HEATHROW AIRPORT ULTIMATE GUIDE
Heathrow Airport is London’s primary airport, and receives more than 70 million passengers per year – making it the third busiest airport in the world. It's a main gateway to London's attractions, free tours, museums and pubs!
Located 17 miles west of central London and spanning over 12 kilometres, Heathrow Airport is essentially a mini-city, and is often described as an “aerotropolis” due to its massive size. It’s also considered to be one of the most advanced airports in the world, and handles more international passengers than any other airport on the planet.
After going through the passport control and baggage claims when landing at Heathrow Airport, passengers are immediately greeted by Heathrow staff offering all sorts of transportation tickets to central London. However, most of these options could be considered a bit of “tourist traps.”
If you’re looking for ways to travel between Heathrow Airport to central London, here are some of the many options to choose from, as well as some money-saving tips on transportation costs as well:
How to get to and from Heathrow Airport by Underground
How long does it take?
- 45 to 60 minutes to and from central London
How much does it cost?
- £3.50 to £6.70 (single) or £7 to £13.40 (return)
- £3.50 (off-peak hours) or £5.50 (between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., Monday to Friday) with an Oyster pay-as-you-go card
- £14.40 (off-peak hours) or £14.90 (anytime) using a one-day Travelcard with unlimited travel in Zones 1 to 6
Where are the pick-up points?
- Anywhere along the Piccadilly line (from London)
- Terminals 2&3, 4 and 5 (from Heathrow)
The Pros:
- Convenient
- Departures every ten minutes (from Heathrow)
- Cost-effective (especially when travelling outside of peak-hours)
- Easy to find and navigate
The Cons:
- Standing on a crowded carriage with all your luggage
- Changing lines (sometimes more than once)
- Carrying your luggage up and down stairs (unless you can find a lift and/or escalator) between lines and stations
The London Underground is one of the most convenient ways to get from central London to Heathrow Airport, and vice versa. However, travelling on the London Underground can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re travelling with lots of luggage or during peak times when the carriages are crowded.
Heathrow Airport has three different underground stations which are located in Travelzone 6 via the western branch of the Piccadilly Line (AKA the dark blue line). Terminals 4 and 5 have their own underground stations, while Terminals 2&3 share an underground station (which is about a three to four-minute walk from Terminal 2, and a five-minute walk from Terminal 3).
The Piccadilly Line has a direct connection between Heathrow and some of the biggest hotel districts in central London; however, the majority of travellers will probably have to transfer at Victoria, Earls Court, South Kensington or Green Park at some point or another during their trip.
It’s worth pointing out that travelling by tube from Heathrow to central London is much easier than travelling from central London to the airport. Because Heathrow is the first stop on the line travelling to central London, you should be able to find a seat easily and quickly, and store your luggage in the area near the door so you can keep a close eye on it.
Travelling from central London, on the other hand, may mean you’ll have to stand with your luggage for the majority of the trip, or perhaps even longer if the carriage is crowded. (If you have a ton of luggage with you, you may want to transfer at stations like Hammersmith or Barons Court as these lines both use the same platform.)
If you plan on using the tube for the majority of your time in London, you can always buy a Pay-as-you-go Oyster card, or a zone 1-6 One Day Travelcard. You can purchase Oyster cards or Travelcards at any underground station, or at the ticket machines in the Terminal 4 arrival hall. There is also a London Transport Visitor Centre which is opposite the Terminal 2&3 underground station entrance, and more information on timetables and fares in the central area between Terminals 2&3 as well.
How to get to and from Heathrow Airport by train
How long does it take?
- 15 minutes to Paddington Station (Heathrow Express)
- 30-35 minutes to Paddington Station (Elizabeth Line)
How much does it cost?
-
£25 to £32 (single) or £38.50 to £64 (return) for Heathrow Express
-
£15 to £16.50 for early bird ticket for Heathrow Express
-
from £12.80 for Elizabeth Line
Where are the pick-up points?
-
Terminal 2 & 3, Terminal 5, and Paddington Station for Heathrow Express
-
Terminal 2 & 3, Terminal 4, Terminal 5, Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street, Paddington Station, Farringdon, and Liverpool Street for Elizabeth Line
The Pros:
- Fast
- Comfortable
- Easy to find and navigate
- Lots of luggage storage
The Cons:
- Expensive
- Not convenient (unless you’re travelling to and from the Paddington, Marble Arch or Bayswater area)
Taking the Heathrow Express is arguably one of the most stress-free ways for travelling between Heathrow Airport and central London, as it can get to Paddington station in as little as 15 minutes, every 15 minutes (although from Monday to Thursday the Heathrow Express runs every half hour after 9:55 p.m.).
This service is ideal for travellers staying in the central London hotel district near Paddington, however, if you’re staying somewhere in the Gloucester Road, Kensington High Street, or Earls Court Road areas (for example), the London Underground may be a better option as you are essentially doubling your travel time and distance.
If you travel Business First Class on the Heathrow Express, you can enjoy spacious seating with extra legroom, a personal table, at-seat power sockets for your devices, complimentary high-speed 4G Wi-Fi, and digital entertainment throughout your trip. You also benefit from Fast Track security lanes at Heathrow. The train provides step-free access for easy boarding and dedicated wheelchair areas.
You can purchase your tickets for both the Heathrow Express and Elizabeth Line either on board or online, although it is much cheaper to purchase your ticket online beforehand.
How to get to and from Heathrow Airport by coach
How long does it take?
- Anywhere from 35 to 60 minutes for National Express
-
50 to 55 minutes from Victoria Coach station for Megabus
-
45 minutes from Reading for RailAir
-
1hr and 30 minutes from Oxford for The Airline
-
1 to 1.5 hrs from Central London for Flixbus
How much does it cost?
- £6.80 on board (single) or £12 (return) for Hotel Hoppa
-
£8.40 to £13.10 (single) or £19.60 to £22.20 (return) for National Express
-
£19.80 to £22 (single) of £20.70 to £23 (return) for RailAir
-
£25 (adult) or £12.50 (children ages 5-15) for single ticket for The Airline
-
£8.49 to £25 (single) or £25 (return) for Flixbus
- £5.99 to £9.99 (single) or £11.98 to £19.98 (return) for Megabus
Where are the pick-up points?
-
Terminal 2 & 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport
-
Victoria Coach Station for National Express and Megabus
-
Reading for RailAir
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Finchley Road, Stratford- Montifichet Road Stop U, Hammersmith station, Marble Arch, London Bridge and Paddington Train Station for Flixbus
-
Various locations in Oxford, including Gloucester Green Bus Station, Westgate, Queen's Lane and multiple stops around the city for The Airline
The Pros:
- Cheap (only slightly more expensive than the London Underground)
- Straight-forward
- Discounts for children and group bookings
- Comfortable
The Cons:
- Takes longer
- Possible delays during peak times
- Sporadic schedules
- Specific departure times (which means you could lose your seat if your plane is delayed)
National Express remains to be the only direct connection via coach between Heathrow and other airports, and runs about 79 services a day between 2:15 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. Each coach has its own toilet, and there is a luggage hold where you can leave your suitcases or other belongings. There is a free luggage allowance of two cases, provided that they do not weigh more than 20 kg (or 44 lbs). Passengers are also allowed to carry one item of hand luggage with them on the coach, but they must be either a laptop or handbag size.
Be aware that although there are usually four National Express coaches running every hour, there may sometimes be a gap of one hour or more between each service. Also, because National Express coach services only operate from the central coach station (between Terminals 2&3), that means that if you are arriving/departing at Terminals 4 or 5, you will need to take a free train service to the centre of the airport which runs every 15 minutes.
If you book your ticket with National Express online beforehand, you will have to select your departure and/or pick-up time. It is highly recommended that you book your seat at least 90 minutes after the scheduled arrival time of your flight, just in case there is a delay and/or if the passport control area is particularly busy that day. It may also be a good idea to purchase the “Flexible Add-On” option to your ticket (costing £5 each way), which allows you to board any available coach either 12 hours before or 12 hours after your desired departure time.
You can buy tickets from any National Express travel shop in the Heathrow Airport’s Central Bus Station or online.
National Express also owns Hotel Hoppa, which connects travellers from Heathrow Airport to over 20 different hotels around London. There are services operating between 4:00 a.m. and midnight, which makes it an ideal option if you’re travelling in the early hours of the morning, or very late at night.
Additionally, Hotel Hoppa offers family ticket for £13 (one way) that covers up to 2 adults and 3 children. The coaches travel to Heathrow Terminals 2&3 and 5 and stop just outside each terminal.
Megabus provides a coach service from London to Heathrow Airport, with frequent departures throughout the day. The service runs from London Victoria Coach Station to Heathrow Central Bus Station (Terminals 2 & 3) and Terminal 5. Coaches are equipped with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and a baggage allowance.
RailAir offers coach services between Reading railway station and Heathrow Airport, serving Terminals 2, 3, and 5. Coaches run every 20 minutes during peak times, with a journey time of approximately 1 hour. The coaches have free Wi-Fi, seating, and luggage space.
The Airline operates a coach service from Oxford to Heathrow Airport, stopping at Gloucester Green Bus Station, St. Clements, Headington Shops, and Oxford Brookes University. The journey takes about 80 minutes to Heathrow Terminal 5 and 90 minutes to Heathrow Central Bus Station (Terminals 2 & 3). Coaches run throughout the day and night, with free Wi-Fi, legroom, and USB charging points.
FlixBus runs services from London to Heathrow Airport with pick-up points at London Victoria Coach Station and other locations in the city. The journey terminates at Heathrow's Central Bus Station (Terminals 2 & 3) and Terminal 5. Coaches have free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and onboard toilets.
Tickets for all these services can be booked online for convenience.
How to get to and from Heathrow Airport by bus
How long does it take?
- One to three hours
How much does it cost?
- £1.75 to £5.25
Where are the pick-up points?
- Aldwych for the N9 night bus (from London)
- Stop 19 at the Central Bus Station for the N9 bus (from Heathrow)
- Stop 6 in front of Terminal 5 for the N9 bus (from Heathrow)
- Greenford Station, Kingston, Ruislip, Hayes and Harlington Station, Hounslow, Southall and Richmond Station
The Pros:
- Night bus options for late arrivals/departures
- Dirt cheap
- Valid for Travelcards and Oyster Cards
The Cons:
- Takes an extremely long time (which means losing sleep and/or precious time to explore London!)
- Transferring buses mid-journey (and sometimes more than once)
- Researching the various routes and stops for your journey
- Waiting outside at a bus stop for possibly long periods of time
Travelling between Heathrow Airport and central London by bus can be very difficult as there is only one direct route between both locations.
If you are arriving in London very late at night, there is a N9 night bus service which operates to and from Aldwych in central London via Hammersmith. This service runs every 20 minutes (on weeknights) takes around one hour and ten minutes, and makes a stop at the Heathrow Central Bus Station before continuing to Terminal 5.
However, besides this service, there are no other bus routes that go directly between Heathrow Airport and central London, which means that if you plan on taking a bus to the airport, you will need to transfer at least once during your journey.
How to get to and from Heathrow Airport by taxi
How long does it take?
- Anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours
How much does it cost?
- Anywhere from £55 to over £110
Where are the pick-up points
- Outside each terminal (from Heathrow)
- Anywhere you want! (from London)
The Pros:
- Leave when you want, where you want
- Convenient for groups, families, small children, etc.
- Stress-free
- Tons of companies to choose from
- No extra charge for luggage
- Ideal for late night/early morning departures or arrivals
The Cons:
- Incredibly expensive
- Waiting in traffic during peak travel hours
With over 600 taxi companies to choose from, getting a ride in a taxi is hands-down the easiest and most hassle-free way to get to and from Heathrow Airport…but it comes at a high price.
Some of the best companies to choose from in terms of cost are Minicabit, Green Tomato Cars and EcoExpress Airport Cars, but of course, this all boils down to exactly where you want to be picked up and/or dropped off in London.
If you’re arriving at Heathrow Airport, all you have to do is contact a taxi company beforehand, provide them with your flight details and estimated time of arrival, and the driver will then meet you as you exit the custom and baggage hall at the airport. If you’re worried about plane delays, there are always taxi ranks located outside each terminal which run on a first-come, first-served basis.
Be aware that if you are taking a taxi any time between 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., or between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, you will probably be waiting for long periods of time due to rush hour traffic (especially if you plan on travelling further than the Kensington and Victoria hotel districts).
If you’re worried about money, you could always take a taxi from the airport to a London underground station and get to your hotel or hostel from there. You could also take the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station, which is close the majority of hotels in central London, and then catch a taxi from the station.
Uber connects Heathrow Airport and central London with an average price of approximately £51 for a standard UberX ride, though this can vary based on factors such as the time of day, traffic, and demand. Services like UberXL or Uber Black tend to be more expensive.
If you are arriving at Heathrow Airport to visit London, you might also want to join any of the free tours in London that are available on offer.
