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Heathrow to central London: every way in, timed and priced

Heathrow has three railways into London and a black cab rank outside every terminal, so a car is rarely the fastest way in. Which train to take depends on where you are sleeping and which terminal you land at: the Heathrow Express does not stop at Terminal 4. Below is every realistic route from Heathrow, with where it leaves from, the operators' times and fares, and the way we would reach each of the ten hotels in our London edit.

The short answer

For most of central London, take the Elizabeth line: 31 minutes to Bond Street for £15.50, from every terminal, with no change. The Heathrow Express is the fastest, 15 minutes to Paddington, but only from Terminals 2, 3 and 5, and it costs £26 unless you book 30 days ahead. A black cab from the rank costs £70–120 on the meter, and the Piccadilly line is the cheapest way in at £5.90.

  • LHRLondon Heathrow (LHR). London's main airport, west of the city, with four terminals: long-haul flights and British Airways, 45–75 minutes by road from our hotels and three rail lines into town.

Book a private transfer

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A driver meets you in arrivals with your name on a sign, at a fixed price agreed when you book. Booked and paid with Welcome Pickups through our partner Travelpayouts; we may earn a commission.

A Piccadilly line train waiting at the Heathrow Terminal 5 Underground platform
A Piccadilly line train waiting at the Heathrow Terminal 5 Underground platform

Every way in, timed and priced

Elizabeth line

LHR
Time
31 minutes to Bond Street, 33 to Tottenham Court Road, 36 to Farringdon, 39 to Liverpool Street, 27 to Paddington; six trains an hour from Terminals 2 and 3. Leaves from Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 station (a short walk through the pedestrian subway), from below Terminal 4 arrivals and from the basement of Terminal 5
Price
£15.50 to Bond Street or Tottenham Court Road and £14.60 to Paddington with contactless or Oyster

The right train for most of our hotels, because it runs under the West End and the City without a change. Every Heathrow station is step-free from train to street.

Heathrow Express

LHR
Time
15 minutes non-stop from Terminals 2 and 3 to Paddington, about 21 from Terminal 5; every 15 minutes. Leaves from Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 station and Terminal 5 station; no stop at Terminal 4
Price
£26 walk-up single, from £10 booked 30 days ahead; children aged 15 and under free with a paying adult

The fastest way into London and the right train for The Pilgrm at Paddington. Elsewhere you still need a taxi or the Tube from Paddington, so the Elizabeth line is the better buy.

Piccadilly line (Tube)

LHR
Time
About 50 minutes to central London: 48 to Piccadilly Circus and 57 to King's Cross St Pancras from Terminals 2 and 3. Stops at Terminals 2 and 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5; all night on Friday and Saturday from Terminals 2, 3 and 5
Price
£5.90 to central London with contactless or Oyster

The cheapest way in and a straight line to King's Cross for The Standard. It stops often, so it suits light luggage.

Black cab

LHR
Time
Typically 45–75 minutes to our hotels, from the rank outside each terminal
Price
On the meter: Transport for London puts central London at £70–120, plus £1.60 for a journey from a Heathrow rank; cards accepted

Easy, with room for luggage and wheelchair access in every cab, but the meter depends on traffic.

Pre-booked private transfer

LHR
Time
The same drive as a taxi, typically 45–75 minutes; the driver meets you at your terminal's arrivals meeting point
Price
Fixed when you book; the widget on this page shows the live price

Worth it for late or delayed flights, families who need a bigger car or child seats, and hotels with no direct train. The driver tracks your flight.

From the airport to our ten hotels

Heathrow Express or Elizabeth line: which is better?

Only if Paddington is where you are going. The Heathrow Express takes 15 minutes from Terminals 2 and 3, but Paddington is on the western edge of central London. The Elizabeth line takes 27 minutes to Paddington and keeps going: Bond Street in 31, Tottenham Court Road in 33, Farringdon in 36 and Liverpool Street in 39, for £15.50 with contactless.

The Heathrow Express wins on price if you book 30 days ahead, from £10, or travel with children, who ride free with a paying adult. Otherwise £26 for a train that leaves you at Paddington is hard to justify.

Heathrow Express
15 min to Paddington, £26 walk-up
Elizabeth line
31 min to Bond Street, £15.50
Piccadilly line
About 50 min, £5.90

Where each train leaves from

Terminals 2 and 3 share one station, a few minutes' walk through a pedestrian subway, with all three railways. Terminal 5's station is in the basement, with all three too. Terminal 4 has the Elizabeth line and the Piccadilly line below arrivals but no Heathrow Express; for Paddington, take the Elizabeth line, or the free transfer train to Terminals 2 and 3, every 15 minutes, four minutes. Travel between terminals is free by train, Tube or the H30 bus.

Heathrow to London at night

The last Heathrow Express leaves Terminal 5 at 23:57 and the last Elizabeth line train to central London leaves Terminals 2 and 3 at 00:12. On Friday and Saturday nights the Piccadilly line runs all night from Terminals 2, 3 and 5. After that, the N9 night bus runs from Terminal 5 and the Central Bus Station to Piccadilly Circus and Charing Cross, between 23:40 and 05:35. Or take a black cab from the rank, or a pre-booked driver who has tracked your delayed flight.

Last Heathrow Express
23:57 from Terminal 5
Last Elizabeth line
00:12 from Terminals 2 and 3

Black cabs and the meter

Heathrow is inside London's taxi meter area. Transport for London puts Heathrow to central London at £70–120, taking 30–60 minutes, plus £1.60 for a journey from a Heathrow rank. Cards are accepted with no surcharge, and luggage and extra passengers cost nothing more. For our hotels the drive is typically 45–75 minutes, so a fixed-price transfer takes the guesswork out of rush hour.

Heathrow to central London
£70–120 on the meter
Heathrow rank extra
£1.60

Going back to Heathrow

Heathrow charges £7 every time a car enters a terminal drop-off area, payable online by midnight the next day, and a black cab can add it to the fare. The first Heathrow Express leaves Paddington at 04:34 from Monday to Saturday and 04:55 on Sundays, and the first Elizabeth line train at 04:36 on weekdays. Check your terminal before you set off: there is no Heathrow Express to Terminal 4.

Questions people ask

Good questions about London

What is the fastest way from Heathrow to central London?

The Heathrow Express: 15 minutes from Terminals 2 and 3 to Paddington. For Mayfair, Soho and the City, the Elizabeth line is quicker door to door: 31 minutes to Bond Street for £15.50.

What is the cheapest way from Heathrow to London?

The Piccadilly line: £5.90 with contactless to central London, about 50 minutes, from all four terminals.

Does the Heathrow Express stop at Terminal 4?

No. From Terminal 4, take the Elizabeth line or the Piccadilly line from the station below arrivals, or the free transfer train to Terminals 2 and 3 for the Heathrow Express.

How much is a black cab from Heathrow?

Transport for London puts central London at £70–120 on the meter, plus £1.60 from a Heathrow rank. Our hotels are typically 45–75 minutes away.

Can I use contactless from Heathrow?

Yes, on the Elizabeth line, the Piccadilly line and the Heathrow Express. Tap in and out with the same card.

Do children pay on the Heathrow Express?

Children aged 15 and under travel free with a paying adult.

Image credits: Sunil060902 (CC BY-SA 3.0)