Who uses our hotel transfers
Kingston has a steady flow of visitors: people attending weddings and family events, business visitors to offices in the town centre, parents visiting students at Kingston University, and tourists using Kingston as a quieter base near Hampton Court Palace and Richmond Park. Many arrive by air and need a car from the airport to their hotel, and back again a few days later.
We also work the other way round. Kingston residents book us to reach hotels in central London for a night out, a conference or a stay before an early Eurostar, and to get to airport hotels the evening before a dawn flight.
Common hotel transfer journeys
| Journey | Typical drive time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Kingston hotel to Heathrow | 25–35 min | Give the terminal number; Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 are in different places. |
| Kingston hotel to Gatwick | 45–55 min | Tell us North or South Terminal when you book. |
| Kingston to a West End hotel | 45–70 min | Central London journeys may include the Congestion Charge. |
| Kingston to a Heathrow airport hotel | 20–30 min | Many airport hotels sit along the A4 Bath Road, close to the terminals. |
Drive times are typical estimates outside rush hour.
Timing your transfer around check-in and check-out
Hotel check-out is often 11am or noon, while check-in elsewhere may not be until 3pm. If you have a gap, tell us. We can collect you after check-out and take you straight to the airport, or take you on to a lunch or a meeting with your luggage in the boot.
For airport runs, we work back from your flight time. For a short-haul flight from Heathrow, most travellers aim to arrive about two hours before departure. For a long-haul flight, allow around three hours. Add your drive time and a little buffer, and that is your pick-up time. The office is happy to work this out with you.
Groups and events
For a wedding party staying in one hotel, or a group of colleagues heading to the same conference, it is often easier to book one larger vehicle than several cars. Our 7 seater taxi carries up to seven or eight people, and our 6 seater suits smaller groups with luggage. For bigger groups we can send several vehicles timed to arrive together.
Hotels at the airports and stations
Several airports have hotels connected to the terminal by a walkway, while others sit a short shuttle ride away. Check your hotel's address before you book, and give it to us in full, because some airport hotels share names with hotels in central London. The same applies to hotels near the big rail termini, such as Paddington and King's Cross.
Paying for a hotel transfer
The price is fixed when you book, so a traffic jam on the way does not change it. You can pay by major credit or debit card. Businesses and hotels can ask about an account so that transfers are invoiced together.
Hotel transfer questions
Can you collect me from my hotel and take me to the airport?
Yes. Give us the hotel name and address, your flight time and the terminal. We will suggest a pick-up time that allows for traffic and check-in, and the driver will meet you at the hotel entrance.
I am arriving at an airport and staying in Kingston. Can you take me to my hotel?
Yes. Book an airport collection with your flight number, and give the hotel address as the destination. You can ask for meet and greet, where the driver waits in the arrivals hall with your name.
Can a hotel book transfers for its guests?
Yes. Hotel reception teams can book by phone or email on behalf of guests. Ask the office about setting up an account if you book regularly.
Where will the driver wait at the hotel?
Usually at the main entrance or the hotel's set-down area. If the hotel has a particular place for cars to wait, tell us when you book and we will pass it to the driver.