Clive D. W. Feather wrote:
In article , Barry
Salter writes
The TfL Journey Planner suggests several routes:
[...]
2) Northern Line to Stockwell
Victoria Line to Victoria
Circle/District Line to South Kensington
Piccadilly Line to Heathrow

Difficult change at South Kensington; gawd knows why it's suggested
that one.

Presumably because it's the fastest journey starting at the time quoted
for departure from Balham. Changing to the District at South Ken gets
you on to the Piccadilly at the earliest opportunity, avoiding the often
slow District progress around Earl's Court*, and missing out West
Kensington. Of course it's less convenient than Barons Court or
Hammersmith if you have heavy luggage. The Journey Planner has "Least
Walking" and "Least Interchange" options; perhaps it should also have a
"heavy luggage" option.

* especially if there's a change of driver at Earl's Court, though the
Journey Planner probably isn't that clever.
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

"Ian F." wrote in message
...
...like tomorrow morning early, I rack my brain to work out the best way
to
get there by public transport from Balham. What do you reckon is the
best/fastest/least schlepping-your-case-around route? Every time I chose
one
way, I wish I'd gone another!

The route I take is:

Northern line up to Stockwell,
Victoria line to Oxford Circus,
Bakerloo line to Paddington,
and catch the HX from there.

All the changes are a case of walking through a tunnel to the adjacent
platform, with the exception of Paddington. No stairs involved at any point.

Not a stunningly good route in the middle of rush hour, but providing
everything is actually running ok it's fairly stress free with luggage.

Jase.