If your flight is delayed and you miss the last tube or train from Heathrow airport into central London, instead of taking an expensive taxi, you can take the N9 night bus to central London.
The N9 leaves from the Central Bus Station (for Terminals 2 & 3) and Terminal 5 and runs all through the night.
It’s the only direct local London bus between Heathrow airport and central London.
If you arrive late on Friday night/Saturday morning or Saturday night/Sunday morning, then take the underground. The Piccadilly line runs 24-hours on these days (not from Terminal 4).
N9 Heathrow to London tickets
The journey to central London is £1.75.
Cash is not accepted on the bus (or on any bus in London), you need to use:
- an Oyster card
- contactless payment
- a one day bus pass for £5.90
There is an Oyster ticket machine at the side of the entrance to Terminals 2 & 3 tube station, directly below the Central Bus Station.
The machine is outside the tube station and is open 24-hours. You can buy and/or top-up an Oyster card. The machine only accepts credit or debit cards.
A Travelcard valid for any zone can be used on this bus.
N9 bus route
It takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to Trafalgar Square/Aldwych in central London.
The bus route takes you though the suburbs of west London via Brentford, Kew Bridge, Chiswick, Hammersmith, High St Kensington, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner, Trafalgar Square and finishes at Aldwych near Covent Garden/the Strand. From here it’s possible to take other night buses all over London.
See the full N9 route map
N9 bus timetable
From Heathrow Central Bus Station (for Terminal 2 or 3).
Make sure you select the right day from the drop-down list.
N9 bus stops at Heathrow
Terminals 2 & 3
The bus leaves from stop 19 in the Central Bus Station. The station is directly above Terminal 2 & 3 underground station. It’s a 5-minute walk from Terminal 2 and an 8-minute walk from Terminal 3.
Terminal 5
Stop 6 in front of Terminal 5
Terminal 4
The N9 bus does not stop at Terminal 4.
Take bus 490 or 482 from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5, then take the N9 from there.
The 490/482 leaves from bus stop 11 in front of Terminal 4 arrivals. It says ‘Towards T5 or Ashford’ on the bus stop flag.
It costs £1.75 (cash is not accepted, pay on the bus with an Oyster card or contactless payment) on the 490 or 482 to Terminal 5 but the buses do not run all night. The last 490 leaves around 1.40am.
If you are able to take an N9 within an hour of first taking a 490/482, you will only be charged once (i.e £1.75 for the 490/482 and the N9).
See the 482 timetable
See the 490 timetable
Last updated: 24 February 2024