Heathrow Express
Heathrow Express runs non-stop between London Paddington and Heathrow in 15 to 21 minutes. Fares from £10 in advance, up to £26 on the day.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Official website
- Official website
- Train tickets
- Direct
Heathrow Express is a non-franchised, non-subsidised private rail company. It runs only between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport, and that's the key difference from the Elizabeth line, which also reaches Heathrow but stops at more stations on the way and takes longer.
Route and journey time
Trains run non-stop from London Paddington to Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 in 15 minutes, with a further six minutes to Terminal 5. Up to 150 services run each day, and the operator has carried more than 100 million passengers since launching in 1998.
Tickets and fares
A Standard Class single costs £26 on the day. Book an Advance Discounted Single 30 or more days ahead and the price can drop to £10. A same day return is £30 in Standard Class, and a flexible return valid within a month is £42. Carnets of 6 or 12 single journeys are also sold, working out cheaper per trip than buying singles one at a time. PREMIER+ (Business First) costs more across every fare type, and adds Fast Track security plus larger seats with extra leg room.
Children aged 15 and under travel free in Standard Class when with a paying adult, and Railcards bring the fare down further. Oyster cards work too, so tapping in and out can be simpler than buying a fixed ticket if that suits your trip.
Onboard and access
Every train has complimentary 4G WiFi, luggage racks near the doors, at-seat power sockets and toilets in both classes. There's no step to board, so wheelchair access and heavy luggage are straightforward, and dedicated wheelchair spaces run throughout the train.
Where to book
Train tickets
- Buy direct from Heathrow Express
Heathrow Express
Frequently asked questions
How long does Heathrow Express take?
Heathrow Express runs non-stop from London Paddington to Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 in 15 minutes, with a further 6 minutes to reach Terminal 5.
Is Heathrow Express the same as the Elizabeth line to Heathrow?
No. Heathrow Express is a separate, non-stop service between Paddington and Heathrow, while the Elizabeth line also reaches Heathrow but calls at more stations and takes longer.
How much does a Heathrow Express ticket cost?
A Standard Class single is £26 on the day, but an Advance Discounted Single booked 30 or more days ahead can cost as little as £10. Returns and carnet tickets are also available.
Can I use an Oyster card on Heathrow Express?
Yes, Oyster cards are accepted on Heathrow Express. Make sure the card has enough credit and tap in and out at the start and end of the journey.
More operators in United Kingdom
Train service
Avanti West Coast runs London Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh, with Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime fares.
Official websitec2c runs London Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness, serving 26 East London and South Essex stations, with e-tickets, Smartcard and contactless fares.
Official websiteCaledonian Sleeper runs overnight from London Euston to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William, with cabin and seated fares.
Official websiteChiltern Railways runs London Marylebone to Birmingham, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and Aylesbury, with Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime fares.
Official websiteCrossCountry runs long-distance trains linking Scotland, the North, Midlands, Wales and the South West without changing in London.
Official websiteEast Midlands Railway runs Intercity trains to London St Pancras, regional services across the Midlands and North, and Eurostar connections.
Official websiteThe Elizabeth line is TfL's cross-London railway linking Heathrow and Reading with the City and Shenfield or Abbey Wood.
Official website- Check times & prices
Eurostar runs high-speed trains from London St Pancras to Paris (2 h 16 min), Brussels (1 h 53 min) and Amsterdam; London departures require border checks.
Official website Gatwick Express runs non-stop between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport in about 31 minutes, with some trains also serving Brighton.
Official websiteGrand Central is an open-access operator from London King's Cross to York, Sunderland, Doncaster and Bradford. Bike spaces are limited.
Official websiteGreat Northern links London King's Cross and Moorgate with Cambridge, King's Lynn and Peterborough on the southern East Coast Main Line.
Official websiteGWR runs from London Paddington to Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Devon, Cornwall, Oxford and Reading, with Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime fares.
Official websiteGreater Anglia runs from London Liverpool Street to Norwich, Cambridge, Ipswich, Colchester and East Anglia's coast, Broads and airports.
Official websiteHull Trains is an open-access operator running direct services from Hull and Beverley to London King's Cross, with Advance fares bookable up to 26 weeks ahead.
Official websiteIsland Line runs Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, operated by South Western Railway.
Official websiteLNER runs East Coast Main Line trains from London King's Cross to Yorkshire, the North East, Edinburgh and Inverness.
Official websiteLondon Northwestern Railway connects London Euston with Birmingham, Liverpool, Northampton and Crewe. Bikes travel free; e-scooters are banned.
Official websiteLondon Overground is a TfL rail service with six named lines circling outer London, using Oyster and contactless pay as you go.
Official websiteLumo runs all-electric trains from London to Edinburgh and Newcastle, plus a newer London to Stirling route via Preston.
Official websiteMerseyrail runs the Northern and Wirral lines around Liverpool. Buy before boarding or tap MetroCard, contactless or a smart device.
Official websiteNI Railways is Translink's rail brand in Northern Ireland, running trains to Bangor and Derry~Londonderry and the Enterprise to Dublin.
Official websiteNorthern runs regional and commuter trains to over 500 stations across the North of England, from Advance to Anytime fares.
Official websiteScotRail runs over 2,000 daily services across more than 340 Scottish stations, publicly owned by the Scottish Government since 2022.
Official websiteSouth Western Railway runs from London Waterloo to Southampton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Exeter and the Isle of Wight's Island Line.
Official websiteSoutheastern runs across London, Kent and East Sussex, with High Speed services to St Pancras and 164 stations on its network.
Official websiteSouthern runs between central London and the south coast through Sussex, Surrey and parts of Kent and Hampshire, calling at Gatwick Airport.
Official websiteStansted Express runs Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street in 48 minutes, every 15 minutes, with fares from £9.90.
Official websiteThameslink runs a 24 hour core route between Bedford and Brighton through central London, with a direct link to Luton Airport.
Official websiteTransPennine Express runs intercity trains across the North of England and into Scotland, linking Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Official websiteTransport for Wales runs the Wales and Borders rail network, from the Cambrian Coast and Heart of Wales lines to Cardiff, Chester and Manchester Airport.
Official websiteWest Midlands Railway runs regional trains around Birmingham to Coventry, Shrewsbury, Stafford and Worcester. Bikes travel free; e-scooters are banned.
Official website
