Every option compared LHR → London
Heathrow Express 15–21 min
Elizabeth line 30–45 min
Black cab (meter) 45 min–1h 30m
Piccadilly line (Underground) 50 min–1h
0 30m 60m 90m
Transport from Heathrow to London Option From → to Time Price Hours Heathrow Express Heathrow Express Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 station (also Terminal 5) → London Paddington 15–21 min £10–26as of 1 October 2026 Every 15 minutes Elizabeth line Transport for London Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4 or Terminal 5 station → Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Liverpool Street 30–45 min Varies Several trains an hour Black cab (meter) Licensed London taxis Taxi ranks outside each terminal's arrivals → Door to door 45 min–1h 30m Varies On demand Piccadilly line (Underground) Transport for London Underground stations at all Heathrow terminals → Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, King's Cross St Pancras 50 min–1h Varies Every few minutes
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Step by step Heathrow Express train
Pick-up Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 station (also Terminal 5)
Goes to London Paddington
Time 15–21 min
Price £10–26 (1 October 2026)
Frequency Every 15 minutes
Payment Contactless bank card, Apple Pay or Google Pay at the gates, Oyster, or a ticket online or at the machines; the lowest fares are advance tickets
Luggage Luggage racks in every carriage Follow the purple Heathrow Express signs from arrivals to the station under Terminals 2 & 3 (Terminal 5 has its own station). Tap in with a contactless card, or show an e-ticket; advance tickets bought 30+ days ahead are the cheapest. Ride non-stop to Paddington (15 minutes from Terminals 2 & 3, about 6 more from Terminal 5), then change to the Tube or a taxi. Elizabeth line train
Pick-up Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4 or Terminal 5 station
Goes to Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Liverpool Street
Time 30–45 min
Frequency Several trains an hour
Payment Contactless bank card or Oyster (pay as you go)
Luggage Fine; walk-through trains with space by the doors Follow the Elizabeth line / trains signs from arrivals. Tap in with the same contactless card or Oyster you'll tap out with. Stay on for Paddington, Bond Street (West End), Tottenham Court Road or the City; no change needed. Black cab (meter) taxi
Pick-up Taxi ranks outside each terminal's arrivals
Goes to Door to door
Time 45 min–1h 30m
Frequency On demand
Payment Metered fare; cards accepted in licensed London taxis
Luggage Plenty of space, step-free access Use the official taxi rank outside arrivals; ignore anyone offering rides inside the terminal. The fare is metered, so traffic decides the cost; it is by far the most expensive option. Piccadilly line (Underground) metro
Pick-up Underground stations at all Heathrow terminals
Goes to Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, King's Cross St Pancras
Time 50 min–1h
Frequency Every few minutes
Payment Contactless bank card or Oyster (pay as you go)
Luggage Tight with big bags at rush hour; the train is a standard Tube train Follow the Underground roundel signs; every terminal has a station. Tap in with contactless or Oyster. Ride the Piccadilly line straight into the West End or King's Cross; it's the cheapest rail option and the slowest. Heathrow airport guide →
Sources en.wikipedia.org — terminals, operator and official website, checked 2026-09-25heathrow.com — rail and Underground links into London, checked 2026-10-01heathrowexpress.com — 15-minute journey, every 15 minutes, advance fares from £10 and £26 walk-up standard single, payment methodsheathrow.com — Elizabeth line stations in central London, journeys under 40 minutes, contactless/Oysterheathrow.com — taxi ranks at each terminalheathrow.com — Piccadilly line serves all terminals, under an hour to central London, most budget-friendly optionReport a change — seen something different at the airport or on the airline's site? We re-check and log corrections publicly.