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Heathrow To Central London Transfers

Public and Private Transport Options Between Heathrow and The Centre

Author: Bob Handford

There s a good choice of options for transferring between Heathrow Airport and Central London.

There is no single 'best' option. What is best for you depends on the compromise you make between cost, speed, comfort and location of your destination in London.

The fastest, most reliable options are rail based from the cheap and crowded London Underground to the relatively expensive, fast and roomy Heathrow Express train.

Transfers by road are available, but London's traffic congestion mean you should allow plenty of contingency time.

Which Terminal You Fly Into Makes A Difference

Heathrow currently has four terminals numbered 1,3,4 and 5.

Terminals 1 and 3 are in the centre of the airport. In terms of transfer options into London these are the best terminals. Terminals 4 and 5 are around the perimeter of the airport far from the centre and each other. If you are using either of these you should check out the impact on your preferred transfer option.

Transfers by road are available, but London's traffic congestion mean you should allow plenty of contingency time.

Terminals 4 and 5 are on the periphery of the airport. You can use the Heathrow Express trains between these terminals and Heathrow Central free of charge. Trains run every 15 minutes through the day.

The main Heathrow Express train doesn't go to Terminal 4. Instead there is a connecting Heathrow Express shuttle train that shuttles between Terminal 4 and Heathrow Central Station.

The Heathrow Connect train only goes to Heathrow Central (Terminals 1 and 3). For Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 you can use the Heathrow Express trains free of charge from Heathrow Central.

All National Express buses visit the main bus station at Heathrow Central between terminals 1 and 3, only a handful of buses to and from London visit Terminal 4 or 5 each day.

Heathrow - Central London Transport Options

In order of cost: (cheapest to most expensive).

London Underground Train. For most people this is going to be by far the cheapest transport option. Underground trains leave Heathrow about every 5 minutes throughout the day. There is a flat fare to Central London which includes interconnecting with other lines and for 95% of Central London hotels there is a local Underground station within walking distance even with luggage. Downside is crowded carriages in London and negotiating escalators, steps with luggage.

National Express Coach runs the UK's main national inter city bus network. In their way into and out of London these coaches stop at Heathrow. For a fare only slightly more than the Underground you get a luxury coach with bathroom between Heathrow and Victoria Coach Station in London.

Heathrow Connect Train . A full size 'overground' dedicated airport train that shuttles between Heathrow and London's Paddington Station. Despite being a stopping train it still makes its destination, Paddington in Central London in 25 minutes, about half the time of the Underground.

Heathrow Express Train is the Rolls Royce option. The train runs like the Heathrow Connect train to London's Paddington station but non-stop taking just 15 minutes. The Heathrow Express runs every 15 minutes.

Private Transfers from small cars up to large coaches are available to charter. For families with luggage this can make good economic sense and for larger groups door to door transport at a compelling price per person can be a no brainer.

Shared Hotel Shuttle Vans Between Heathrow & London

Unlike many countries there is currently no shared 'supershuttle' style minibus operation to hotels we would like to put up here. Every now and again somebody tries but operations have come and gone in the last few years, entrants seem unable to compete with the public transport alternatives below.

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London - Heathrow Comparison of Public Transport
Service	Standard Adult Fare*
	One-Way	Return
London Underground (Cash)	£5.50	£11.00
London Underground (Oyster Card)	£3-£5~	£6-£10~
National Express Bus To Victoria	£6.00†	£12.00†
Heathrow Connect Train	£9.50	£19.00
Heathrow Express Train	£20.00	£34.00
* Standard adult ticket. Other promotional fares may appear from time to time. † On-line only fare. £1 Booking Fee. ~ Off Peak/Peak fares

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