Located 20 miles (32km) to the west of London, Heathrow (LHR) is one of the world’s busiest international airports. Heathrow has got four terminals and a fifth is under construction.
Traveling by Train between Heathrow Airport and Central London
The Heathrow Express is the quickest way into central London. It takes 15-20 minutes and is non-stop to Paddington station. There are four non-stop trains per hour. Trains depart from Paddington between 5.10am and 11.25pm and return from Terminal 4 between 5.23am and 11.41pm and Terminal 5 between 5.07am and 11.42pm. There are three stations at Heathrow: Central (for Terminals 1, 2, and 3) and Terminal 4, and Terminal 5. Travelcards are not valid on the Heathrow Express.
Buy Heathrow Express tickets from Railpass.com
HeathrowConnect.com also runs a train service between Heathrow Airport and Paddington station but has a few stops along the way so the fare is a bit cheaper. Journey time is 25 minutes and trains operate every 30 minutes. Trains run from Heathrow Central train station and passengers for Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 should use the free inter-terminal service from Heathrow Express. Oyster pay as you go and Travelcards are not valid between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow on this service.
Taking the Tube between Heathrow Airport and Central London
Heathrow Airport has three stations on the Piccadilly Line: Heathrow Terminal 5, Heathrow Terminal 4 and Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3. All stations are in zone 6 (central London is zone 1.) London Underground is the cheapest way to travel to and from Heathrow but it takes a long time (about 1 hour to central London).
Coach Services between Heathrow Airport and Central London
National Express connects Heathrow's central bus station and Victoria Coach station and takes about 45 minutes. There is an average of three coaches per hour. Remember to allow extra time in case of traffic problems.
Dot2Dot started in 2007 and offers shuttle services between Heathrow Airport (and Gatwick Airport) and central London for around half the price of a black cab. You share the transfer with up to 3 other hotel stops to keep the costs down. There are 12 services an hour between Central London and Heathrow.
By Taxi between Heathrow Airport and Central London
You can usually find a queue of black cabs at all terminals or go to one of the approved taxi desks. The fare is metered, but watch for extra charges such as late night or weekend journeys. Tipping is not compulsory, but 10 is considered the norm. Expect to pay at least £40 to get to Central London. Only use a reputable mini-cab and never use unauthorized drivers who offer their services at airports or stations.
