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Enjoy a stress free journey to Heathrow on the Heathrow Express

Avoid the tube and arrive at Heathrow in 15 minutes

If you’re looking for the best route to get from Central London to Heathrow Airport, the Heathrow Express is the most efficient way to travel.

The London Underground’s Piccadilly line serves all four Heathrow terminals, but the journey takes longer, and trains are often very busy. For a comfortable and smooth alternative to the tube, the Heathrow Express offers the fastest route to Heathrow.

On this page, we’ll compare the speed, cost, comfort, convenience, and overall experience of travelling to Heathrow on the Heathrow Express vs the tube. So you can make an informed decision on the best way to travel.

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The Heathrow Express runs non-stop from London Paddington to Heathrow, and takes just 15 minutes to arrive at Heathrow Central with an extra six minutes to reach Terminal 5 station.

The Piccadilly Line to Heathrow runs from Cockfosters to Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 crossing central London in the process with stations including Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Covent Garden. The average journey time on the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow from Central London is around 52 minutes. The Piccadilly Line also doesn’t run to Terminal 5, Heathrow’s busiest terminal.

Travel need to knows

Heathrow Express

Piccadilly Line

Journey Time

15 minutes

49 minutes

Train Frequency

Every 15 minutes

Every 5-10 minutes off peak

Number of Stops

0 stops from Paddington

15 stops from Kensington

Cost

£20 return with 2 advanced discount tickets

£11.60 when you purchase 2 singles

Heathrow-Express

Why the Heathrow Express beats the tube

Whether you’re travelling for business or jetting off on a family vacation, it’s faster and more convenient to take the Heathrow Express to the airport than it is to travel by tube.

With trains leaving Paddington every 15 minutes, here’s why travelling on the Heathrow Express is more efficient than taking the Piccadilly line.

  • Journey time is just 15 minutes, compared to 49 minutes on the Piccadilly line
  • The journey is direct with no stops along the way
  • Children aged 15 and under travel for free
  • Business First-Class tickets include free fast-track security at the airport
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Arriving at Heathrow on the Heathrow Express

Heathrow Express trains take just 15 minutes to travel non-stop from London Paddington to Heathrow Central. It’s then an extra six minutes to arrive at Terminal 5 station. If you’re flying from Terminal 2 or 3, it’s only a short walk from Heathrow Central. For flights from Terminal 4, you’ll need to leave the train at Heathrow Central and take a shuttle bus to your terminal.

Our ticket types

Choose from a range of Heathrow Express ticket types to suit your journey and your budget.

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Single

Book a Single ticket on either Standard Class or Business First Class. Pick any train on that day and travel one way either to or from Heathrow 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 45+ 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. 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 travelers 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 on both Standard Class and Business First Class, 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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