VS002 at LHR - how long to get to arrivals?

Playing around with different options of getting home from Heathrow and there are some nice cheap train fares from London available at present (£9.60 in standard class compared to £45.50 via Newark and £122 via Doncaster for first!).

May book the cheap advance fare as it turns out to be on the quickest train as well.

My flight lands around 9:05am on Wednesday 10th Nov and I'm planning on popping over to arrivals for a while before either getting the tube or HEX into London (only around 10 mins difference in travel times for 2-3x the price and changes).

What I want to know is, on average, how long it would take me from landing to clear immigration, claim my baggage and find arrivals. Then, would an hour be enough time to maybe grab a shower and some breakfast etc?

[Nottingham Nick]

Yesterday, the Immigration hall was very busy, but it still only took us about 10 / 15 minutes to get through the UK / Euro queues, as there were a lot of desks open.

Our luggage was waiting for us on the carousel when we got through. UC / Au priority tags really do seem to be working recently.

Revivals was very busy when we got there, and we got the only free table. Having said that, there were two showers immediately available.

The tube into London with baggage at that time of the morning is a real crush and very slow, but at least it is direct; and by getting on at LHR you can install yourself at the end of an empty carriage.

Nick

On a related issue, when we have had cheap train tickets in the past, and our plane was delayed, we simply got a letter from VS explaining the delay, and we were allowed to catch a later train with no surcharge.

I bought a £9 ticket in first from Sheffield to London back in January and my connecting train was late due to snow. Missed the one I was booked on but they were fine about it

On the return, paid an extra £5 for a ticket on the next train just in case there were delays again but all was well.

Do tend to book advance tickets now for a train later than intended. Enjoy paying a third of the price on a ticket even if it involves sitting around for an extra hour (at least I'll have revivals so I could drag it out in there if need be - got to be better than a railway station, although could use the first lounge at St Pancras, whatever that's like)

[Nottingham Nick]

............ although could use the first lounge at St Pancras, whatever that's like)

Unless it has changed recently, cheap (restricted) first class tickets don't get you into the lounge at St Pancras.

Nick

One page on the East Midlands Trains website says first advance tickets do get you in, whereas another says they don't (but you can pay £5). Just as easy to sit in a coffee shop or at Yo Sushi! I suppose.

I bought a £9 ticket in first from Sheffield to London back in January and my connecting train was late due to snow. Missed the one I was booked on but they were fine about it

On the return, paid an extra £5 for a ticket on the next train just in case there were delays again but all was well.

With train tickets, if the train you are on is 15 minutes late and you miss your connection (because of this delay), you SHOULD be able to get your ticket stamped by the station or guard that will allow you onto the next train for your connection.

Last time we arrived at LHR there was about a 10 min walk before we got to immigration, but then only about 5 minutes to get through. Luggage was hit and miss, half our bags were first off, but the other half were mixed in the PE luggage...

What I want to know is, on average, how long it would take me from landing to clear immigration, claim my baggage and find arrivals. Then, would an hour be enough time to maybe grab a shower and some breakfast etc?

assuming from the fact that you're using Revivals that you're in UC or PE, i'd say you can be in revivals within 20 minutes of de-planing. an hour is plenty of time to shower & eat, there's usually showers available straight away & even a full cooked brekkie usually only takes 10 mins or so to arrive. i've showered, eaten & left within 30 minutes before now