How to Get from Heathrow Airport to the London City Center

One thing I always like to know before arriving in a new country is: how the heck do I get from the airport into the city center?

Nobody likes landing after an overnight flight, extremely jet-lagged, trying to figure out their transportation last minute.

Luckily, getting from Heathrow Airport to the London city center is relatively straightforward, and there are 6 main ways to choose from.

We personally picked the Heathrow Express because it’s the fastest way into the city, but halfway through the trip I realized the Elizabeth line probably made more sense.

There’s also the Tube, the bus, cabs, Ubers, and private cars, truly something for every type of traveler.

This guide will help you choose which transportation method for getting into central London is the best fit for your priorities and budget!

Where is Heathrow?

Heathrow (LHR) is London’s biggest airport and sits about 15 miles (24 km) west of central London, in Zone 6 of the transport network. Terminals 2 and 3 share one station (Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, sometimes called Heathrow Central), and Terminals 4 and 5 each have their own.

Check which terminal you land at before you go, since it affects which trains stop there:

• Terminals 2 & 3: served by the Heathrow Express, Elizabeth line and Piccadilly line
• Terminal 4: Elizabeth line and Piccadilly line (no Heathrow Express; take the free transfer train to T2/3 first)
• Terminal 5: Heathrow Express, Elizabeth line and Piccadilly line

Travel between terminals is free on the Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line, so landing at T4 isn’t a big deal (this is what we had to do!).

Once you get your bags, just follow the signs for either trains, Underground, bus station, taxis, or rideshare, depending on which option you choose!

Heathrow to London City Center Overview

When flying into Heathrow Airport, you can either take a train, a bus, or a car to get into the city.

However, there are 3 different trains you can take (Heathrow Express, Elizabeth line, or Piccadilly line), all with varying costs and times.

You also have the choice of an Uber, taxi, private transfer, or a bus, depending on your budget and preference.

Here is a quick summary of all 6 options, which I will break down further below to help you decide.

Here are my recommendations for when to pick each one:

• If you want the fastest option into the city -> Take the Heathrow Express
• If you want the cheapest option into the city -> Take the Piccadilly line
• If you want a balance between fastest and cheapest -> Take the Elizabeth line (especially if you are staying near Paddington, Bond Street, or Tottenham Court Road Stations)
• If you want the most comfortable option into the city -> Book a private transfer
• If you are staying near Westminster or Victoria -> Take the airport bus

Heathrow Express

💰 Cost: £25 walk-up, from £10 booked in advance, ~£32 First Class
⏰ Time: 15 min to Paddington (about 21 min from T5)
📍 Pickup location: Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 or Terminal 5 stations
🔁 Frequency: Every 15 minutes, about 5am to midnight

The Heathrow Express is a non-stop train that runs from Heathrow Airport to Paddington Station in central London. As the name suggests, it’s the fastest train into the city, taking just 15 minutes for the journey!

Due to its high cost, it’s mostly geared towards tourists and first-time travelers to London who don’t mind paying a little extra to get into the city as fast as possible.

So if you only have a few days in London and want to maximize your time in the city, this can be a good option.

This is what we took into the city on my last trip, and we had a great experience! Though I’m not sure it’s worth the £25 that we paid. However, if you book the Heathrow Express 1-2 months in advance, you can usually snag one-way tickets for £10, which is definitely worth it!

Trains leave Terminals 2, 3, and 5 every 15 minutes from roughly 5 am until just before midnight. There is a lot of dedicated luggage storage on the train, plus WiFi and air conditioning, which makes it a very comfy ride!

The reason I don’t think the Heathrow Express is worth it for most people is that your ticket cost only gets you to Paddington Station (the line ends here and you have to disembark).

So unless you are staying within walking distance of Paddington Station, you will have to get on the Tube or a bus/cab and pay more money to get to your final destination.

Because we were staying in Mayfair near the Bond Street Station, it would have made much more sense for us to use the Elizabeth line instead of the Heathrow Express, which I realized after the fact… More on that in the next section!

Elizabeth Line

💰 Cost: £14.60-£15.50 (contactless/Oyster)
⏰ Time: ~30 min to Paddington
📍 Pickup location: All terminals
🔁 Frequency: Every 15-30 minutes, depending on the terminal. Trains run from about 5:15am to midnight.

In my opinion, the Elizabeth line is the perfect middle ground for most travelers getting from Heathrow to the city center.

This train line is not technically part of the Tube, but it does connect to other stations throughout central London, unlike the Heathrow Express, which ends at Paddington.

The journey from Heathrow to Paddington on the Elizabeth line costs £14.60 and takes around 30 minutes. Or, you can continue riding the line to other stations in central London like Bond Street (Mayfair) or Tottenham Court (Soho/Covent Garden), for an additional £0.90.

So, while the Elizabeth line is almost half the cost of the Heathrow Express, it does take double the amount of time to reach central London!

Knowing what I do now, I wish we had booked the Elizabeth line (even though it takes longer), so we didn’t have to change trains at Paddington Station.

Piccadilly Line

💰 Cost: £5.90 (contactless/Oyster)
⏰ Time: 50-60 min
📍 Pickup location: All terminals (Underground signs)
🔁 Frequency: Every 10 minutes or less, about 5am to 11:30pm (Night Tube on weekends)

The last of the train options, the Piccadilly line is part of the regular London Underground, so it’s the cheapest way to get from Heathrow to the city.

The fare from Heathrow to the city center on the Piccadilly line is only £5.90. However, you can expect it to take 50-60 minutes.

The train line runs through the heart of Central London, including stops at Green Park, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden and King’s Cross. This is where most of the top things to do in London are!

So if you are staying near any of these stations, it might be worth taking the Piccadilly line so you don’t have to worry about changing trains!

Trains run every few minutes, and on Friday and Saturday nights the Night Tube runs 24 hours to Terminals 2 & 3 and 5.

However, keep in mind this is a normal commuter Tube train, so there is no luggage storage, WiFi, or extra amenities like on the Heathrow Express. It can also get very busy on the Piccadilly line, but since you are starting from the airport, you should be able to find a seat!

Private Transfers

💰 Cost: £20-40 per person
⏰ Time: 45-75 min (depending on traffic)
📍 Pickup location: Arrivals hall; your driver meets you with a sign
🔁 Frequency: Any time, booked for your arrival

The older I get, the more I appreciate private transfers versus public transportation. After years of navigating trains with my huge luggage across London, Paris, Italy, etc., there is something very luxurious about being picked up from the airport and taken directly to your hotel!

And if you are traveling with a group, private transfers don’t have to be ridiculously expensive, either! Here’s an estimate of the cost breakdown depending on how many you have in your group:

• 2 people: £40 per person
• 3 people: £28 per person
• 4 people: £25 per person
• 5+ people: £20 per person

This private car service through GetYourGuide has great reviews and costs the same amount as the Heathrow Express if you have 4 or more people. It also includes plenty of luggage space per person (some companies will try to upcharge you for a checked bag).

The only downside of a private transfer is that it will take around 45 to 75 minutes to get from the airport to your hotel by car, depending on where you are staying and the traffic that day.

But this might still be worth it for you so you don’t have to worry about hauling your luggage onto multiple trains, buses, etc!

🚘 I do recommend booking this transfer service in advance to ensure you can match your arrival time with a driver! 🚘

Buses/Coaches

💰 Cost: From ~£10 booked ahead (walk-up fares are higher)
⏰ Time: 45-60+ min to Victoria Coach Station
📍 Pickup location: Central Bus Station (T2&3), or bus stops at T4 and T5
🔁 Frequency: Up to 77 coaches a day (roughly every 20–30 minutes), almost 24 hours a day

Another option for getting from Heathrow to Central London is the National Express bus. However, there are very few cases where I think this is worth it!

National Express runs coaches from Heathrow Airport to Victoria Coach Station throughout the day. The cost of the ticket is around £9 when booked ahead of time, and it will take you around 45-60 minutes to reach the city center, depending on traffic.

One perk of taking the bus over the train is not struggling with your luggage. Just walk out to the loading area, and the attendant will stow your suitcase under the bus! The buses also have WiFi, leather reclining seats, and air conditioning.

Overall, I think it’s a comfier ride than the Tube. However, this airport bus makes very few stops, with the final destination being Victoria Coach Station, which is a transit hub near Westminster and Buckingham Palace.

So, the only time I really recommend the airport bus is if your hotel is within walking distance of Victoria Station, so you don’t have to use any other public transportation besides the bus.

If you are staying anywhere else in Central London, especially further North near Mayfair or Covent Garden, it is going to be much more convenient, cheaper, and faster to take the Piccadilly line instead!

🚌 You can buy your bus ticket on GetYourGuide here for 24-hour cancellation!

Taxis/Uber

💰 Cost: ~£50-80 for Uber, ~£70-120 for a metered black cab
⏰ Time: 45-75 min (depending on traffic)
📍 Pickup location: Black cab outside each terminal’s arrivals; Uber at the designated rideshare pickup area
🔁 Frequency: On demand, 24/7

Lastly, there is always Uber or a traditional London black cab for getting into the city center. However, this can be pricey!

The standard fare for a black cab from Heathrow to the city is between £70-120.

For groups of 4 or more, it is usually cheaper to book a private transfer ahead of time instead of taking an Uber/cab, especially when you factor in your luggage fitting!

One nice thing about black cabs is that they’re fully licensed and the drivers know the city inside out. You can find a line of taxis waiting outside the arrivals area.

However, they’re also the most expensive way into the city, and since the meter keeps running in traffic, the final price can climb fast at rush hour.

Uber is usually slightly cheaper than traditional cabs, and you can confirm the price before you book, which is a nice perk.

The average cost into the city is normally ~£50-80. However, prices surge when lots of flights land at once! Rideshare pickup spots are usually a short walk from the arrivals area.

Overall, I don’t recommend taking a cab or Uber into the city unless it’s a last resort, since it’s so pricey and takes a long time!

Final Thoughts

How you choose to get into London from Heathrow Airport depends on how much money you want to spend, how long you want the journey to take, how much luggage you have, and where you are staying in the city!

For most travelers, the Elizabeth line is the best way to get from Heathrow to central London quickly and without spending a fortune. It’s half the price of the Heathrow Express, it leaves from every terminal, and it takes you straight to Paddington, Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road without changing trains.

I believe the Heathrow Express is only worth it if you’re staying near Paddington Station or you snag one of the £10 advance tickets. If we did it again, we’d skip the Express and take the Elizabeth line straight to Bond Street, since that’s where our hotel was!

If you’re on a budget, take the Piccadilly line or the bus, depending on where you are staying. If you’re traveling with a group or lots of luggage, I recommend booking a private transfer ahead of time so a driver is waiting for you when you land!

And once you’ve made it into the city, check out my guide on how to get around London for everything you need to know about the Tube, buses, and contactless payments for navigating around.

I also have a detailed 2-day London itinerary and 4-day London itinerary if you need help figuring out exactly how to spend your time!