The Oxford to London Heathrow

The Oxford to Heathrow journey

The Oxford to London Heathrow route

The Oxford to London Heathrow route is simple and straightforward, with two legs to your trip.

The first stage of your journey is to take the train from Oxford into central London – you’ll arrive into London Paddington. At Paddington, you’ll take the Heathrow Express to Heathrow Airport.

We’ll run through each leg of the journey in detail below.

Oxford to London: Getting into the capital

The first stage of your journey is the train from Oxford to London Paddington. There are usually two direct trains to Paddington from Oxford every hour, on Great Western Railway (GWR). You can also take the train to Reading and change there for direct services into Paddington, but the quickest option is the train from Oxford direct to Paddington – you’ll be in the capital in around 55 minutes.

Locating the Heathrow Express train in Paddington

When you arrive at Paddington station, you’ll get off your Great Western Railway train and make your way to platforms six or seven to take the Heathrow Express to Heathrow Airport.

There’s no need to head into the main station concourse or go through the ticket barriers at Paddington. Simply stroll to your next platform to catch the Heathrow Express. Our trains leave every 15 minutes, so you’ll never be waiting longer than a quarter of an hour to get your connecting train to the airport.

Remember to check the boards at the station to make sure we’re not running from a different platform on the day.

Find your seat on the Heathrow Express

With the Heathrow Express taking just 15 minutes to arrive at Heathrow Airport, you’ll glide into Heathrow with plenty of time before your flight.

Our trains leave Paddington every 15 minutes, with four trains running every hour. Once you board, there’s plenty of space to store your luggage, then settle into your comfy seat and enjoy the ample legroom on offer. We have free Wi-Fi throughout our trains, whether you want to check in for your flight or stay connected on your journey to the airport. PREMIER+ passengers benefit from extra legroom, as well as their own table and plug socket, plus free Fast Track Security at the airport. Kids aged 15 and under also travel for free on Heathrow Express.

Discover more about what to expect on the Heathrow Express.

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

Train journeys from Oxford to London Heathrow or Heathrow to Oxford, via the Heathrow Express, can be as quick 1 hour 15 minutes.

The train from Oxford to London Paddington takes around 55 minutes.

The transfer at Paddington to the Heathrow Express takes around 5 minutes.

The Heathrow Express from Paddington to Heathrow takes 15 minutes, with an additional journey time of six minutes to Terminal 5 station.

Passengers flying from either Terminal 2 or 3 at Heathrow will leave the Heathrow Express service at Heathrow Central, while Terminal 5 station serves flights leaving from Terminal 5. If you're flying from Terminal 4, you can jump on a free Elizabeth Line or Piccadilly Line train from Heathrow Central to the terminal.

Is there a direct train between Oxford and London Heathrow Airport (LHR)?

There are no direct trains from Oxford to Heathrow. As there are no direct Oxford to Heathrow trains, the quickest option is to journey from Oxford to London Paddington and board the Heathrow Express at Paddington. With journey times between Paddington and London Heathrow being just 15 minutes, this will ensure your time spent travelling is as short as possible.

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

When booking your train ticket from Oxford to Heathrow in advance, you may be able to secure your ticket for under £30.

To ensure your journey is as cost-effective as possible, book your Heathrow Express ticket early. When booking 30 days or more in advance, you can get an Advance Discounted Single for as little as £10. Kids aged 15 and under will also travel free.

If you purchase your ticket closer to your day of travel, you can expect to pay £26 for a Single in Standard Class and £32 for a Single in PREMIER+.

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Why choose Heathrow Express?

Heathrow Express trains take just 15 minutes to travel to Heathrow Central from London Paddington, with an extra six minutes to Terminal 5. Our trains run every 15 minutes, with no need to pre-book a specific departure train. You’ll find free Wi-Fi throughout our carriages and generous onboard luggage space for carry-on and hold luggage. Children aged 15 and under also travel for free.

You can choose between two classes for your journey. Passengers on our Standard Class can enjoy spacious seats and ample luggage racks, while those opting for PREMIER+ benefit from additional legroom, as well as a personal table to catch up on any work before their flight. We also provide power sockets and free newspapers and magazines for PREMIER+ passengers and free Fast Track Security at the airport.

Passengers on either class will also benefit from our onboard TV service featuring BBC World News, weather and entertainment clips, and useful journey information.

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Your journey into the airport from the Heathrow Express

The Heathrow Express arrives at Heathrow Central station first, after 15 minutes, then continues for another six minutes to Terminal 5 station.

For flights from Terminal 2, 3 or 4, leave the train at Heathrow Central. You can walk to either Terminal 2 or Terminal 3 using the inter-terminal walkway, and there’s a shuttle bus from Heathrow Central to Terminal 4. It runs regularly and takes only a few minutes.

If you’re flying from Terminal 5, simply stay on the Heathrow Express to Terminal 5 station. You’ll then need to make your way up to check-in, which is on Level 3 of Terminal 5.

Discover more about Heathrow’s terminals with our helpful terminal maps.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Getting back to Oxford from Heathrow

Once you land at Heathrow, board the Heathrow Express at either Heathrow Central station or Terminal 5 station. The Heathrow Express runs direct to London Paddington in 15 minutes from Heathrow Central and 21 minutes from Terminal 5. Our trains leave every 15 minutes from the airport.

When you arrive at Paddington, look for the Great Western Railway train to Oxford. The train from Paddington to Oxford should take around 55 minutes.
You can buy a Return or Same Day Return ticket for the Heathrow Express, while children aged 15 and under travel for free.
Explore return ticket options on the Heathrow Express.

The Oxford to London Heathrow

The Oxford to Heathrow journey