At a glance
| Option | Journey time | How often | Single fare (adult) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth line | About 28 min to Paddington, about 40 min to Liverpool Street | Up to 6 trains an hour from Terminals 2&3 | £15.50 from central London | Most travellers; step-free, lots of luggage space |
| Heathrow Express | 15 min (T2&3) or 21 min (T5) to Paddington | Every 15 min | £26 walk-up, from £10 booked 30+ days ahead | Speed to Paddington; children under 16 free |
| Piccadilly line (Tube) | About 50 min to central London | Every 10 min or better | About £4–£6 (off-peak cheaper) | Lowest rail fare; light luggage |
| National Express coach | About 40 min to Victoria Coach Station (traffic dependent) | Up to 77 a day, 01:00–23:59 | From £9.50 | Budget travel to Victoria |
| Night bus N9 | Roughly 1 hr 15 min to Aldwych | Every 20–30 min overnight | £1.75 (£1.85 from 1 Nov 2026) | Arrivals after the last train |
| Black cab | 45–75 min | Rank at every terminal | Metered; expect roughly £70–£100+ | No pre-booking |
| Pre-booked car | 45–75 min door to door | Meets your flight | Fixed price agreed in advance | Families, groups, heavy luggage, late arrivals |
Elizabeth line
The Elizabeth line is the best choice for most visitors. Trains run from Terminals 2&3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 straight through Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Liverpool Street, with no change. Every station is step-free and the trains have space for luggage.
- Fare: £15.50 single from central London (from March 2026), paid by contactless or Oyster. It counts towards the £16.30 Zones 1–6 daily cap.
- Times: about 28 minutes to Paddington and 40 minutes to Liverpool Street.
- First and last trains: first trains towards London leave Terminal 5 at about 05:15; the last leave shortly after midnight.
Heathrow Express
The fastest link, running non-stop to Paddington every 15 minutes: 15 minutes from Terminals 2&3 and 21 minutes from Terminal 5. For Terminal 4, change to the free Elizabeth line shuttle at Terminals 2&3.
- Walk-up and contactless single: £26. Advance singles from £10 when booked at least 30 days ahead. Same-day return £30.
- Children under 16 travel free with a paying adult, which makes it good value for families going to Paddington.
- It is not included in TfL daily caps or Travelcards.
Piccadilly line
The cheapest rail option, at roughly £4–£6 depending on the time of day. It takes about 50 minutes to central London and runs directly to South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden and King's Cross. The trains have no luggage space and many central stations have stairs. The Night Tube runs on Friday and Saturday nights to Terminals 2&3 and 5.
Coach and night bus
National Express coaches leave from the Central Bus Station (Terminals 2&3) and outside Terminals 4 and 5, with fares from £9.50 to Victoria Coach Station and up to 77 departures a day. Each passenger can take one large case and a soft bag. The N9 night bus runs from Heathrow to Aldwych through the night via Hammersmith, Kensington and Piccadilly Circus for a standard bus fare.
Taxi, Uber or pre-booked car
Black cabs wait at ranks outside every terminal and are metered; expect roughly £70–£100 or more to central London depending on traffic. Ride-app pickups are from the terminal car parks, not the kerb, and prices change with demand. A pre-booked car has a fixed price, tracks your flight and meets you in arrivals, which is often the best value for three or four people with luggage.
Which should you choose?
- Solo with carry-on: Elizabeth line, or Piccadilly line if you are staying on it.
- Staying near Paddington: Heathrow Express, especially with children under 16.
- Tight budget, not in a hurry: National Express coach.
- Landing after midnight: N9 night bus or a pre-booked car.
- Family or group with luggage: a pre-booked car to your door.
Fares and times checked September 2026. Prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.