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Heathrow to London

Getting from Heathrow Airport to London

Heathrow Express is the fastest rail connection from Heathrow to Central London. Our trains take 15 minutes to travel non-stop from Heathrow Central to London Paddington, and 21 minutes from Terminal 5.

Once you land at Heathrow, head to either Heathrow Central station or Terminal 5 station. Heathrow Central is within walking distance of Terminals 2 and 3, and a short free train ride from Terminal 4. Terminal 5 station is on the ground floor of the terminal.

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For passengers arriving into Terminal 2 or 3 at Heathrow Airport, simply board the Heathrow Express at Heathrow Central for your short journey into London Paddington. If you arrive into Heathrow at Terminal 5, your Heathrow Express train will leave from Terminal 5 station, while passengers at Terminal 4 will need to take a quick shuttle bus from the terminal to Heathrow Central.

Once at London Paddington your onward journey into the rest of the capital couldn’t be easier.

Passengers travelling to either King’s Cross or St Pancras should hop on either the Hammersmith & City Line or the Circle Line for a direct service into King’s Cross St Pancras, while those heading to Victoria should use the direct Circle Line service. Euston station is easily accessed via the Hammersmith & City Line into Euston Square, followed by a short walk to London Euston.

A variety of transport options means you can reach the rest of the city conveniently.

Heathrow Express vs. other transport options

Compare the Heathrow Express against other transport options and choose the best way to travel from Heathrow to Central London.

Transport Type

Journey Time

One Way Cost

Heathrow Express

15 minutes

£10* Advanced Discounted Single (*30 days in advance)

Elizabeth Line

27 minutes

£14.60 (contactless / oyster)

Tube

49 minutes

£5.90 (contactless / Oyster)

Taxi

56 minutes

£70 - £95

Uber

56 minutes

£30 - £72

The Heathrow Express is the fastest way to get into London from Heathrow. It’s ideal if you’re travelling with a lot of luggage too, as you’ll find dedicated racks for larger suitcases and overhead storage for smaller bags. Kids aged 16 and under also travel for free on Heathrow Express, making us a good choice for family trips.

The Elizabeth Line is a slower option, with more stops along the way. It also doesn’t have the same luggage space and onboard amenities as the Heathrow Express.

The tube promises budget-friendly travel if you don’t mind the slower journey time and the lack of luggage space. A taxi or Uber can be a convenient option when you land at Heathrow in the early hours of the morning, but it can be expensive. The traffic around Heathrow later in the day can impact your journey time significantly too.

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How long does it take to get from Heathrow to London?

Heathrow Express trains from Heathrow to London, have a total journey time of 15 minutes non-stop into London Paddington, when travelling from Heathrow Central station. Trains leaving Terminal 5 station will take six minutes to travel to Heathrow Central before running directly into London Paddington.

Onward journeys to other major stations in the capital such as King’s Cross, Victoria or Euston may add approximately half an hour onto your journey time depending on your chosen route and the time of day.

Which Heathrow terminal are you at? How to find Heathrow Express from each terminal

If you land at either Terminal 2 or 3, it’s a short walk to Heathrow Central station to jump on the Heathrow Express. When you pass through customs into the arrivals hall, check for signs for the train station or Heathrow Express. You’ll take the inter-terminal walkway between the terminals. It takes around 10-15 minutes to walk from Terminal 2 and 5-10 minutes from Terminal 3.


From Terminal 4, take the free shuttle train (Elizabeth Line) from Terminal 4 to Heathrow Central. You’ll be on the train for around 5-10 minutes, with services running frequently. In the arrivals hall, look for signs to the Elizabeth Line.


You can take the Heathrow Express from Terminal 5 station. Once in arrivals, the Heathrow Express signs will guide the way. Make your way down to the station on the lowest ground floor level. The Heathrow Express runs first to Heathrow Central and then onto London Paddington.

Is Heathrow Express the fastest way from Heathrow to London?

Heathrow Express is the fastest public transport option between Heathrow and Central London. Our trains run non-stop from Heathrow Central to London Paddington in approximately 15 minutes, and in 21 minutes from Terminal 5.

We’re an ideal service if you want to get into London as quickly as possible on a reliable service. We also have ample space to store your luggage.

How much does it cost to get from Heathrow to London?

Train prices for the Heathrow Express to Paddington will depend on how far in advance you purchase your ticket. When you buy your Heathrow Express ticket at least 30 days in advance, you can save over 60%, with an Advance Discounted Single costing just £10.

Tickets purchased on the day will be £26 for an Anytime Day Single on our Standard Class, and £32 for an Anytime Day Single to travel in PREMIER+ on Heathrow Express.

The cost of your onward journey from London Paddington will depend on your final destination in the capital and your chosen method of transport, whether taxi, bus, tube or train.

Enjoy the benefits of our Standard Class and PREMIER+ on Heathrow Express Journeys

We are committed to efficient and easy travel to and from Heathrow Airport. Ensuring we offer passengers quick connections is just one aspect of this commitment, as we also provide a comfortable travel experience for all our passengers whether you choose to travel on our Standard Class service or PREMIER+.


On Heathrow Express services from Heathrow to London, you will enjoy:


  • Plenty of luggage space
  • At-seat power
  • Free 4G Wi-Fi
  • Onboard TV service offering useful journey information and BBC World News
  • Level platform access to all our trains at all platforms

If you choose to travel on PREMIER+, you can make the most of the extra legroom provided as part of our Premium Seating, as well as your own personal table.


*Journey times based on route between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 3. Data sources: Google Maps for journey time by Taxi, TfL Journey Planner for journey time by Tube, Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express. For Tube and Elizabeth Line, the journey time represents an average, based on estimated best journey times shown on TfL Journey Planner on the hour every hour from 5am to 10pm for each day of August 2019. For Taxi, the journey time represents an average, based on an estimated range of journey times shown on Google Maps on the hour every hour from 5am to 10pm for each day of August 2019.

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Our ticket types

Choose from a range of Heathrow Express ticket types to suit your journey and your budget. Book your train tickets to Heathrow Airport, or in the opposite direction, with Heathrow Express in minutes.

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Single

Book a Single ticket in either Standard Class or PREMIER+. Pick any train on that day and travel one way either from London to Heathrow, or the opposite direction, whether you're flying for business or pleasure.

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Advanced Discounted Single

Make great savings by booking your single ticket on Standard Class 30+ days in advance. Get organised with your train travel and plan a single journey to or from Heathrow for just £10. Get your advanced discount ticket here.

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Same Day Return

Book a Same Day ticket if you're flying out of and returning to Heathrow on the same day. Ideal for business travellers regularly flying out of Heathrow. Hop on a morning flight for a meeting in Edinburgh or Berlin and fly home that evening, using Heathrow Express both ways.

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Return

With a Return ticket on Heathrow Express, you have ultimate flexibility for your travel to and from the airport.

Whether you're away for two weeks with the family or enjoying a city break, you can travel five days after you buy the ticket and return within one month.

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Carnet tickets

Available as a Carnet x6 or Carnet x12 in both Standard Class and PREMIER+, you'll save money on your journeys by buying your tickets in bulk.

With a Carnet x6 you get 6 journeys for the price of 5, whilst a Carnet x12 will give you 12 journeys for the price of 9.

Family Travel

Family travel

Children aged 15 and under travel for free on Heathrow Express. If you're travelling as a family from Heathrow – whether to see friends or for the holiday of a lifetime – book tickets for the whole family, but only pay for the adults.

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