Heathrow Airport Underground Link With London

Cheapest, Most Frequent & Most Crowded Link into London

Heathrow Underground Station
Heathrow Underground Station

The London Underground comes out to Heathrow in the form of the Piccadilly Line. The big attraction is price, frequency and speed. (45-60 minutes to most hotels in Central London with trains around every 5 minutes).

Heathrow -London Options
Heathrow Express Train
Heathrow Connect Train
London Underground
National Express Bus
Group & Private Transfers

The downside is crowded carriages and around 20 stations into town. There will be an Underground station near your ultimate destination, (after perhaps a change).

Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6 of London's zoned transport system.


The Underground carriages become grossly overcrowded during peak rush hours. Heathrow is first stop so you will get a seat, getting off in Central London with lots of luggage at this time maybe an experience you can do without after a long flight.


London Underground Map With Zones Marked

 London Underground Map (pdf format)

When you are returning to Heathrow make sure you board the right train.

Not all Piccadilly Line trains go to Heathrow and trains that visit Terminal 4, do not visit Terminal 5 and vice-versa. (See graphic 'Heathrow Rail Links' below). From London trains to Heathrow alternate, one will terminate at Heathrow 5 (not visiting Terminal 4) the next sined Terminal 4, will go around in a loop missing Terminal 5. All trains stop at Central for Terminals 1 and 3.

Fares On The London Underground

Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6. Nearly all hotels visitors will use are in Zone 1 or 2. The cash fare is £4.50 adult into Central London, but most people will find it advantageous to purchase a Travelcard or Oyster Card instead.

Consult our Travelcard and Oyster Card pages for more details - you can purchase these at the Underground ticket offices at Heathrow.

If you are traveling with children those under 11 travel free, those between 11 and 17 need to apply for an Oyster photo ID card to get most child fares well in advance and pick it up at Heathrow. Go the the Travelcard / Oyster pages for more details.

Important! Different Trains Visit Different Terminals.

A rather complicated routing of Underground trains at Heathrow applies.

Crudely, there are two different routes that Underground trains take, if you are traveling to Terminal 4 or Terminal 5 make sure you board the right train!.

Trains normally alternate between the different routes, if yours is not the first train, the next Heathrow train will be.

Route 1 (Terminal 4) - Incoming trains from London will branch off after Hatton Cross station to Terminal 4. After Terminal 4 the train loops around to Central (Terminals 1,3) before going back to London. These trains do not go to Terminal 5 and do not travel the other way from Central to Terminal 4.

Route 2 (Terminal 5) - Incoming trains from London will go straight to Central (Terminals 1,3) before going onto Terminal where the train terminates. After a short while the train will return to London the same way. These trains do not visit Terminal 4.

Train Times

The first train to Central London leaves Heathrow at around 5.15 a.m. , (30 minutes later on Sundays). The last train leaves for Central London just before midnight (30 minutes earlier on Sundays).

The first train from Central London arrives at Heathrow at around 06:30 (08:00 on Sundays) and the last train leaves London around 00:20 (23:30 on Sundays).


When the Underground is shut there is a night bus, route N9 which runs throughout the night at 30 minute intervals from Terminal 5 and also visiting the central bus station where Terminals 1 and 3 are. The route includes stops at Hammersmith, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner and Piccadilly.

Using the Underground

If you are nervous about using the Underground we have a detailed page devoted to explaining what to expect when you use the London Underground for the first time.

Getting The Best Fares On The Underground

For the vast majority of people using the Underground purchasing a cash ticket on the day is very expensive compared with the alternatives everybody else will be using. It is complicated, but if you spend a little time understanding the basics you will be rewarded handsomely financially by purchasing the appropriate ticket for you - especially if you have children.

Travelcard v Oyster v Cash - Purchasing The Right London Public Transport Ticket

Overview Of Heathrow - Central London Transfers
With Links To Detail Pages
Public Transport Indicative Cost Comments
Heathrow Express Train £16.50 Every 15 minutes, 15/20 minute journey.
Heathrow Connect Train £7.90 Every 30/60 minutes, 25/30 minute journey.
National Express Bus £5.00 Highly variable times, 45-50 minute journey
London Underground £4.50 Every 5 minutes, 40/60 minute journey.
Black London Cab £45-£70 30/60 minute journey.
Private Car £60-£75 30/60 minute journey.
Private Bus ( 8 to 16 seats) £105-£160 30/60 minute journey.