In many ways, Heathrow needs little introduction. It is Britain's main international airport. And it is the world's second-busiest passenger airport, welcoming 80 million passengers a year, all of whom travel through one of its four considerably sized terminals.
But a little helpful guidance never hurts. And if you're planning to take a flight from one of the runways anytime soon, the following travel tips may come in handy.
How do you get to Heathrow Airport by road?
What are the main routes to the airport?
Heathrow Airport is located on the western edge of the London conurbation, approximately 14 miles from the city centre. This location places it in a crucial corridor of the UK road network. Four separate motorways can be found within 20 miles of the airport's doorstep. The M3 (Junction 2), M4 (Junction 4B) and M40 (Junction 1A) all bring traffic from further afield; all three of these motorways connect to London's orbital motorway, the M25, which runs along the airport's western flank, with access via Junction 14.
Are there any traffic jams?
There is a downside to the convergence of these four motorways. Together, they bring a steady stream of vehicles to the same stretch of tarmac - and traffic jams can form at any time of day. The 15-mile loop between the M25's meeting with the M4 (Junctions 16 and 1A) and the M3 (Junctions 12 and 2) can be slow going, and it's worth allowing extra time if you plan to approach the airport via these routes.
What parking options are available?
Heathrow Airport's four terminals are numbered 2 through 5 (unusually, it no longer has Terminal 1; that facility closed in 2015). There are parking spaces for each; 11 in total, divided into six categories: short-stay, long-stay, business, meet and greet (where you drop off your vehicle with an airport representative), pod (on the perimeter, connected to Terminal 5 by self-driving electric "pods") and valet. Costs vary, but long-stay is generally the cheapest option - with the price typically getting lower the further in advance you book.
For more advice on the best airport parking, see our guide.Do I have to pay for dropping off passengers?
As with other major airports in the UK, Heathrow charges a fee to anyone using a private vehicle to drop off a passenger at the terminal. This is a flat fee of £5 per entry, which applies 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Drivers must pay the fee by midnight on the day after they enter the airport; failure to do so will result in a fine of £80. Payment can be made via the official Heathrow website or via an automated telephone line (0330 008 5600).
There are no payment facilities at the airport and no entry barriers to show that you have entered the drop-off area; your visit is recorded by license plate recognition cameras. There is one free option: you can drop off your passenger(s) at one of the airport's long-term parking lots (where they can take a shuttle bus), free of charge.
How do you get to Heathrow Airport by train?
What are the main train connections to Heathrow Airport?
In addition to the Underground (see below), there are two train lines serving Heathrow Airport.
The fastest option is the Heathrow Express, which takes passengers from central London (Paddington station) to the airport (Terminals 2 & 3) in 15 minutes. The line's terminus is Terminal 5; trains from Paddington take 21 minutes. This speed comes at a relative price. Fully flexible single tickets start at £25 (returns from £38.50) - although advance tickets, valid for a specific day only, cost £15.
The Elizabeth line is due to open fully in summer 2022, but will take slightly longer to get going. It too has its own platform at Paddington, with journey times to Terminals 2 and 3 taking around 28 minutes. Fares from central London start at £12.80.
Although it operates under the umbrella of Transport For London (TFL; tfl.gov.uk) (and is branded according to the classic Tube-line template of a coloured circle with a rectangular bar through it), the Elizabeth line is not considered part of the London Underground. It also has a wider reach than the Piccadilly line (see below). Built with the working title of "Crossrail", it spans the entire width of the London conurbation, from Abbey Wood and Shenfield (in Essex) in the east to Reading (in Berkshire) in the west - a total of 41 stations.
Elizabeth line passengers arriving via the most westerly stations (between Reading and West Drayton) should alight at Hayes & Harlington and then travel back to the airport.
Where are the train stations?
There are three mainline stations at Heathrow Airport - a shared hub for Terminals 2 and 3 (known as "Heathrow Central"), used by both Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth Line, plus a terminus at Terminal 5, also used by both services - and a stop at Terminal 4, used by the Elizabeth Line. All Elizabeth Line services from central London stop at Terminals 2 and 3, before the track splits, with trains continuing to either Terminal 4 or Terminal 5 (but not both). Heathrow Express passengers requiring Terminal 4 must alight at Terminals 2 and 3 and continue - free of charge - on the Elizabeth Line.
How early and how late do the trains run?
The first Heathrow Express departs Paddington at 05:10 (arriving at Terminals 2 and 3 at 05:28 and Terminal 5 at 05:32); the last of the day is at 23:25 (arriving at Terminals 2 and 3 at 23:43 and Terminal 5 at 23:47). The Elizabeth line operates at similar times. The first train departs Paddington at 04:36 (arriving at Terminals 2 and 3 at 05:04 sharp and Terminal 5 at 05:04), while the last airport service departs Paddington at 23:18 (arriving at Terminals 2 and 3 at 23:42 and Terminal 5 at 23:46).
Where can I buy tickets?
Tickets for the Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth Line can be purchased online from the relevant websites, or from automatic machines at all stations. The Oyster Card (TFL's on-and-off pass) can be used on the Elizabeth Line, but not on the Heathrow Express.
How do you get to Heathrow Airport by tube?
Which tube lines go to Heathrow Airport?
The Piccadilly line is the only part of the London Underground network that runs to Heathrow. It has three stations at the airport - Terminals 2 & 3; Terminal 4; Terminal 5.
Trains serving Terminals 2 and 3 usually continue to Terminal 5. However, a train going to Terminal 4 goes directly to that destination and does not stop at Terminal 5, although it does return to Terminals 2 and 3 on the return journey to the city (but only after a long wait of around eight minutes at Terminal 4 station). If you want to visit Terminal 4 but are on a Tube to Terminal 5, or vice versa, it is best to get off at the penultimate station before the airport, Hatton Cross, and wait for the relevant service.
How much is a tube ticket to Heathrow Airport?
The Piccadilly line is the cheapest train route to Heathrow. Accordingly, it is also the slowest. The journey from central London (Zone 1 on the TFL map) generally takes between 50 minutes and an hour, depending on your departure point, and costs from £5.60.
What time and how early does the metro run?
During the week (Monday-Friday), the first Piccadilly line train to Heathrow arrives at Terminal 4 at 05:03, but does not arrive until Osterley, five stations away. The first westbound train travelling the full length of the line, via central London, reaches its midpoint, Piccadilly Circus, at 05:47, and then enters Terminals 2 and 3 at 06:35, and Terminal 5 at 06:39. At the other end of the day, the last service to Heathrow runs through Piccadilly Circus at 12:32, arriving at Terminals 2 and 3 at 01:21. The last service all the way to Terminal 5 leaves slightly earlier (Piccadilly Circus at 12:22; Terminal 5 at 01:15).
Times are slightly different on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings, when the Piccadilly line is part of the "Night Tube" service - trains continue to run until the early hours, to Terminals 2 & 3 and Terminal 5 (but not Terminal 4). Sundays have an earlier start (Piccadilly Circus at 04:38; Terminals 2 & 3 at 05:26; Terminal 5 at 05:30). Sundays also have an earlier finish. The last train to Terminal 5 reaches the buffers at 12:18 - passing Piccadilly Circus at 23:25. And there is one later service to Terminals 2 & 3 only, arriving at 12:27 (Piccadilly Circus at 23:38).
Where can I buy tickets?
See advice for trains. Oyster cards and contactless payment are valid for all metro journeys.
How do you get to Heathrow Airport by bus?
Are there public bus services to Heathrow Airport?
Not directly. There are local buses from places like Hounslow, Hayes, Southall and Kingston, but you can't get a non-stop public bus to the airport from central London.
Can I travel to Heathrow Airport by bus?
Yes, the main UK long distance coach companies all offer regular services to Heathrow.
National Express (nationalexpress.com) operates regular services from cities including Birmingham, Bristol, Nottingham, Cardiff and Southampton (prices start from £18 to £26) and also offers airport connections from London's main coach station, Victoria Coach Station (daily departures between 2am and midnight; prices start from £8.40).
You can also travel to Heathrow with Megabus (whose services include a 50-minute shuttle from Victoria Coach Station, from £9.99; megabus.com), Flixbus (flixbus.co.uk), The Airline (theairlineoxford.co.uk), Flightline (reading-buses.co.uk) and Rail Air (railair.com). The buses arrive at Heathrow Central Coach Station - near Terminals 2 & 3.
How do you get to Heathrow Airport by taxi?
How much is a taxi to Heathrow Airport?
It all depends on where you start your journey. But according to TFL's price guide, a black cab ride between central London and Heathrow Airport should cost between £61 and £114, depending on the exact distance, traffic and time of day.
Can I travel to Heathrow Airport with Uber or another taxi service?
You can travel to Heathrow using Uber; the company quotes an average price of £51 for a ride to the airport from central London. Heathrow also has deals with transfer specialists WeKnow and Minicabit.
Any other questions?
When is Heathrow Airport busiest?
Heathrow is incredibly busy. On average, 536 flights arrive or depart each day. Except late at night or early in the morning - when there are no scheduled departures between 23:00 and 06:00 due to noise - there are no quieter periods for travellers.
Is it worth staying in an airport hotel?
That probably depends on the time of your flight and whether you want to avoid a train journey or a taxi ride long before the dawn chorus has started singing. But there are plenty of accommodation options at Heathrow, including an Aerotel in Terminal 3, a Hilton in Terminal 4 and a Sofitel in Terminal 5. There are also budget-friendly options a little further afield - from Ibis, Holiday Inn and Premier Inn - which are generally connected to the various terminals by regular shuttle buses.
