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Just a few thoughts from my perspective.
Getting into London is very expensive unless you can handle your luggage on a train. The Heathrow Express is fast and relatively (for London) inexpensive. No matter what you do (Express, regular train or tube), you will end up changing from the train to the tube or a taxi in Central London to get to your hotel. Expect to pay at least $80 for a taxi from the airport. If you can find someone on your roll call arriving with you, try to arrange sharing a van.
As Neal says, you can get almost anywhere you want to go on the tube and it is the best way. Faster than any bus/taxi and not too expensive if you buy the day pass.
Must sees for me for a first-time visit are the London Eye and the Tower of London.
Getting to Harwich is also very expensive. Once again, there are train options, but you don't check luggage like you do in the states and are frequently multi-levels. Again, try to hook up with people on your roll call and see about a large car for 4 or a van/mini-bus for 6-8. I would look into buying the cruiseline transfer (I think they offer transfers only on most cruises). You would have to go to Victoria Coach Station (that's usually where it is) and this past year they wanted about $80 per person.
I had a web page for our Constellation TA this past September and had several Links for London on it. I have not taken it down and will leave it up for a little while (maybe another couple of weeks). Click on the link in my signature for the Connie T/A 07 Website, then Useful Links and then London. There are resources there from a variety of people that may help with information. We used Exclusive Airports to get from Gatwick to our hotel. They were great to work with and did a fine job. Eddie Manning has had good reviews for Airport and Cruise terminal transfers as has Woodford Chauffer Cars.
You are in for a treat. London is a wonderful city to visit. Sinfully expensive, but worth it at least once in your life and maybe even 2 or 3 times..
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