Transfer to/from - London Heathrow airport (LHR)

Transportation

Door-to-door transfer service

If you are looking for comfort and peace of mind when transferring from Heathrow Airport to London City, you can choose a private transfer service.

The best option is to book online your transfer to or from the airport in advance so that the driver will be waiting for you and you don't have to negotiate prices with taxis or transfer companies. You can book transport from USD80.00 (vehicle for 3 people), a vehicle for 4 people for USD88.00 or a minibus for 6 people for USD115.00.

Reservations must be made at least 12 hours in advance. At the airport, the driver will be waiting for you with a sign with your name on it as soon as you leave the baggage claim area and enter the public hall. If you are staying in a hotel or flat, the driver will be waiting for you outside the building. If they have the possibility to park the vehicle, they can sometimes wait at the reception.

MORE INFORMATION

National Express

Journey times and schedules

Direct buses from Heathrow Airport to London (Victoria Coach Station) depart from 1:05 am to 11:30 pm, offering journey times of 40 to 70 minutes, while to Earl's Court it takes 25 min.

Fares

A single ticket from the airport to central London costs from £3.10 to £5.10 with an Oyster card or £6.00 cash.

Luggage

Two 20kg suitcases and one carry-on bag per adult.

Gatwick Airport

Another direct route is the connection between Heathrow and Gatwick Airport, with 16 daily departures (from £25.00) and a journey time of 50 minutes.

Luton Airport

Direct connection to Luton Airport, with 16 daily departures from £18.00 (approximate journey time: 45 min.)

Stansted Airport

Direct connection to Stansted Airport, with 1 daily departure from £19.00 (approximate journey time: 75 min.)

Other destinations

Other major routes are operated by Megabus, RailAir, The Airline and Flixbus.

Stops

Terminals 2 and 3: Buses depart from the central station, which is only 5 minutes from the terminals via lifts, escalators and moving walkways.

Terminal 4: Bus stops are located just outside the Arrivals level. A free shuttle service to the central bus station and Terminal 5 is available at stop 7. Buses can be found at stands 12-17.

Terminal 5: Stops are located between platforms 9-15, on the Arrivals level.

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Heathrow Express

Journey time

The journey between London Paddington Station and terminals 2 and 3 takes 15 minutes (3 min. extra for Terminal 5). Trains depart every 15 min.

Fares

Tickets are available online or via the Heathrow Express app, as well as in the Arrivals areas or at the stations.

A single ticket costs £25.00. Express Class Returns tickets cost £37.00. Alternatively, book in advance (90 days) to get a ticket for just £5.50.

Children under 15 travel free in Express Class when accompanied by a paying adult.

Contactless and Oyster cards can be used to travel on the Heathrow Express. Simply use your card at the start of your journey and on departure and your journey will be charged automatically.

Stops

Trains stop at terminals 2, 3 and 5. Passengers travelling to Terminal 4 should change to the free transfer train at terminals 2 and 3 (connecting trains every 15 minutes, journey time 4 min.)

Service details

You can travel in comfort on modern, air-conditioned trains with plenty of luggage space and onboard TV. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the train and there are also power sockets at the seat. You can even use your mobile phone when the train passes through a tunnel. And for maximum comfort, you can opt for Business First, with larger seats, extra legroom, work desks and free newspapers and magazines.

Connections

London Paddington Station is close to Hyde Park and Oxford Street and is served by the London Underground's District, Circle, Bakerloo and Hammersmith & City lines. From London Paddington, you can take main line trains to the West, South West and South Wales.

Underground

This is the western end of the dark blue Piccadilly line. The airport has three underground stations, popularly known as "the tube". One for terminals 2 and 3 and two others for Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. The Piccadilly line runs through central London. Popular stops include South Kensington, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden and Kings Cross.

Journey time: The journey between Heathrow Airport and central London takes between 50 and 60 minutes.

Fares

Underground tickets are available at all stations. The single cash fare to central London (Zone 1) is £6.70. A day Travelcard, which offers unlimited travel in zones 1 to 6, costs £21.50 (anytime) or £15.20 (off-peak). With an Oyster or Contactless card, fares (pay-as-you-go) can be reduced to £5.60.

For more information, contact the Visitor Information Centre at the terminals 2 and 3 tube station. See more

Stops

Terminals 2 and 3 station is located between the terminals, which are a few minutes' walk away via an underground walkway. Terminals 4 and 5 metro stations are located under the Arrivals area and in the basement, respectively.

Frequency

First and last train to central London:
Terminals 2 and 3 from 5:12 am to 11:45 pm (11:28 pm on Sundays)
Terminal 4 from 5:02 am (5:06 am on Saturdays, 5:47 am on Sundays) to 11:35 pm (11:38 pm on Saturdays, 10:37 pm on Sundays)
Terminal 5 from 5:22 am to 11:42 pm (11:25 pm on Sundays)

On Fridays and Saturdays, the Piccadilly line operates all night, but without service to Terminal 4.

Night bus

When the Underground is not running overnight, the N9 bus connects Heathrow with central London. The service departs every 30 minutes from Central Bus Station and Terminal 5.

Elizabeth Line

The Elizabeth Line operates from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, with departures from 5:15 am to 0:12 am. See more

Payment methods and fares

The easiest way to pay for your trip is with a Contactless or Oyster card, available from ticket machines. You can also use a contactless debit or credit card or mobile device. There is no need to buy a ticket. Individual tickets and Zone 1-6 travel cards can also be used. Fares start at £12.80 for a journey to or from the airport.

Travelling between Heathrow terminals is free on any TFL service if you touch in and out with a Contactless or Oyster card. Alternatively, you can purchase a terminal transfer ticket from certain machines at all stations.

Express bus services to train stations

Heathrow to Feltham

Buses 285 and 490 run from Heathrow to Feltham (where you can catch a train to Richmond, Camberley, Bracknell, London Waterloo, Clapham Junction and the South).

Frequency: up to every 12 minutes
Journey time: Approximately 30 minutes
Fare: Adult single - £1.75 (Contactless or Oyster cards only, no cash accepted)

Heathrow to Guildford

The RailAir service between Heathrow and Guildford operates hourly with a journey time of around 1 hour.

Fare: Single - £9.50, Return - £17.50

Heathrow to Oxford

The Airline coach runs from Heathrow to Oxford train station (trains to Birmingham New Street and Bicester Village).

Frequency: Hourly
Journey time: Approximately 80 minutes
Fare: Single £25.00, day return £31.50

Taxis and ride-sharing

Black taxis

Pick-up zones: Outside the Arrivals area of the terminals.

Estimated fares: The average fare from Heathrow Airport to central London ranges from £56.00 to £105.00, depending on traffic conditions and final destination. There is a minimum fare of £3.60 + £5.20 extra to take you within the airport grounds. All units are metered and many are wheelchair accessible.

Journey time: Between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on traffic.

Private-hire taxis - WeKnow

Private transfers in electric vehicles. Fares are fixed and there are customer service desks in the Arrivals area of all terminals. Fares and bookings

Minicabit

Britain’s largest taxi comparison site allows you to compare the most competitive quotes from customer-reviewed fleets.
Prices are fixed and include ‘Meet & Greet’ in the Arrivals areas.
Transfers available between Heathrow and more than 550 UK cities.
Allows you to book individual and return journeys up to 12 months in advance of your trip. You can pay by credit card or PayPal.
Rates to Central London from £29.00. Fares and bookings

Uber

Pick-up areas

Terminal 2 – Level 4, Row H (short stay park 2)
Terminal 3 – Level 3, Row A (short stay park 3)
Terminal 4 – Level 1, Private-hire pick-up area
Terminal 5 – Level 1, Row R (short stay park 5).

Rates from £30.00.

Although there are issues that seem more than obvious, it is always advisable to take them into account when moving to or from the airport, and especially if we go by public transport.  1- To the airport - It is convenient to leave with a little more anticipation than what is commonly suggested. If you choose a taxi or a private car service, always take into account peak traffic times, demonstrations, strikes or events that may delay the journey to the airport from where you are. It is always good to be informed about what is happening. If you contract a shared transfer service, have a contact telephone number handy in case of any delay by the company. In these cases they usually already have a scheduled collection time. If you use public transport (collective, train) take into account the schedules (weekends and holidays tend to have less frequency), if you have to change and also how to board (if you need a card or paying the driver or motorist at the moment ). These are details that seem obvious, but it is advisable to know so as not to have surprises and suffer a delay that could cause complications. If you rent a car to get to the airport, check where to leave the vehicle. At some airports, there is an exclusive parking lot for rental cars.  2 -From the airport- Here it is a little less stressful since you don't have the pressure of missing your flight. In the worst case, you will arrive later at the place where you are going to stay or at the meeting point where you are trying to arrive. Once you leave the plane, look for your suitcase and finish with the arrival procedures that are required. Then, follow the directions for public transportation or ask the airport staff. It is very useful to find out in advance the schedules of the buses or trains in case you arrive late at night. Not all work 24 hours. The same goes for taxis. In case of using an Uber-type service, have the mobile application handy to contact the driver. On the other hand, if you booked a private transport service, it is likely that they will have a person waiting for you, identified with a sign. If you rent a car to go from the airport to your final destination, for greater peace of mind it is advisable to book it in advance. Rental counters are usually available in the arrivals hall.