How to get from Heathrow to London

London is the world’s leading financial and transport hub. More importantly, London is one of the most expensive cities in the world. It is important to plan how you transfer from Heathrow Airport to London. So that you can save money and time before you get into central London.

Then how will you transfer to your destination in London?

Since London is a big city, the easy and fast ways to transfer in London depend on where you stay.

First, find out which area your accommodation is located. Then choose the most convenient, cheap and comfortable way to transfer to your destination.

I lived and worked in London for more than a decade. I know about London very well. Let me tell you what is the best way to transfer in central London. Find out the best way to get from Heathrow to London.

In this article, you will find how to get from Heathrow to London. First, you need to decide your stay in London. Then find the best ways to transfer from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to London city centre. Master the Heathrow airport transfer.

Are you planning to sail Mediterranean or Baltic Cruises from Southampton? Then please find detailed information on Southampton Cruise Port Transfers. You will find ways to transfer from Heathrow Airport and London city centre.

Plan and organise your transfer in advance and maximise your trip to London!

I. Transportation from Heathrow to London

Heathrow to London transportation is well structured. Once you get some ideas, you can easily explore the city and visit your destinations. Find out how London’s transportation system works.

Main Train Stations in London

London Paddington station
Connecting Heathrow Airport and Central London with Heathrow Express.
Connecting Central London and Southampton with First Great Western train service via Reading.
London Underground includes:
Bakerloo Line (brown), Central Line (yellow), District Line (green) and Hammersmiths & City Line (pink). London Underground Map

London Victoria
Connecting Heathrow and Central London by National Express (coach). Victoria also connects Central London to Southampton with Southern train service. The accommodation rates in Victoria are lower than West End and Kensington.
London Underground are Victoria Line (blue), Central Line (yellow) and District Line (green). London Underground Map

London Waterloo
Connecting Central London and Southampton by National Express (coach). Waterloo connects Central London and Southampton with South Western Railway train service.
London Underground are Bakerloo Line (brown), Northern Line (black) and Jubilee Line (grey). London Underground Map

II. How to transfer from Heathrow Airport to London

First, you need to decide where you stay in. In this section, you will find London’s most popular neighbourhoods to stay in. Then, in the next section, find out how transport works from Heathrow to London. Make sure the area which area your accommodation is located in London.

Transportation Heathrow to London Hotel Areas

Learn how London’s best neighbourhoods are connected by London transportation. Your transfers from Heathrow to London becomes easy. Also, find out London hotels near train station.

Kensington
Kensington is one of the most privileged and prestigious residential areas in London. The district is stylish and is a commercial area. The areas are called as Kensington High St., Earl’s Court Road and Glocester Road.

These areas are easy to transfer from Heathrow Airport via London Underground. When you transfer to Southampton, you can take National Express (coach) at Victoria Coach Station. If you prefer a train, you can go to London Victoria or London Waterloo station.

West End
West End is one of the most active shopping and entertainment districts in London. West End district includes Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Chinatown and Piccadilly Circus.

Covent Garden, Carling Cross and Picadilly stations are important Underground stations for sightseeing. You can visit the National Museum, National Gallery, Big Ben and Southbank easily. When you visit Southampton, you can either take National Express (coach) at Victoria Coach Station. If you prefera train, go to London Victoria or London Waterloo station.

Paddington
Paddington is very convenient to transfer from Heathrow Airport by Heathrow Express. Marble Arch, Bayswater, Bond Street and Notting Hill are close from Paddington and there are a lot of accommodations in the areas. The hotel rates are cheaper than Kensington and Trafalgar Sq. areas. You can easily visit Oxford, Big Ben and Trafalgar Sq. with London Underground Bakerloo Line (brown). You can visit Southampton by train from Paddington.

Things to Do in London

II. Heathrow Airport to London

Heathrow Airport

Heathrow Airport (IATA: LHR, a.k.a. London Heathrow) is the largest international airport in London. The airport is located about 35 km west of central London.

Heathrow Airport in London is also the nearest international airport to Southampton Cruise Port. The airport is 80km away from the Port. Find out further information for a transfer from Heathrow Airport to Southampton.

London has other 5 airports, Gatwick, Luton, City, Southend and Stanstead airports. Heathrow is the central hub of London airports.

Airport Transfer from Heathrow to London General Tips

• Get cash in advance for public transport. It is available to get it at ATM in the airport.
• London Heathrow is the busiest international airport in Europe. The system of the airport is well organised. It normally takes about 40 to 50 minutes to get through passport control, baggage reclaim and customs after your arrival.
• Good news is that a connection between the airport and London city centre is excellent
• If you visit the UK more than 4 times within 2 years, you can go through the immigration procedure faster than normal. Find out further information on registering at the UK Immigration. It costs £70 in the first year and £50 next year. Over 18 years old is eligible to register.

Which transportation options are available from Heathrow to London?

London Underground – cheapest way to get central London
The Heathrow Express – fast and the most stressfree transfer
National Express (Coach) – the most inexpensive and free for luggage at hand
Taxi – expensive but comfortable and relaxing
Private Transfer – most expensive but a door to door, hassle free

Heathrow to London Transportation Map

III. Getting from Heathrow Airport to London

(Cost is British Pound (£) on October 2019)

Train from Heathrow to London

Heathrow to London by train is the most recommended way to transfer from Heathrow to London. It is easy, safe and comfortable. You can take a train from Heathrow to London either Heathrow Express or London Underground.

• Heathrow to London by train is the most recommended way to transfer from Heathrow to London. It is easy, safe and comfortable. You can take a train from Heathrow to London by Heathrow Express or London Underground.

• If your accommodation is nearby Picaddily Line stations, London Underground is the best. It goes from Heathrow Airport to central London. London Underground does not have express.

1. Heathrow Express

Convenient Hotel Locations:
Paddington, Marble Arch, Bayswater and Bond Street

The Heathrow Express is the fastest and most stress-free airport transfers although it is costly. There is a space for luggage, and free Wi-Fi is equipped.

If your hotels are located nearby Paddington, Marble Arch, Notting Hill and Bayswater, the Heathrow Express is the best. The Paddington station is located in the north-west of Central London.

Paddington is one of London’s central transportation hub. You can easily catch an underground, a cab or a bus from the Paddington train station. There are a lot of hotels nearby the station. You can also visit Kensington Palace and Hyde Park areas by walk. It takes 15 minutes to get Oxford Street by walk.

Heathrow Express Operation hours
Heathrow Express trains run every 15 minutes. From Monday to Thursday every 30 minutes after 22:00.

Monday to Saturday
From 05:12 am to 23:48 pm from Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 to Paddington.
From 05:10 am to 23:25 pm from Paddington to Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3.

Sunday
From 06:23 am to 23:42 pm from Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 to Paddington.
From 06:25 am to 23:25 pm from Paddington to Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3.

Travel Time
15 minutes from Terminal 2 and 3, 21 minutes from Terminal 5 and 27 minutes from Terminal 4.

Heathrow Express Cost:

Please find Online Heathrow Express Ticket
Heathrow Express Train (Off Peak) £22.00 (no return)
Heathrow Express Train (Anytime) £25.00 (return £37.00)
Heathrow Express Train (14 Day Advance) £16.50 / £12.10*
Heathrow Express Train (30 Day Advance) £14.30 / £8.80*
Heathrow Express Train (90 Day Advance) £12.10 / £5.50*

*Online only one way fare. Children under 16 years old are all free.

2. London Underground

Convenient Hotel Locations: Kensington area includes Kensington High St., Earl’s Court, Gloucester Road and Sloane Square. Trafalgar Sq. area includes Covent Garden and Charing Cross

The cheapest way to get Central London from the airport is by underground. If your hotel is located in Kensington (Kensington High St., Earl’s Court Road, Gloucester Road, Sloane Square) or West End (Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden), London Underground is the best.

The cheapest way to get Central London from the airport is by underground. London Underground is the best if your hotel is located in:

• Kensington (Kensington High St., Earl’s Court Road, Gloucester Road, Sloane Square)

• West End (Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden)

It takes about 40 minutes to arrive at Kensington and 50 minutes to Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden. Kensington is one of the most prestigious commercial and residential areas in London. Trafalgar Sq. is the very centre of London, a major tourist visiting places are all located in West End.

London Underground Map

Where can you catch London Underground in Heathrow?

London Underground Piccadilly line connects Heathrow Airport to central London. Piccadilly line operate every 5 minutes from about 5.10 am (5.50am Sundays) to 11.45pm (11.30pm Sundays).

Heathrow Airport has three underground stations, Terminal 1-3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. You can easily move to the tube station at your arriving Terminal.

If you have a lots of luggage or transferring at the peak time, underground is not recommended. However, underground is the cheapest and fast to arrive if your hotel is located nearest underground station.

How can you buy a London Underground ticket?

Get best fares on the underground with Oyster Card in London. It is a permanent reusable electronic ticket for underground and bus in London. It is very common to use Oyster Card among Londoners, and I myself have it for more than 10 years. You can purchase it at London Heathrow underground station ticket office or over a bending machine.

London Underground Fares
London Underground (Cash) £6.00
London Underground (Oyster Card) £3.10 – £5-10~

*If you have children, under 16 years old are free.
*Please do not forget to scan Oyster Card when you get into the underground platform. Otherwise, you have to pay an expensive penalty fine whatever the reason is.

My Tip: try to use cash only at a bending machine. I do not feel comfortable to use my credit card with the underground bending machine even I lived in London for more than a decade.

3. National Express (Coach) – Cheapest Airport Shuttle

National Express connects between all the Heathrow Airport Terminals and Victoria coach station. You can find a Map from National Express.

National Express is not designed as the Airport shuttle. This is why the National Express coach is not operating frequently. However, it is much more comfortable than the underground. The ticket fare is also much cheaper than the Heathrow Express.

National Express Ticket Fare
From £6
Find Online National Express Ticket Purchase National Express Ticket Fare
*Extra luggage more than 2 cases – £8 online, £10 on a day: National Express Luggage Policy

Travel Time
35 to 60 minutes dependent on trafic situation

Operation
50 times a day

Where can you catch National Express?

• Terminal 2 & 3: Heathrow Central Bus Station
• Terminal 4: Heathrow Terminal 4
• Terminal 5: Heathrow Terminal 5

4. Cab

London cab is reliable and must have a meter. It is convenient and stress-free. Get only a registered cab. It is black and has a top light on a roof.

It takes 40 to 60 minutes to get into central London if the traffic goes smooth. The fare is about £70. Taxi is available from all the Airport Terminals.

5. Rental Car

Rental car service is available at all Terminals. Further details are at Heathrow Airport Official website.

You may be interested in more articles on London:

Next Reading >> Where to stay in London: The Best Areas and Best Hotels

>> Hotels in Southampton near Crusie Port

>> How to get Southampton Cruise Terminal

>> Baltic Cruise Guide

How to get from Heathrow to London: Easy & Safe Transfers