Everything you need before you book: fixed fares, airport meet and greet, local transport, hotels and what to see.
Dates, prices and menus are as published by each venue (checked October 2026); entries marked “2025 dates” are last season’s and will be updated when 2026 dates are announced. Check the linked site before booking. We can take you door to door to any of these – Christmas fares.
Local guide to West End: Mayfair, Soho & Marylebone: hotels & prices, where to eat, sights, day trips, accessibility (tap to open)
Staying in and around West End: Mayfair, Soho & Marylebone: hotels, food, sights & local life
Our drivers live and work here. Tell them what you need – a SIM card, a cash machine, a late supper, a pharmacy, a pram-friendly route – and they will sort it on the way. Trust the local knowledge; it costs nothing extra.
Hotels near West End: Mayfair, Soho & Marylebone and what they cost
Typical room rates: budget private room from about £49 (about $65 / €58); 3-star mid-range £100–£200 (about $132–$264 / €118–€236); 4-star £200–£350 (about $264–$462 / €236–€413); 5-star from £400 (about $528 / €472) a night. London-wide the average paid in 2026 is around £194 (about $256 / €229). Rates rise 20–40% at Christmas, Easter, Wimbledon fortnight and big concert weekends – book early. (Conversions at £1 = $1.32 / €1.18, October 2026; room rates from published 2026 market guides, not a quote.) All hotels near West End: Mayfair, Soho & Marylebone on Google Maps.
Where to eat in West End: Mayfair, Soho & Marylebone (nearest researched area: Paddington)
Smiths Bar & Grill (25 Sheldon Square, Paddington Central W2 6EY) – £95 per person (2025; 2026 TBC); London Shell Co (barge) (Paddington Basin) – £35 per person; Sawyers Arms (Paddington) – typically £30–£50 a head; Canal (Westbourne Park W9) – £100 per head.
Family-friendly: Wagamama Paddington (Sheldon Sq) (kids' menu, high chairs); Pizza Express Paddington (Piccolo kids' menu); Giraffe / Bill's style family chains in Paddington Central (kids' menus) – mains typically £10–£18, kids’ menus £6–£9.
Restaurants near West End: Mayfair, Soho & Marylebone on Google Maps · Time Out London restaurant guide. Most places take cards and contactless; tipping 10–12.5% is normal and often added as a service charge.
Places to see near West End: Mayfair, Soho & Marylebone (nearest researched area: Paddington)
- Little Venice
Picturesque canal basin with colourful narrowboats
see site · more - Paddington Bear statue
Bronze statue under the clock on Platform 1
free · more - Merchant Square water maze & Rolling Bridge
World's first water maze; Rolling Bridge curls Weds/Fri at midday
free · more - Sheldon Square
Grassy amphitheatre ringed by restaurants and bars
free · more
Local life: Paddington and Bayswater are the classic first-night-in-London base: Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens across the road, Portobello Road market (Saturdays) in Notting Hill, Queensway and Westbourne Grove for Lebanese, Persian and Chinese food, Little Venice canal boats, and Oxford Street 15 minutes away. Marylebone High Street and Connaught Village are where locals shop and eat.
Sightseeing links & entry prices: Official London visitor guide (Visit London) (see site) · Royal Parks (free) · British Museum (free) (free) · Tower of London & Historic Royal Palaces (adult £37, child £18.50) · Tate Modern & Tate Britain (free) (free) · London Eye (from £29 online, £39 walk-up) · Westminster Abbey (adult £31) · TfL Visitor Oyster & contactless fares (Zone 1–2 cap about £8.90 a day).
Child-friendly Paddington
- Diana Memorial Playground, Kensington Gardens
free, under-12s, pirate ship
free · more - Puppet Theatre Barge, Little Venice
marionette shows, ages 3+
about £14, approx · more - Paddington Bear statue & Paddington Basin
free · more - Science Museum (South Kensington)
free, 10 min by Circle line · more - Hyde Park (Serpentine boating, playgrounds)
free entry · more
Baby changing & feeding: Baby-changing in free toilets at Paddington station (Network Rail).
Day trips outside London from West End: Mayfair, Soho & Marylebone (fixed fare, door to door, driver waits)
| Where | Why go | Our fare |
|---|
| Windsor Castle | 1 hour west; royal residence, changing of the guard
Entry: adult £32 (£36 on the day) | ask for a fixed day-trip fare |
| Hampton Court Palace | 45 min south-west; Henry VIII’s palace, maze and gardens
Entry: adult £29 | ask for a fixed day-trip fare |
| Oxford | 1h 30 west; colleges, Bodleian, punting
Entry: see site | from £130 |
| Cambridge | 1h 30 north; colleges and the Backs
Entry: see site | from £150 |
| Stonehenge & Salisbury | 2 hours west
Entry: adult about £25, approx | from £180 |
| Bath | 2h 15 west; Roman Baths, Georgian crescents
Entry: see site | from £220 |
| Brighton | 1h 15 south; pier, Lanes, Royal Pavilion
Entry: see site | from £84 |
| Canterbury Cathedral & Dover Castle | 1h 30–2 hours south-east
Entry: adult about £25, approx | from £90 |
| Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter | 45 min north-west (Watford); book months ahead
Entry: adult £58.50, child £47 (2026) | ask for a fixed day-trip fare |
| Legoland Windsor | 1 hour west; children 2–12
Entry: from about £34 online, approx | ask for a fixed day-trip fare |
| The Cotswolds | 2 hours west; Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury, Stow
Entry: see site | from £310 |
| Seven Sisters & Beachy Head | 2 hours south; chalk cliffs walk
Entry: free; parking from about £3, approx | from £75 |
A day trip in our car means no train changes, no luggage lockers and the driver waits while you visit (waiting time is quoted upfront). Two to four people usually pay less than peak-time rail tickets plus a local taxi at the other end.
Car hire near West End: Mayfair, Soho & Marylebone
Enterprise London Paddington Train Station; Europcar London Paddington; Hertz Marble Arch (Central London); Enterprise London Marylebone · more on Google Maps. Typical 2026 rates: economy car from about £35–£60 a day, £180–£300 a week, plus fuel and a £15–£25 Congestion Charge for each day in central London. Remember the Congestion Charge, ULEZ and central-London parking before hiring for a city stay.
Disabled-friendly, step-free, pets & guide dogs in West End: Mayfair, Soho & Marylebone
Step-free stations: London Paddington (National Rail) – step-free from street to platform; Elizabeth line step-free to train; Paddington (Underground) – Circle/District/H&C step-free to platform (Praed St); Bakerloo no step-free access. Buses: All TfL buses low-floor with ramp; wheelchair users free. Blue Badge parking: Westminster: national Blue Badge concessions do not apply - park only in marked disabled bays (4h max) or pay. Guide & assistance dogs: Assistance dogs welcome on all services. Pets on public transport: Dogs free on TfL and National Rail (max 2 per passenger on rail); carried on escalators. TfL accessibility.
Travelling with us: assistance dogs always travel free in every car, no notice needed (Equality Act 2010). Other dogs and pets are welcome by prior arrangement – tell us when you book so we send a suitable car and a driver who is happy to carry them. Folding wheelchairs, walkers and mobility scooters that fold go in the boot at no extra charge; if you need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle or extra time at pick-up, say so when booking and we will confirm availability before you pay. Rail step-free status changes when lifts are out of service – check the station page or book Passenger Assist (ideally 2 hours ahead); on TfL you can turn up and go.
At Stansted Airport: parking, car hire, getting into London & assistance
Stansted Airport car parks – official prices
| Car park | Price | Hours | |
|---|
| Short Stay (official) | £10 up to 30 min roll-up (2026); pre-book from £74.99 for 7 days | 24/7 | book |
| Long Stay (official) | From £49.99-£59.99 for 8 days pre-booked (Nov 2026) | 24/7, 15-min shuttle | book |
| Meet & Greet (official) | From £79-£81 for 8 days pre-booked (Nov 2026) | 24/7 | book |
| Express Set Down | £7 up to 15 min; £25 over 15 min (2026) | 24/7 | book |
Car hire at Stansted Airport
- Car Rental Centre (Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Europcar, Sixt)
Short walk/shuttle from the terminal · book
Stansted Airport to London: public transport vs taxi
| Option | Time & fare | Hours | |
|---|
| Stansted Express to Liverpool Street (via Tottenham Hale) | 48-50 (35 to Tottenham Hale) · Advance from £9.90 single | first ~05:30 from airport, last 00:30 from airport | timetable |
| National Express A6/A7/A8/A9 coaches to Victoria/Stratford/Liverpool Street | ~60-100 min | first 24h, last 24h | timetable |
| Our fixed-fare taxi to West London | from £102 whole car | 24/7, meet & greet in arrivals, flight tracked | |
Assistance, step-free access, assistance dogs & pets at Stansted Airport
Special assistance: Pre-book via airline/agent at least 48h ahead; Assisted Travel run by ABM; Assistance Desk Zone A before security. Step-free: Single-level terminal; lifts to the rail station. Accessible toilets & Changing Places: Accessible changing facilities listed by the airport. Assistance dogs: Recognised assistance dogs welcome; relief areas at the far end of the forecourt (landside) and airside via the Assisted Travel team. Pets: Only assistance dogs and dogs travelling as passengers' pets enter the terminal. Blue Badge parking: Blue Badge bays in Short Stay Orange/Green, Mid Stay and Long Stay; dedicated Blue Badge booking. Airport accessibility page
Families at Stansted Airport
Family facilities: Little Flyers Club, baby change and breastfeeding rooms, child-friendly dining.
- Mountfitchet Castle
Stansted Mountfitchet, ~10 min
paid entry, see site (typically £8–£30) · more - Audley End House (English Heritage)
~20 min
adult about £22, approx · more - Hatfield Forest (National Trust)
Adjacent to the airport
free; parking about £5 (NT members free) · more
Getting around West London: parking, car hire, public transport & accessibility
Car parks in Paddington – prices & opening hours (nearest researched hub to West London: Paddington)
- APCOA London Paddington Station
Bishops Bridge Road, W2 6AA
Mon-Fri 1h £5.15, 3h £11.50, 24h £35.20; weekends £16.90/day; night (18:00-06:00) £11.50 · 24/7
81 spaces, yes (number not published) Blue Badge bays · prices & booking - Q-Park Paddington area / Westminster pay-by-phone bays
Praed St / Sussex Gardens on-street
Westminster on-street tariff (RingGo) · controlled 08:30-18:30 Mon-Sat (zone F)
disabled bays on-street Blue Badge bays · prices & booking
All car parks near West London on Google Maps. Parking vs taxi: Park & Ride (formerly Long Stay) at Heathrow is Drive-up £46.80 first 24h then £37.40/24h; pre-book from about £11-15/day; our fixed fare from West London to Heathrow is from £85 for the whole car, door to door, with no shuttle bus and no drop-off charge to pay. Driving a friend to Heathrow? The terminal drop-off charge is £7 per visit (from 1 Jan 2026), 10-min max (included in our fare).
Car hire in Paddington (nearest researched hub to West London: Paddington)
- Enterprise London Paddington Train Station
APCOA Paddington Stn Car Park, Bishops Bridge Rd, W2 6AA
Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00, Sat 08:00-13:00, Sun closed · +44 20 3149 0577 · book - Europcar London Paddington
Elm Mews, off Bayswater Rd, W2 3PN
Mon-Sat 08:00-18:00 · book - Hertz Marble Arch (Central London)
Marble Arch, W1 · book - Enterprise London Marylebone
Marylebone, NW1 · book
More car hire near West London on Google Maps. Typical 2026 rates: economy car from about £35–£60 a day. Hiring just to reach the airport? Count the fuel, the airport car-park fee and the return of the car before comparing with a one-way fixed fare.
Public transport vs taxi from West London to the airports
| Airport | Train / tube / bus | Our taxi |
|---|
| Heathrow | Heathrow Express direct (15 min) or Elizabeth line direct (~30-35 min)
15 / 30-35 · 0 changes · HEx £26 standard (£32 Premier+, advance from £10); Elizabeth line £15.50 peak PAYG (2026), Heathrow.com says from £13.90
first arrival HEx first 04:34 → ~04:50; Elizabeth first 04:36 → ~05:10, last departure HEx last from T5 23:57; Elizabeth last from Paddington 23:24 (T2/3) · timetable
TfL Journey Planner (Tue 10:00): 74 min, 0 changes via elizabeth-line Elizabeth line, £15.50 | door to door
from £85 fixed, whole car
24/7, meet & greet, no drop-off charge |
| Gatwick | Elizabeth line to Farringdon, then Thameslink
70-80 min · 1 change · contactless PAYG
first arrival ~06:00 (approx), last departure ~23:00 (approx) · timetable | door to door
from £85 fixed, whole car
24/7, meet & greet, no drop-off charge |
| Stansted | Elizabeth line to Liverpool Street, then Stansted Express
75-85 min · 1 change · £3.10 + Stansted Express from £9.90 advance
first arrival ~05:30 (approx), last departure Stansted Express last from Liverpool St 23:21 · timetable
TfL Journey Planner (Tue 10:00): 154 min, 2 changes via national-rail Greater Anglia, bus X10, bus 7A | door to door
from £102 fixed, whole car
24/7, meet & greet, no drop-off charge |
| Luton | Elizabeth line to Farringdon, then Thameslink to Luton Airport Parkway + DART; or NX A2 coach direct from Paddington
65-75 min · 1 (+DART) changes · PAYG + DART £4.90
first arrival ~05:30 (approx), last departure ~23:30 (approx) · timetable
TfL Journey Planner (Tue 10:00): 88 min, 3 changes via bus 339, national-rail Southeastern, national-rail East Midlands Railway, national-rail Luton Airport DART | – |
| London City | Elizabeth line to Custom House, then DLR (1 stop)
35-40 min · 1 change · £3.90 peak / £3.30 off-peak
first arrival ~06:00, last departure ~23:30 (approx) · timetable
TfL Journey Planner (Tue 10:00): 29 min, 1 change via tube Jubilee, dlr DLR, £2.20 | – |
Coach: National Express A2 Paddington–Luton Airport (up to 31/day) – 60-90 min, varies by date (book).
How to choose. Public transport wins on price for one traveller with hand luggage at 10am. A taxi usually wins when there are two or more of you (one fare for the car, not per person), when you have hold bags or a pushchair, for flights before the first train arrives or landings after the last one leaves, and when a change of train or a station without lifts would be a problem. Rail fares above are per adult; add £4–£6 per person for the DART/shuttle where shown, and remember engineering work most weekends.
Accessibility in West London: step-free travel, assistance dogs & pets
| Station | Step-free access | Lifts | Assistance | Accessible toilets | Source |
|---|
London Paddington (National Rail)
Network Rail; GWR, Heathrow Express, Elizabeth line | step-free from street to platform; Elizabeth line step-free to train | yes | Passenger Assist / TfL turn-up-and-go (Elizabeth line) | yes, free, with baby change | station page |
Paddington (Underground)
Bakerloo, Circle, District, H&C | Circle/District/H&C step-free to platform (Praed St); Bakerloo no step-free access | yes (Praed St side) | TfL turn-up-and-go | in main station | station page |
Step-free: Paddington (Elizabeth/Circle/District/H&C) step-free; Bakerloo not; Edgware Road, Lancaster Gate not step-free. Buses: All TfL buses low-floor with ramp; wheelchair users free; source https://content.tfl.gov.uk/accessible-travel-in-london-leaflet.pdf. Blue Badge parking: Westminster: national Blue Badge concessions do not apply - park only in marked disabled bays (4h max) or pay. Guide & assistance dogs: Assistance dogs welcome on all services on local public transport. Pets on public transport: Dogs free on TfL and National Rail (max 2 per passenger on rail); carried on escalators.
Travelling with us: assistance dogs always travel free in every car, no notice needed (Equality Act 2010). Other dogs and pets are welcome by prior arrangement – tell us when you book so we send a suitable car and a driver who is happy to carry them. Folding wheelchairs, walkers and mobility scooters that fold go in the boot at no extra charge; if you need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle or extra time at pick-up, say so when booking and we will confirm availability before you pay. Rail step-free status changes when lifts are out of service – check the station page or book Passenger Assist (ideally 2 hours ahead); on TfL you can turn up and go.
Child-friendly Paddington: places for children & family dining (nearest researched hub to West London: Paddington)
- Diana Memorial Playground, Kensington Gardens
free, under-12s, pirate ship
free · more - Puppet Theatre Barge, Little Venice
marionette shows, ages 3+
about £14, approx · more - Paddington Bear statue & Paddington Basin
free · more - Science Museum (South Kensington)
free, 10 min by Circle line · more - Hyde Park (Serpentine boating, playgrounds)
free entry · more
Family restaurants: Wagamama Paddington (Sheldon Sq); Pizza Express Paddington; Giraffe / Bill's style family chains in Paddington Central.
Baby changing & feeding: Baby-changing in free toilets at Paddington station (Network Rail).
Child seats: licensed private hire cars are exempt from the child-seat law when a seat is not available, but we would rather fit one – give us the children’s ages when you book and we will bring the right seat where we can (free, subject to availability), or you are welcome to bring your own. Pushchairs and travel cots go in the boot at no charge.
Car park, car hire, rail and accessibility details are as published by the operators and airports (seen October 2026) and from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors) – check before you rely on them; TfL Journey Planner times are for a weekday 10:00 departure. Our fares are the fixed saloon price on the linked route page.