Heathrow Airport, England, United Kingdom
I was taking my first trip in three years after all the restrictions from 2020. This was also my first time back to the UK in fifteen years since 2007. My dad had passed in 2008 so it was too difficult to see all my childhood and from 2010-13 I was living in Korea so travelling back to the UK was not a priority. After the 2012 Olympics and an absence of 15 years it was time to see all the changes.
It was a morning landing but luckily the sun had come up for descent. Unfortunately it was still thick cloud so not much to see.
There is a newly opened Elizabeth Line which connects Heathrow Airport thru Central London to East London, so no more taking the Tube and changing lines in Central London
I still had my Oyster Card from prior visits so I added 20 pounds to the balance. It said I had a balance of 5 pence.
There is a branch line that runs to Shenfield in North East London which I wanted. The train on the platform was to Abbey Wood in South East London thru the Docklands. I was going to wait for the Shenfield train but the guide on the platform said they will start running next month and that I had to change in Whitechapel for now.
It was very convenient to know that I can now take direct trains to Heathrow rather than having to change to the Piccadilly Line in Central London as we used to have to. Also the train is faster by skipping all the local stops and wide bodied for extra passengers and luggage.
Train fare to Forest Gate was 13 pounds 80 pence.
Youtube video : https://youtu.be/m_5c_bw4dUI
2025-05-22