The best ways to get from Heathrow Airport to London

Heathrow Airport London to City Centre – How do I get there?

London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is one of Europe's three most popular destinations and certainly England's most commercial. 

Filled with famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, London Bridge, the Natural History Museum, Big Ben, and also the Globe Theatre. It also hosts a plethora of cultural events and festivals throughout the year, which further increases the number of its visitors. 

The flight from Athens (ATH) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) takes a little over four hours, so the only sure thing once you land is that you'll want to find the easiest way to get from the airport to the city centre and relax before experiencing the UK capital's world-famous attractions.

Heathrow is located in Greater London. It is approximately 16 miles (25 km) from Central London, where you'll find the London Eye, the South Bank of the River Thames, Covent Garden, and the renowned Oxford Street. 

There are many ways to get to Central London and other parts of the city from Heathrow, including taxis, the Underground, the Heathrow Express, and the new purple Elizabeth Line. 

The best option for travelling from Heathrow to London depends on what you're looking for – low cost, convenience, speed, or plenty of luggage space.

See below for the best options to travel from Heathrow to London.

# Terravision Buses

Terravision buses are the best combined way to travel from Heathrow Airport to Central London. In case of flight delay, you can board any subsequent bus. Children aged 3 to 15 pay half price. You can also leave your luggage in the dedicated bus compartment instead of keeping it with you while travelling. 

Departure from: Terravision buses are parked directly outside Terminal 5 and await you, while the Heathrow Central Bus Station also has buses departing for London. 

• Possible destinations: Terravision buses go as far as Victoria Coach Station.
• Operating hours: Terravision buses run from 5 AM to 11:45 PM.
• Travel time: You will reach Victoria station in just 40 minutes.   
• Estimated cost: Tickets are the most economical you can find, costing just £6 (7 euros) for adults and £3 (3.5 euros) for children. Children under 2 travel free with a paying adult. 

# London Underground 

Heathrow is conveniently located on the Piccadilly Line, one of the many Underground lines that make up the London Underground. Taking the Tube from the airport is probably the cheapest option. However, it certainly won't be the most comfortable, especially if you have a lot of luggage or are travelling during peak hours.

• Departure from: Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3, 4 and 5 Underground stations.
• Possible destinations: The Piccadilly Line directly serves Hammersmith, Gloucester Road, South Kensington, Hyde Park Corner, Green Park, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Holborn and King's Cross St. Pancras.
• Operating hours: Services from all terminals run from approximately 5 AM to 11:30 PM. Night Tube services from Terminals 2 and 3 stations and Terminal 5 station run on Fridays and Saturdays. 
• Travel time: The time required is considerable. It depends on your destination, but from Terminal 5, it takes about 50 minutes to reach Piccadilly Circus or an hour to reach King's Cross St. Pancras.
• Estimated cost: To destinations in Zone 1 (such as Piccadilly and King's Cross) a ticket costs £5.60 (6.55 euros) if you pay contactless or with an Oyster card. Buying a ticket to Central London from a machine will cost approximately £6.70 (7.84 euros) per person. 

Children under 11 travel free with a paying adult. 

# Elizabeth Line

The Elizabeth Line, which opened in 2022, is a fast option for journeys to Central London. Although not as economical as the Underground, the trains are more modern, spacious, and air-conditioned, and they also provide Wi-Fi service. Like the Heathrow Express, these trains stop at Paddington, but other destinations are also available. The journey may take a little longer than the Heathrow Express, but it is also a more affordable option.

• Departures from: Terminals 2 and 3, 4 and 5.
• Possible destinations: The Elizabeth Line travels directly from Heathrow to Abbey Wood, with stops at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf.
• Operating hours: Hours vary depending on the terminal and day of the week. Typically, the first trains depart from 5:15 AM to 6:05 AM, while the last trains depart from the airport between 11:46 PM and 12:13 AM. 
• Travel time: Travel time depends on your destination. It takes approximately 35 minutes from Terminal 5 to Paddington or about 45 minutes from Terminals 2 and 3 to Liverpool Street.
• Estimated cost: Each journey to or from London Airport passing through Zone 1 costs £12.80 (15 euros) per person. From Terminal 5 to Paddington on the Elizabeth Line costs £12.20 (14.30 euros). A journey from Terminals 2 and 3 to Liverpool Street costs £13.30 (15.56 euros). However, these prices only apply to contactless or Oyster card payments. Buying a paper ticket from ticket machines at stations will cost you a little more. Generally, although the saving is small, it is preferable to pay for your journey with a contactless card or Oyster card.

Children under 11 travel free with a paying adult.

# Heathrow Express

The Heathrow Express is the fastest option to get from Heathrow to Paddington Station. It is a direct train, so there are no intermediate stops. In addition, it has luggage racks and power sockets for charging mobile phones, which is always convenient. For further travel, Paddington station has good connections to many Underground lines. The downside is that the Heathrow Express can be expensive compared to other rail options.

• Departs from: Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 Station and Terminal 5 Airport Station. If you land at Terminal 4, you will need to use the free shuttle bus service to the station.
• Possible destinations: Paddington Station. For an additional fee, you can transfer to the Bakerloo, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City Underground lines or the Elizabeth Line.
• Operating hours: Usually from 5:10 AM to approximately 12 AM, although this may vary. Trains depart every 15 minutes. 
• Travel time: 15 minutes to Paddington from Terminals 2 and 3 or 20 minutes from Terminal 5.
• Estimated cost: Typically, a single journey on the Heathrow Express from Paddington to Heathrow costs £25 (30 euros) per person.

Children under 15 travel free with a paying adult.

# Uber

If public transport is not your preference or if you arrive at the airport at night when public transport is not operating, you can use the Uber service to travel to and from Heathrow and Central London. Of course, this option is more expensive compared to travelling by Underground or train.

• Departure from: Short-stay car parks at Terminals 2, 3, 4 or 5. The app will guide you to the departure point after you request a ride and the driver confirms, but typically pick-up points are as follows:
  • Terminal 2 – Level 4, Row H (Short Stay Car Park 2).
  • Terminal 3 – Level 3, Row A (Short Stay Car Park 3).
  • Terminal 4 – Level 1, Private Hire Pick-up.
  • Terminal 5 – Level 1, Row R (Short Stay Car Park 5).
• Possible destinations: Direct service to your destination, which can be extremely convenient with luggage and children.
• Operating hours: Theoretically, you can call an Uber at any time.
• Journey time: The duration of an Uber journey depends on traffic, destination, and other factors. Therefore, you understand that the journey may vary depending on traffic and time of day. For example, a typical travel time from Terminal 5 to Paddington is approximately 50 minutes, while to Piccadilly Circus it is about an hour, depending on traffic. Also, it should be noted that Uber may not be the fastest option during peak hours.
• Estimated cost: The cost of an Uber journey depends on many factors, such as traffic and your destination. For example, a journey from Terminal 5 to Paddington may cost approximately £59 (69 euros), while to Piccadilly Circus approximately £63 (74 euros) for UberX rides, excluding tip.

In addition to Uber, there are many other options for taking a taxi from Heathrow in London. You can hail one of London's iconic black cabs directly from the taxi rank, or pre-book an electric car with Heathrow's transfer service, WeKnow.

Depending on your budget, the amount of luggage, and the time you are willing to invest, you can choose the right mode of transport for you. Whether you prefer to avoid traffic and save money with the Elizabeth Line and the Underground, or you want to travel quickly with the Heathrow Express, or you simply desire the convenience of Uber or a taxi, there is an option for every preference. We always choose Terravision buses for fast, safe, and economical travel.