Heathrow express is super easy with luggage and then as above poster said, the bakerloo line ends at elephant and castle or you could taxi from Paddington (where the Express drops off). I would think that would end up being cheaper overall

Great thread - I live very close to Brentford's stadium so let me know if you need any local recs for pubs, etc.

I'm planning to buy a membership for the club in hopes of securing tickets to the Fulham game on 3/4 but final schedules due to tv doesn't come out till 1/25. Good to see it isn't impossible to get tickets.

Update - I now have memberships for myself and my wife (need a membership for each ticket) but looks like tickets for the bigger games will be impossible.

Did you go through a broker on Facebook or get a membership? I'm also trying to find tickets to this game

I would echo what ATM9000 said. If you have a sizable group and/or kids, strollers, elderly, etc. (and I'm guessing with 6 pcs of luggage you have at least 2 or 3 people), then the car is probably worth the extra money.

The train/tube option is definitely cheaper. And it's easy with able bodied adults carrying 1 reasonable bag that doesn't weigh 50 lbs. But lots of tube stations in London don't have escalators. Some of them don't even have elevators...only stairs. And even the ones that do have escalators or lifts often have a bit that can only be done with stairs. The hassle factor goes up exponentially as you add luggage and/or small children into the equation.

It looks like Elephant and Castle has a walk bridge and an elevator. But the street, platform, and bridge could be on 3 different levels and the elevator may only access 2 of them (i.e. can only use between platform and bridge...had this happen last weekend actually while taking the London Overground).

https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUEAC/elephant-castle-underground-station/#station-crowding-information

I bought us the "priority" memberships in hopes that when the tickets go on sale that we would be able to get something pretty decent. That said, I'm gonna feel dumb if it doesn't and we have to go through a broker cause the membership cost is so much higher than most other clubs. I had gotten an email back from the club saying that tickets will come available but they typically sell out in 10-15 mins so I'll have to be finger on the trigger once the time comes. If you want to go this route I would suggest getting the membership now as I noticed it takes a day or so to be able to see any available tickets for home matches.

cmow14 said:

---

Do you mind sharing the broker that you found if it doesn't hurt your chances of getting the tickets? I'm going to the Arsenal vs Brentford (2/11) and arsenal vs man city (2/15). I was also looking at the Leeds vs Man U and Liverpool vs Everton games if I can find tickets.

---

Send me a DM and we can take it off the thread.

ATM9000 said:

---

monarch said:

---

Here's one for somebody...transit from Heathrow to the house we are leasing. I have been in touch with a few companies that operate out of Heathrow and the RT rate for 6 pcs of luggage in a Mercedes seems to be around $225-240.00. The driver will pick us up at Term 2, take us to where we are staying in Elephant Castle area and take us back to the airport on our departure day. Might do the subway gig but am leery of pulling luggage through the airport and onto a train, etc. Plus I have always had somebody pick me up in the past.

Suggestions on a better, cheaper way maybe?

---

I have to ask… because it is the most eyebrow raising choice in your planning: why are you staying around Elephant and Castle? It's not an unsafe or bad neighborhood.. but just not an area I'd peg to out of towners staying in.

You can get to Elephant and Castle from Heathrow via the Express and then take Bakerloo from Paddington and it ends at Elephant and Castle. I'm on the Bakerloo through central London most mornings during peak commute times and it's not too crowded/uncomfortable.

Depends on how easy it is for you all to get around really. If I'm traveling on my own somewhere, I nearly always take the train. It's usually a tad quicker than a car (crazy but true) to every airport and way cheaper. If I have my family in tow, I get a car. My Dad is a little over 70 and was here in October and has been here a few times to visit. He's done the trains before and can make it work from Heathrow into London but only does cars now because the luggage and hassle are a bit much for him for what it is worth.

---

Decision was based mostly on the size of the AirBnB we were looking for. At some point this trip turned from a boys trip that was supposed to be just me, dad, and my brother to the entire family, plus wives and kids on my brothers side. So we were looking for a big place. Interesting enough, that has since changed a little but its the answer to your question nonetheless. Dad is 70 so its frankly just easier for them to get a driver and not screw with the luggage deal on the train from Heathrow. Wife and I have done this a few times before so we know what we are getting ourselves into lugging around the stuff.

Partial London Tube strikes on Feb 11 affecting Bakerloo Line and thus Elephant and Castle Station that day

And more rail strikes coming…Feb 1 and 3…keep checking to make sure more for the month aren't announced

BTW, am I understanding you're arriving at Heathrow morning of the 11th and going to Leicester-Spuds that afternoon in Leicester?

monarch said:

---

"…Dad is 70…" implying that I'm old and decrepit. I could out run half the people on this website and BKR knows that. Of course I'll probably sleep on the trains we get on but that's beside the point.

---

Impressive, Monarch! Keep running! We olds gotta stay active.

That is the plan, yes sir and then on to Leeds for Sunday match there vs MUN.

monarch said:

---

That is the plan, yes sir and then on to Leeds for Sunday match there vs MUN.

---

This will be tighter and more hectic than you probably think it is researching online but is doable. Bank on pretty much no cleaning up or down time between when you land and when you need to leave your AirBNB in South London to get there for start of the match.

BKR and I are taking two pcs of luggage each (Plus a bag with running clothes and a laptop). NO biggie, I have done this before. One pc of luggage will stay at the VRBO we are renting and the second smaller pc (plus the lap top and running gear ) will go with us to LC, Leeds and Anfield. There is a place at the LC train station that we can leave the luggage at while we go to the match then return and zip to Leeds after the match. Hopefully everything holds and works out.

ATM9000 said:

---

monarch said:

---

That is the plan, yes sir and then on to Leeds for Sunday match there vs MUN.

---

This will be tighter and more hectic than you probably think it is researching online but is doable. Bank on pretty much no cleaning up or down time between when you land and when you need to leave your AirBNB in South London to get there for start of the match.

---

Agree it's going to be a little hectic. I won't be able to stop stressing until we make it to St. Pancras and are headed north.

It would be cool if you got to see Aaronson, Adams, and McKinney for Leeds. Here's to hoping!

AirplaneAg09 said:

---

I hope you guys bring back some stories and photos for the board! This trip sounds amazing and I am very jealous from afar!

---

I'm planning on a daily dump of photos for the board!

Yep; that match is on Sunday and I am interested in seeing that. Evidently the hotel we are staying at in Leeds is the same hotel the players are at on Saturday night.

monarch said:

---

Yep; that match is on Sunday and I am interested in seeing that. Evidently the hotel we are staying at in Leeds is the same hotel the players are at on Saturday night.

---

That's so cool. That would be awesome to get some pictures the tres Americans!

BearkatRunner88 said:

---

TICKETS SECURED:

SAT 18 - BRE v CRY
- Got lucky buying memberships for cheap and was able to obtain tickets the morning they went on sale.

---

I just secured 2 tickets to this one via the club members ticket exchange. My wife will almost certainly not be able to go so if anyone else is in town and needs a single let me know and you can likely have it.

Just secured our transfer from Heathrow to our four bedroom townhouse.

Weston McKennie’s first home match for Leeds United at Elland Road is going to be against Manchester United 👀 pic.twitter.com/mSrkcBBJSX

— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) January 30, 2023

wangus12 said:

---

Would love to see an American storm tear it up against United

---

It's what I'm definitely hoping for!

BKR:

We need to find two American Flag shirts somewhere and wear them!

Amazon has a bunch to choose from!

old navy used to always have some, but I haven't been in years so I don't know anymore

monarch said:

---

BKR:

We need to find two American Flag shirts somewhere and wear them!

---

Lol I don't see this going well...

Just like I didn't see you wearing your Cleveland Browns Johnny jersey going well when we played Carolina for the first time in Columbia. You might remember that JM and Connor Shaw were fighting it out for the #2 spot on the depth chart.

I remember when you came down the elevator that morning and first thing I said was go change now cause that's gonna cause problems later...you didn't and there was A LOT of chirping. End of that story was those fans suck and I was too young at the time not to let some of it get to me.

Tickets are hard enough to come by and those folks aren't gonna love a bunch of yanks taking up their seats...just sayin...

BearkatRunner88 said:

---

monarch said:

---

BKR:

We need to find two American Flag shirts somewhere and wear them!

---

Lol I don't see this going well...

Just like I didn't see you wearing your Cleveland Browns Johnny jersey going well when we played Carolina for the first time in Columbia. You might remember that JM and Connor Shaw were fighting it out for the #2 spot on the depth chart.

I remember when you came down the elevator that morning and first thing I said was go change now cause that's gonna cause problems later...you didn't and there was A LOT of chirping. End of that story was those fans suck and I was too young at the time not to let some of it get to me.

Tickets are hard enough to come by and those folks aren't gonna love a bunch of yanks taking up their seats...just sayin...

---

Y'all should wear this.

No, better idea!!