© Mike Bird・Pexels License

United Kingdom

London

Home of the world's oldest Underground and the red double-decker. Tap the card you already carry and ride.

Airport Access

Three ways in from Heathrow - the Piccadilly line for price (£5.90), the Elizabeth line for balance (flat £15.50), and Heathrow Express for speed (from £10 in advance). For most travelers, the Elizabeth line wins.

Updated on July 15, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Pick from the three options
    Piccadilly for price, Elizabeth for balance, Heathrow Express if you need Paddington fast.
  2. 2
    Follow the signs to the platforms
    Follow "Trains" from your terminal. The Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express share a station - the Piccadilly line has its own.
  3. 3
    Tap in with contactless
    All three take contactless. For Heathrow Express only, buy ahead in the app - it's much cheaper.

Fares

Single fares3

Piccadilly line (Heathrow to central)
Cheapest - takes 50-60 minutes with many stops.
5.9 GBP ≈ $8
Elizabeth line (Heathrow to central)
Flat fare all day since March 2026. 30-35 minutes, straight through central London. Best for most.
15.5 GBP ≈ $21
Heathrow Express
£10 booked 30+ days ahead, £26 walk-up. 15 minutes to Paddington.
10〜26 GBP ≈ $14–35

Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
VISAMastercardAmexDiscoverDinersJCB銀聯
App tickets
Paper tickets

Tap for where to get the app

Quick facts

Hours
5:00–24:00
Frequency
Every 15 min (Elizabeth line)
Fares from
5.9 GBP+

Heads-up

  • Walk-up Heathrow Express costs far more than booking ahead

    A walk-up Heathrow Express ticket (£26) costs 2.6x the advance fare (from £10). Unless you're rushing, the Elizabeth line is cheaper and runs through central London.

  • JCB and UnionPay contactless don't work on TfL

    JCB and UnionPay contactless don't work on TfL services - have a Visa, Mastercard, or Amex ready.

Timetable

Operating hours 5:00–24:00
Typical duration About 30-35 minutes to Paddington on the Elizabeth line, continuing straight through central London
Check the official site for the latest times and service status Official site ↗
The in-car line diagram — Heathrow has three stations: Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 Taken Dec 2023 © DiscoA340・CC0