the DLR train (Docklands Light Railway) to Bank station. Then take the tube (Northern line � black line on the tube map) to Kings Cross-St Pancras station. Balfe Street is a 3 minute walk.

Travelling into Central London from London Luton Airport

Take the airport�s complimentary bus to Luton Parkway railway station. Take the train to London Kings Cross- St Pancras station. Balfe Street is a 5 minute walk.

Travelling to London by Rail

St Pancras International Station where the Eurostar rail services from Paris, Lille and Brussels now arrive is a 5 minute walk from Balfe Street. Kings Cross Station (trains from Edinburgh, Newcastle, Durham, York, Leeds, Grantham and Cambridge) is a 3 minute walk away. Euston Station is a 10 minute walk west (trains from Glasgow, Carlisle, the Lake District, Manchester, Birmingham). It is a short bus ride from London Bridge Station (bus 17 from the bus station at London Bridge). It is a short bus ride from Waterloo station (bus 59 goes direct or take the tube from Waterloo and change at Oxford Circus). Paddington Station (trains from Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bath and Oxford) is a tube ride away � take the Circle line (yellow line on the tube map) to Kings Cross-St Pancras. Victoria Station is a tube ride away. Take the Victoria line (light blue on the tube map) from Victoria tube station to Kings Cross-St Pancras.

 We will send you more detailed directions and a map of the local area when you book. Just let us know on the booking form which airport or station you expect to arrive at.

We do not recommend driving in central London. Parking is dreadful and the traffic is worse. Many people who live in central London have either sold their car or only use it for long journeys out of town. If you want to live like a Londoner, arrive by train, buy an Oystercard and take the tubes and buses.

Getting Around in London

You can walk to many of London�s tourist sites and attractions from Balfe Street, but as London�s sites are spread out from the Tower of London in the east to Buckingham Palace and Westminster to the west, you will find yourself using buses and tubes at some point, wherever you choose to stay. Balfe Street is minutes from tubes and buses that will take you all over London. You can see a map of the tube network here http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/standard-tube-map.pdf For more details of buses, tubes and getting around London, see the Transport For London website which has a useful journey planner http://www.tfl.gov.uk/

Travelling on the London Underground (Tube) & Buses & Oystercards

While you can pay by cash to use the tubes and buses, it is much cheaper to buy an Oystercard (�3 deposit, get it back when you leave London by handing in the card at a tube station). You charge up the Oystercard with cash either at a tube station or a newsagent (look for the light blue Oystercard logo in the shop window). You then �touch in� and �touch out� at the barriers at tube stations and on buses. Having an Oystercard halves bus fares all over London and halves tube fares in zone 1. If you use your Oystercard for several journeys in one day, the journeys gradually become cheaper until you are travelling for free. Children under 11 travel free on the underground and buses (just ask the station assistant at the ticket barriers to let your children through). Children age 11-16 require an Oyster photocard to travel free on the buses and to get reduced fares on the tube. See here for details: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/1020.aspx Or you can buy reduced price child tickets at the station.