Heathrow Airport Transport
Heathrow airport is 20 miles (35km) west of central London. The benefit of flying to or from Heathrow is that it’s on the London Underground network – a cheap and relatively quick way to reach central London.
Underground to and from Heathrow Airport
Piccadilly Line
Departure/arrival - Heathrow airport
The airport has three underground stations connected to the Piccadilly line. One station serves Terminals 1 and 3 and Terminals 4 and 5 have their own stations.
Departure/arrival - central London
See the London underground map for the Piccadilly line route.
Journey time & frequency
Trains leave approximately every 5 minutes. If you have an early or late departure, check the TfL website for first and last times. It takes approximately 55 minutes–1 hour to Piccadilly Circus station.
Tickets
Tickets are available from all underground stations. At the airport, near Terminals 1, 2 & 3 station, tickets are also available from the London Travel Information Centre, opposite the underground station. The queues are often shorter.
Cash fare: £5.50 single
Get an Oyster card if you want to pay less. The Pay as you go Oyster single fare is £3.00 during ‘off peak’ hours, and £5.00 during peak hours (6.30am–9.30am and 4pm–7pm Monday to Friday).
If you use your Oyster card to pay for travel for the rest of the day, the most that is deducted from your balance is £8.50 if you start your journey after 9.30am, or £15.80 if you travel before 9.30am.
Coaches to and from Heathrow Airport
National Express
The largest coach operator in the UK runs frequent coaches between Heathrow airport and Victoria Coach Station in central London. It’s a convenient alternative to the underground, especially if you have a lot of luggage.
Coaches from Heathrow Airport to central London also stop at Earl’s Court (Stop D, West Cromwell Rd, near Tesco).
Departure/arrival – Heathrow airport
Terminals 1 or 3 – Central Bus Station
Terminal 4 – There are free coach transfers from Terminal 4 to the Central Bus Station from stop 7 outside arrivals
Terminal 5 – There are a few direct services to central London from Terminal 5. More frequent services run from the Central Bus Station. Take a free train transfer to Heathrow Central, then it’s a few minutes walk from there to the Central Bus Station.
Departure/arrival – central London
Victoria Coach Station, Buckingham Palace Rd, SW1.
Frequency & journey time
Approximately 2–3 departures per hour. It takes between 45 minutes–50 minutes from Heathrow Central Bus station–London Victoria Coach Station. Allow longer for travel to/from Terminals 4 & 5.
Booking tickets
Book online directly with National Express. You can either print out your ticket, or pay 50p extra to have your booking details sent by text to your mobile phone. Alternatively, buy tickets from the ticket office at Victoria Coach Station in London, or the Central Bus Station at Heathrow Airport. Tickets cost £5.50–£8 single.
Top Tip If you travel to central London with National Express, you can claim discount vouchers giving you 2 for the price of 1 at some of London’s leading attractions. Click to book and download vouchers.
Trains to and from Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Connect
The Heathrow Connect is the cheapest of the two train services running from Heathrow to central London. It stops at Hayes, Southall, Hanwell, West Ealing & Ealing Broadway before reaching Paddington station.
Departure/arrival – Heathrow airport
Terminals 1 or 3 – Heathrow Central station
Terminal 4 – Take the free train transfer to Heathrow Central
Terminal 5 – Take the free train transfer to Heathrow Central
Departure/arrival – central London
Paddington train station, Praed St, London W2.
Journey time & frequency
20–30 minutes. 2 trains per hour.
Booking tickets
£9.10 single, £17.80 return. Buy tickets at the train station at Heathrow or Paddington or book online (London Paddington – Heathrow only)
The Heathrow Express is another train service from Heathrow to Paddington. It’s slightly quicker than the Heathrow Connect, but more than twice the price.
Need to stay near the airport? Click to search for hotels near Heathrow
Last updated: 2 January 2013