There are several ways to travel to and from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and the centre of the capital
What is the best way from Heathrow to central London? This depends on your budget and how quickly you need to do the journey. The Underground is the cheapest, with a taxi or limousine the most expensive.
Heathrow Airport (LHR) is 15 miles (24km) from central London. Let’s take a closer look at the options for your journey from Heathrow to the centre of the capital.
Heathrow Airport to Central London
1. Heathrow Express
2. London Underground (Tube)
3. Elizabeth Line
3. National Express Coach
4. Taxi
5. Hire a Car
6. Private Car and Limousines
7. Walking from Heathrow Airport
All About Travelling from Heathrow to Central London
1. Heathrow Express
The Heathrow Express is a train which runs every 15 minutes between London Heathrow and Paddington rail station. The express runs from terminals two, three, four and five with the journey taking a little over 15 minutes. Fares vary but expect around £25 one-way, although these are much cheaper if booked in advance. (2022 prices)
2. London Underground (Tube)
The Piccadilly Line (light blue) runs from all five terminals into the centre of London and beyond. There are numerous stops and you can choose your destination on the Piccadilly Line or change to other lines. Heathrow underground trains have plenty of suitcase luggage space. Journey times to the centre of London are 50-60 minutes. Fares vary at different times of day, depending on your final destination, with a single journey costing £6.00 (2022).
3. Elizabeth Line
Opened in May 2022, this stopping service runs between Heathrow airport and Paddington, passing through the centre of the capital. The line will expand to parts of east London in 2023. The journey time to Paddington is around 30-minutes and fares vary between £11.50 to £14.20 depending on your destination. (2022). Note, that the Elizabeth line does not run on Sundays, although this will change toward the end of 2022 and and parts of the line were formally known as Tfl Rail.
4. National Express Coach
Coaches run though-out the day, with Victoria Coach Station as the main central destination. The bus station at the airport is located at terminals two/three, with a call at terminals four and five. Journey times are between 40-80 minutes, depending on traffic. The current one-way fare is from £6.00 when pre-booked, more on the day. (2022).
5. Taxi
London’s famous black cabs run 24-hours a day from all terminals at Heathrow. Journey time to the centre of London is around an hour, depending on traffic and your final destination. There is no need to book a black cab. Expect to pay between £45 and £70 depending on the time of day and duration of your journey (2022 prices)
6. Hire a Car
All major car hire companies serve Heathrow airport. Free shuttle buses run from each terminal to the location of individual car hire parks. The most expensive way to hire a car at Heathrow is just turning up. Significant savings can be made by booking in advance.
7. Private Cars and Limousines
Booked in advance from numerous operators, your driver will generally be waiting at the customs hall exit with a sign showing your name. Costs vary wildly, depending on your individual needs.
8. Walking from Heathrow Airport
Err. . . .no. Heathrow’s internal roads and designed for vehicles only and it is illegal to attempt to walk through the tunnels.
Which Airports Serve London?
LCY – London City
LGW – London Gatwick
LHR – London Heathrow
LTN – London Luton
STN – London Stansted