The Heathrow Express is the fast Paddington-to-Heathrow link, but it is sometimes suspended for engineering works or strikes. When it is, a fixed-price car takes you door to terminal in about sixteen miles — no changes, flight tracked, and the same fare coming home.
The Short Answer
You have three main options when the Express is down: the Elizabeth line, the Piccadilly line, or a fixed-price car. The Elizabeth line runs Paddington to Heathrow too — cheaper than the Express but slower, with more stops. The Piccadilly line (the Tube) is the budget option but slower again and step-heavy with luggage. A pre-booked car is door to terminal with your bags, on a fare fixed at booking — from £135 in a saloon.
When the Express is down
When the Heathrow Express is suspended, the Elizabeth line still links Paddington to Heathrow — it is noticeably cheaper than the Express but slower, with more stops and its own engineering closures. The Piccadilly line reaches all the Heathrow terminals as well, cheaper still but slower again and hard work with cases and stairs. A taxi is the door-to-terminal option: no changes, help with the luggage, and a fixed fare agreed at booking — the run is around sixteen miles from central London. Which is right depends on your luggage, your group and how tight your check-in is; for an early or tight flight, or several bags, the car is usually the least stressful.
We collect from your Paddington-area door or hotel and drive straight to your terminal — no platform changes with the cases.
Around sixteen miles from central London on a fare agreed up front — no meter and no surge.
Give us your flight number and we plan the pickup around your departure and the traffic.
Fixed Fares
| Vehicle | Central London → Heathrow |
|---|---|
| Saloon | £135 |
| Executive | £99 |
| MPV | £101 |
| 8 Seater | £118 |
Representative fixed fares from central London, agreed at booking and the same both ways — meet-and-greet, flight tracking and help with luggage included. Fares vary by exact pickup postcode; the booking form gives the precise figure for your address. This is our standard tariff, not a strike-day surcharge.
Practical Tips
If your flight is early or your check-in is tight, or you have several cases, the door-to-terminal car is usually the least stressful choice when the Express is off.
Travelling light and not in a rush? The Elizabeth line from Paddington is the cheaper way to Heathrow when the Express is suspended — just check it is not under engineering works itself.
Booking a car ahead locks in the fixed fare and means it is waiting for you, rather than hoping one is free on the day.
FAQ
From £135 in a saloon from central London, fixed when you book, with larger vehicles for more people or luggage. The run is around sixteen miles and the price is the same coming home. The booking form gives the exact fare for your address.
The Elizabeth line and the Piccadilly line both run from central London to Heathrow and are cheaper but slower, with changes and stairs. A pre-booked car is door to terminal with your luggage on a fixed fare — the most direct option, especially for an early flight or a group.
No. Both link Paddington and Heathrow, but the Elizabeth line is cheaper and slower with more stops, while the Express is the fast premium service. When the Express is suspended the Elizabeth line is the usual rail alternative — unless it too is under engineering works.
Yes — from any Paddington-area hotel, the station or your home. Tell us the flight number and we track it and time the pickup to your departure.
Fixed price, no surge, flight tracked and door to terminal. Book online in two minutes or call any time — and booking ahead of a strike day secures both the car and the fare.
Get my fixed quote → Call 02088889988Related
| Journey (17 miles) | Saloon | Executive | MPV | 8-seater | 9-seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddington to Heathrow When the Heathrow Express Isn't Running (single) | from £135 | from £161 | from £161 | from £187 | from £187 |
| Heathrow When the Heathrow Express Isn't Running to Paddington (single) | from £135 | from £161 | from £161 | from £187 | from £187 |
| Return, both legs booked together | from £243 | from £290 | from £290 | from £337 | from £337 |
Fares are per car, agreed at booking, and include tolls, the Congestion Charge and ULEZ where they apply. No meter, no surge, no night premium.
Most passengers on this route book a saloon; families and groups with luggage take the 7-seater MPV taxi; for business travel the executive chauffeur car (Mercedes E-Class, from £161) or a Mercedes S-Class chauffeur on request; for seven or eight passengers an 8-seater taxi (from £187) or 9-seater minibus (from £187). Every vehicle on the Paddington to Heathrow Express Not Running run is TfL-licensed private hire — a pre-booked minicab with a fixed fare, not a metered cab. See the vehicle size guide for luggage capacity.
The Paddington to Heathrow Express Not Running route is about 17 miles, which usually takes 36 min to 57 min door to door (our estimate from the distance). Use the table to choose a pickup time; your driver still checks live traffic before setting off.
| Flight departs Heathrow Express Not Running | Leave Paddington by (UK & Europe, 2 h check-in) | Leave by (long-haul, 3 h) |
|---|---|---|
| 06:00 | 03:05 | 02:05 |
| 09:00 | 06:05 | 05:05 |
| 13:00 | 09:45 | 08:45 |
| 17:00 | 13:55 | 12:55 |
| 21:00 | 17:45 | 16:45 |
Airlines usually advise arriving 2 hours before short-haul and 3 hours before long-haul flights; check your airline's own advice.
Splitting the fixed fare:
More from here: Paddington to Heathrow taxi · Paddington to Gatwick taxi · Paddington to Stansted taxi · Paddington to Luton taxi · Paddington to Southend taxi
Airport & city taxis: Heathrow taxi · Gatwick taxi · Stansted taxi · Luton taxi · London City Airport taxi · Meet & greet · Southampton cruise transfers · London taxi · Corporate accounts
Browse: All UK pick-up places A–Z · All routes · Airport transfers · Home
Arriving by rail at Paddington: train tracked, driver at the agreed entrance, and straight on to Heathrow Express Not Running without a change or a queue. The price was fixed when you booked, not when you arrived.
Heading to Heathrow Express Not Running for a flight: collected in Paddington with time in hand, dropped at your terminal, and the price does not move if the motorway does. The Heathrow forecourt drop-off charge is already included in the fare.
If you would normally open Uber, Bolt or FreeNow for this journey, the difference is when the price is set: an app quotes at the moment of demand and can surge, while this fare was fixed when you booked and does not rise on the night.
The small print, in one line: cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup; child seats are fitted free when you give ages at booking; an executive saloon or chauffeur-driven car can be chosen at booking; and Christmas and New Year supplements are shown in your quote before you book (seasonal fares).
Site index · Rushxo for Business · Visitor guides by country · London food & shopping guide · Airport transfers