Every way to get from Heathrow Airport into London — compared by speed, price and how easy each is with luggage. Then route the whole journey offline with CityNav.
Open CityNav Free → See London transit coverageHeathrow has four passenger terminals: T2 (The Queen's Terminal, Star Alliance), T3 (Oneworld/SkyTeam long-haul), T4 (mixed, mostly SkyTeam) and T5 (British Airways/Iberia). T2 and T3 share a central station; T4 and T5 have their own stations. All are connected to central London by rail and free inter-terminal transfers.
| Option | Duration | Price | Frequency / Hours | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🚆 Elizabeth line | ~35-45 min | from £12.80 | every 10-15 min 05:10-23:40 (limited overnight) |
excellent — level boarding, walk-through carriages, luggage space |
| 🚄 Heathrow Express | ~15 min | from £25 (cheaper booked in advance) | every 15 min 05:10-23:50 |
excellent — dedicated luggage racks, few stops |
| 🚇 Piccadilly line (Tube) | ~50-60 min | from £5.60 (off-peak, contactless) | every 5-10 min 05:00-23:45 (24h Fri/Sat on much of the line) |
moderate — steps at some stations, gets crowded |
| 🚌 National Express coach | ~45-90 min | from £6 | every 20-30 min roughly 04:00-22:00 |
good — large hold underneath |
| 🚕 Black cab / taxi | ~45-70 min (traffic dependent) | from £60-£90 metered | on demand at ranks 24/7 |
excellent — door to door |
| 📱 Uber / rideshare | ~45-70 min | from £45-£75 | on demand (designated pickup zones) 24/7 |
excellent — door to door |
→ Central London (Paddington / Tottenham Court Road / Liverpool St)
Luggage: excellent — level boarding, walk-through carriages, luggage space
→ London Paddington
Luggage: excellent — dedicated luggage racks, few stops
→ Central London (Piccadilly Circus, King's Cross)
Luggage: moderate — steps at some stations, gets crowded
→ London Victoria Coach Station
Luggage: good — large hold underneath
→ Central London
Luggage: excellent — door to door
→ Central London
Luggage: excellent — door to door
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The cheapest is the Piccadilly line Tube (from about £5.60 off-peak with contactless). The Elizabeth line is from £12.80, Heathrow Express from £25, coaches from £6, and a taxi typically £60-£90.
The Heathrow Express reaches Paddington in about 15 minutes. If your destination is elsewhere in the centre, the Elizabeth line (35-45 min) is often faster overall because it avoids a change at Paddington.
The Piccadilly line Tube with a contactless card is usually cheapest (from ~£5.60 off-peak). National Express coaches to Victoria start around £6.
The Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express both have level boarding and dedicated luggage space. A taxi or Uber is easiest door-to-door if you have heavy or multiple bags.
The Piccadilly line runs until roughly 23:45 (and 24 hours on Friday/Saturday nights on much of the line). Otherwise take a black cab or Uber, or a Night Tube/night bus onward from the centre.
Yes. Tap in and out with a contactless card or phone on the Tube and Elizabeth line — it's the same price as Oyster and caps your daily spend automatically. Heathrow Express and coaches sell separate tickets.
Data last checked: 2026-08-14 · Sources: TfL, Heathrow Airport, National Rail. Fares are approximate and can change.