Getting in

• Heathrow Airport: For South Kensington, take the Piccadilly line direct to South Kensington (about 40–55 minutes depending on terminal; roughly £6 with contactless). It is slower than the Elizabeth line to Paddington but avoids a luggage-hauling change and is far cheaper. For High Street Kensington or Earl’s Court, Elizabeth line to Paddington then the District line is usually quicker overall (about 35–45 minutes; roughly £14). Skip a taxi unless there are several of you: traffic can make it a 60–90-minute expensive gamble.
• Gatwick Airport: Take a Southern train to Victoria, not the Gatwick Express: it uses the same railway, is usually cheaper, and takes about 30–35 minutes. From Victoria, take a westbound District or Circle line train to South Kensington (about 10 minutes) or District line to Earl’s Court/High Street Kensington. Allow 55–75 minutes terminal to hotel and roughly £15–25 total, depending on rail fare and time.
• Stansted Airport: Take the Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale, then the Victoria line to Victoria and a westbound District/Circle line train to South Kensington or Earl’s Court. It is a three-leg trip but generally more reliable than an airport coach in traffic: allow 70–85 minutes and about £15–30, less with an advance Stansted Express ticket. Coaches to Victoria can be cheaper but are poor value when the M11 is congested.
• Luton Airport: Use the Luton DART from the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway, then Thameslink to St Pancras International; from King’s Cross St Pancras, take the Piccadilly line direct to South Kensington. Budget 75–95 minutes door to door and roughly £18–30. Do not mistake the old airport shuttle-bus instructions for the current simplest route: the DART is the terminal link.
• London City Airport: Take the DLR to Canning Town, Jubilee line to Westminster, then the District line west to South Kensington. Allow 45–60 minutes and about £4–7 by contactless. City is geographically close but has no direct west-London rail route, so a cab can be tempting; at rush hour it is rarely reliably faster.
• St Pancras International / King’s Cross: Eurostar and many intercity arrivals land here. The Piccadilly line runs directly from King’s Cross St Pancras to South Kensington in about 20–25 minutes; add time for the long walk from the Eurostar platforms and for luggage. Contactless Tube fare is roughly £3–5.
• Paddington: For High Street Kensington, Earl’s Court or South Kensington, use the District line from Paddington; it is about 15–25 minutes depending on destination and avoids crossing central London. This is also the sensible final leg from Heathrow if you took the Elizabeth line.
• Victoria: Victoria is the useful arrival station for Gatwick and many coaches. The District and Circle lines run west to South Kensington in around 10 minutes; District services also serve Earl’s Court and some continue to High Street Kensington. Do not take a cab for this short hop unless mobility or heavy luggage makes the Tube impractical.