Heathrow to central London: train, Tube, taxi

London Heathrow lies about 27 km west of central London, and it has three rail links into town – more than almost any other airport in Europe. You can take the Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth line, the Piccadilly line of the Underground, a coach or a taxi. The short answer: take the Heathrow Express if your hotel is near Paddington, the Elizabeth line if you are staying in the West End or the City, and the Piccadilly line if you want the cheapest train or are staying near Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden or South Kensington.

Heathrow to central London: the options

Times: Heathrow Express from Terminals 2 and 3 according to Heathrow Express, Elizabeth line ("under 45 minutes") and Piccadilly line ("about 50 minutes") according to Heathrow Airport, taxi as pure driving time to Trafalgar Square based on OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Heathrow itself advises allowing at least an hour by car.

Heathrow Express: the fastest way

The Heathrow Express runs non-stop between Heathrow and London Paddington. According to the operator, the journey from Terminals 2 and 3 takes about 15 minutes; from Terminal 5 add about 6 minutes, and Terminal 4 is connected by a free transfer train. Trains run every 15 minutes.

• Ticket: the Heathrow Express has its own fares, with cheaper advance tickets if you book well ahead. You can also simply tap in and out at the barriers with a contactless bank card, phone or an Oyster card.
• Arrival: at Paddington, a large station with the Elizabeth line and four Underground lines. From there you continue by Tube or taxi.

The Heathrow Express pays off if your hotel is near Paddington or Hyde Park, or if you want the shortest time on the train. For most other parts of town you will change at Paddington anyway – and the Elizabeth line may then be just as fast and cheaper.

Elizabeth line: straight through the centre

The Elizabeth line runs from Heathrow through Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Liverpool Street to Canary Wharf and east London. According to Heathrow, it takes under 45 minutes to central London. From Terminals 2 and 3 there are six trains an hour, from Terminal 4 four and from Terminal 5 two (according to the airport, since May 2023).

• Ticket: pay as you go with a contactless bank card, phone or Oyster – tap in at the start and out at the end. Single tickets and Travelcards are sold at the machines in the station.
• Hours: from about 5:15 in the morning to around midnight; the airport lists the exact first and last trains per terminal.
• Good for: hotels in Mayfair, Soho, Bloomsbury, the City or near Liverpool Street – no change needed.

Piccadilly line: the cheapest train

The Piccadilly line of the London Underground stops at all terminals and runs through west London to South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden and King's Cross St Pancras. According to Heathrow, the journey to central London takes about 50 minutes, and you should never wait more than 10 minutes for a train. Trains run from about 5:00 to 23:30; on Friday and Saturday nights the Night Tube runs all night (not from Terminal 4).

It is the cheapest rail option, also paid with contactless or Oyster. The downside: the trains are ordinary Tube trains with little space for large suitcases, and at rush hour they fill up from west London onwards. Heathrow is in fare zone 6 – a Travelcard for zones 1–2 alone is not valid.

Coaches, taxi and transfer

Coaches run from Heathrow to Victoria Coach Station, leaving from Terminals 4 and 5 and from the Central Bus Station between Terminals 2 and 3. They are not faster than the train, but useful if you are staying near Victoria.

London's black cabs wait outside every terminal and run on the meter. Without traffic the drive to Trafalgar Square takes under 40 minutes, but Heathrow itself advises allowing at least an hour by car. Ride-hailing cars and minicabs must be booked; drivers who approach you in the arrivals hall are not licensed taxis.

A pre-booked transfer makes sense if you arrive late at night, with children, lots of luggage or as a group: a driver waits in arrivals with your name and takes you to the door. Airport transfers in London^* can be booked with Welcome Pickups. Our article on when an airport transfer pays off compares the options for ten airports.

Which option suits whom?

• Hotel near Paddington or Hyde Park: the Heathrow Express – 15 minutes, done.
• Hotel in the West End, Bloomsbury or the City: the Elizabeth line, without changing.
• Hotel in Kensington, Covent Garden or near King's Cross; tight budget: the Piccadilly line.
• Late arrival, children, lots of luggage, group: a black cab or a pre-booked transfer.

The UK is not in the EU, so EU roaming rules do not apply automatically – check your tariff before you fly. A travel eSIM for the UK^* (Airalo) is often cheaper than roaming; our eSIM price index compares the prices per gigabyte.

On the day you leave

All three rail links run the other way too. Plan with the timetable times plus a buffer, and check the first and last trains if your flight leaves very early. If you have already checked out and fly in the evening, you can use luggage storage in central London^* (Radical Storage) and spend a last afternoon in a museum. Also arriving at Gatwick? Our guide Gatwick to central London covers London's second airport.

How long to stay and what to see is in our article how many days in London, with plans for one to five days.

London trip planDay by day, with map and tips

How YesTrip helps you plan

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