Heathrow Airport to London: train, Tube, taxi compared
Heathrow has four rail routes into London and the choice is mostly price against time. The Tube is the cheapest and slowest, the Elizabeth line is the best all-rounder, and Heathrow Express is the quickest if the 26 pound walk-up fare does not bother you. A black cab or pre-booked car only makes sense with a group, heavy luggage or a late arrival.
- Cheapest
- £5.90Piccadilly line (Tube) · 75 min
- Fastest
- 35 minHeathrow Express · £26
- Taxi
- £70–£120Black cab · 60 min
Elizabeth line: £29.20 for the group, about 45 min. No booking needed.
Train
Elizabeth line
45 min
For the group£29.20
Elizabeth line
TfL · direct to Paddington and the West End
- Per person
- £14.60
- Door to door
- 45 min
- Runs
- 05:21–00:12
- Frequency
- up to 6 an hour from T2 and T3
- Board at
- Heathrow T2 and T3 station (T4 and T5 have their own stops)
- Suitcases
- Fine
Metro
Piccadilly line (Tube)
75 min
For the group£11.80
Piccadilly line (Tube)
TfL · slow but the cheapest rail option
- Per person
- £5.90
- Door to door
- 75 min
- Runs
- 05:12–23:45
- Frequency
- every 5 to 10 min
- Board at
- Underground stations at T2 and T3, T4 and T5
- Suitcases
- Awkward
Train
Heathrow Express
35 min
For the group£52
Heathrow Express
Heathrow Express · non-stop to Paddington
- Per person
- £26
- Door to door
- 35 min
- Runs
- 05:17–00:04
- Frequency
- every 15 min
- Board at
- Heathrow T2 and T3 station, or T5 station
- Suitcases
- Fine
Bus
National Express coach
80 min
For the group£22.40
National Express coach
National Express · to Victoria Coach Station
- Per person
- £11.20
- Door to door
- 80 min
- Runs
- 01:00–23:59
- Frequency
- about every 20 min
- Board at
- Heathrow Central Bus Station, and some services at T4 and T5
- Suitcases
- Fine
Private car
Pre-booked private car
60 min
For the group£54estimateCheck price
Pre-booked private car
Fixed price, driver meets you in arrivals
- Per person
- £54 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 60 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Pre-booked
- Board at
- Meeting point in the arrivals hall
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Taxi
Black cab
60 min
For the group£70–£120estimate
Black cab
Licensed London taxi, metered
- Per person
- £70–£120 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 60 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Rank outside arrivals
- Board at
- Black cab rank outside each terminal
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Every option in detail
TrainElizabeth line
- £14.60
- 45 min
- 05:21–00:12
- → London Paddington
Tap in and out with a contactless card or Oyster. Heathrow to Paddington is 14.60 pounds, and most other central stations such as Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road are 15.50. There is no off-peak discount on this route. First train from T2 and T3 is 05:21 and the last is 00:12 on weekdays, with Sunday starting around 05:50. Terminal 4 has fewer trains, so check the board if you land there. Trains are wide with space for suitcases and no stairs at the airport end.
MetroPiccadilly line (Tube)
- £5.90
- 75 min
- 05:12–23:45
- → Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, King's Cross
The Tube costs 5.90 pounds to central London with contactless or Oyster, charged at the same rate all day. It takes around 50 minutes to Piccadilly Circus. The Piccadilly line does not stop at Paddington, so for that station you change at Hammersmith or Earl's Court, which makes the journey nearer 75 minutes. Trains are often crowded in the morning peak and there are stairs at several changes. First train is about 05:12 and the last about 23:45. Heathrow's site says a Night Tube runs on Fridays and Saturdays from Terminals 2, 3 and 5.
TrainHeathrow Express
- £26
- 35 min
- 05:17–00:04
- → London Paddington
The train takes 15 minutes from T2 and T3 and about 20 from T5. The on-the-day Standard single is 26 pounds. Advance fares start at 10 pounds if you book 30 days or more ahead, and under-16s travel free with a paying adult. From Terminal 4 you change at T2 and T3 onto a free shuttle train. Heathrow Express is not covered by Oyster caps. First train from Heathrow is around 05:17 and the last about 00:04.
BusNational Express coach
- £11.20
- 80 min
- 01:00–23:59
- → London Victoria Coach Station
Fares start from 11.20 pounds one way, booked online, and change by date and time. The fastest coaches take around 40 minutes to Victoria, but traffic on the M4 can double that. There is a 1.50 pound booking fee unless you are logged in. Allow one large suitcase and one hand bag. It suits anyone going to Victoria or Earl's Court who has no wish to change trains.
TaxiBlack cab
- £70–£120 per vehicle (estimate)
- 60 min
- 24 hours
- → Door to door, anywhere in central London
Cabs are metered and TfL sets the tariff. Expect 70 to 120 pounds to central London depending on traffic, time of day and the final address, plus a Heathrow terminal charge. Take the cab from the official rank only. Most cabs carry five passengers but four with luggage is more realistic. You can pay by card in the cab. Allow 45 to 60 minutes.
Private carPre-booked private car
- £54 per vehicle (estimate)
- 60 min
- 24 hours
- → Door to door in central London
A standard saloon for up to three passengers starts from 54 pounds, and a larger car for five starts from about 65 pounds on the platform we checked. The price is fixed when you book, so traffic does not change it. Your driver tracks the flight and waits if it lands late. Book at least a day ahead. Anything beyond three people or three large bags needs the bigger car.
The same trip in a different situation
Arriving late at night
The Elizabeth line leaves T2 and T3 until 00:12 on weekdays and Heathrow Express until about 00:04, so an arrival around 00:30 has missed both. The Piccadilly line stops around 23:45, with a Night Tube on Fridays and Saturdays according to Heathrow. National Express coaches run through the night, with services from 01:00. Black cabs and pre-booked cars run all night and are the dependable choice if you land after midnight on a weekday. Check the Elizabeth line board before assuming a late train, as Sunday service starts later in the morning.
See the comparison →4 people, 4 suitcasesTravelling as a group of four
For four people with bags, four Elizabeth line tickets to Paddington cost 58.40 pounds and four Heathrow Express walk-up tickets cost 104. The Tube is 23.60 for four but means stairs and a change. A pre-booked larger car for four or five starts from about 65 pounds, so it is only a few pounds more than the Elizabeth line and takes you to the door. A black cab at 70 to 120 pounds can also undercut four Heathrow Express tickets, and it drops you at the hotel door. For a couple with two cases, the Elizabeth line is still the cheapest sensible choice.
See the comparison →Practical tips
- Use the same contactless card or phone for tapping in and out on the Elizabeth line and Tube, or the system will charge a maximum fare.
- The Elizabeth line fare to Paddington (14.60 pounds) is lower than to other central stations (15.50), so check the end point before you tap out.
- Terminal 4 has its own Elizabeth line and Piccadilly line stations, with fewer Elizabeth line trains than T2 and T3. Check the departure board before you commit.
- Heathrow Express is not included in Oyster caps or Travelcards, but the Elizabeth line and Tube are.
- Book Heathrow Express at least 30 days ahead for the 10 pound fare. Walk-up is 26 pounds.
- Use only black cabs from the rank or a pre-booked car. Do not accept offers from people in the arrivals hall.
Questions travellers ask
What is the cheapest way from Heathrow to central London?
The Piccadilly line at 5.90 pounds with contactless or Oyster. A National Express coach starts from 11.20 pounds. The Elizabeth line is 14.60 pounds to Paddington.
How long does Heathrow Express take to Paddington?
15 minutes from Terminals 2 and 3 and about 20 from Terminal 5. With the walk to the platform, allow around 35 minutes door to door. The walk-up fare is 26 pounds.
Is the Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express better?
The Elizabeth line costs 14.60 pounds to Paddington against 26 on Heathrow Express and runs to Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road without a change. Heathrow Express saves about 10 minutes.
How much is a taxi from Heathrow to central London?
A metered black cab is usually 70 to 120 pounds depending on traffic and destination. A pre-booked private car starts from about 54 pounds for up to three passengers.
Does the Tube run all night from Heathrow?
No. The Piccadilly line stops around 23:45 on most nights. Heathrow says a Night Tube runs on Fridays and Saturdays from Terminals 2, 3 and 5, and not from Terminal 4.
