Heathrow Airport

There are several ways to get between Heathrow Airport and central London.

Heathrow Express is the quickest connection between the airport and central London. It leaves Heathrow every 15 minutes for Paddington Station in central London taking just 15 minutes to arrive (a few minutes more for Terminals 4 or 5).

The trains are all well-equipped with air-conditioning, plenty of baggage space, wireless internet as well as free TV.

Trains run between around 05:00 and 23:30 between Paddington and Heathrow - if travelling early or late, please check exact train times before leaving!

Tickets can bought online in advance, via the mobile app at the station or on board the train. The standard single fare costs £21.50 when booked prior to travel and £5 more if bought on the train. A return fare costs just under twice the single fare. Children under the age of 16 travel for free when accompanied by an adult.

Heathrow Express trains stop at Heathrow Central (for Terminals 2 and 3) and Heathrow Terminal 5. If you use Terminal 4 you can transfer free to or from Heathrow Central using the Heathrow Connect shuttle (a stopping service to London Paddington that links the airport with local stations in west London). These run every 30 minutes.

If you need more information about fares and timetables, visit the Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect websites or call National Rail Enquiries on 0845 748 4950.

The cheapest option for travelling to and from the airport is to use the London Underground service which runs along the picadilly line from central London to terminals 1 to 5. You have to buy your ticket at the station before boarding the train. The journey will take less than an hour and, even off-peak, there normally are trains every ten minutes.

There are three different London Underground stations at Heathrow– one for Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and one each at Terminal 4 and Terminal 5; all stations are in Travelcard Zone 6.
Normally, a single fare to central London is approximately £4. If you buy a Travelcard you're also covered for London buses and some mainline trains.
You can buy tickets at all London Underground stations, from ticket offices or machines. You can also use pre-paid Oyster cards on the London Underground.

For more information, check the London Underground website or call +44 (0)20 7222 1234.

Underground trains to central London start at approximately 05.00 or 06.00 on Sundays and go through until approximately 23.30 daily. Please check the times before you travel though if you are going very early/late in the day.

If you arrive outside of the Underground's operating hours, the N9 bus connects Heathrow with central London during the night. From the central bus station (above the Underground station) there are buses every half an hour.

If you are travelling on outside of central London, there are Railair coaches between Heathrow and Reading, Woking or Watford Junction from early morning until late at night. There is also a 24-hour bus service (number 285), to Feltham rail station.

National Express coaches offer a comprehensive service to and from Heathrow from a variety of destinations nationwide. If you're travelling to or from Bristol, Northampton or the West Midlands, it is likely that this will be your most direct mode of transport. National Express also offers a direct connection between Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

If you are travelling to Heathrow by car, you'll need to use either the M4 or M25.

Terminals 1 (Postcode: TW6 1AP), 2 (Postcode: TW6 1EW) and 3(Postcode: TW6 3QG) are close together. Just exit the M4 at junction 4 or the M25 at junction 15 and follow the airport signs.

Terminal 4 (TW6 3XA) is located on the southern part of the airport site and has has a separate entrance. Simply exit the M25 at junction 14 and follow the signs. If you're on the M4, leave at junction 4b and follow the M25 south to junction 14.

The new Terminal 5 (TW6 2GA) is on the Western Perimeter Road and is accesible via a separate road, reached from junction 14 of the M25. If you’re on the M4, exit at junction 4b and follow the M25 south to junction 14.

There are set-down lanes outside all the terminals for you to drop off/collect passengers. These are normally well managed and so you should be able to find space without too much issue. On the terminal forecourt waiting is not permitted, but you can unload.

There is a Short Stay Car Park for each terminal which is within easy walking distance from check-in.