On our most recent trips to London, we’ve tried all the main ways of getting from Heathrow Airport into the city. The Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth Line, and the Piccadilly Line (Underground) each have their pros and cons. Which one makes sense for you depends on where you’re staying, how much luggage you’re carrying, how much time you have, and how much you’re willing to spend.
Heathrow Express
The Heathrow Express is the fastest way to get from the airport to central London. Trains run non-stop to Paddington Station in about 15 minutes. If you’re in a rush, or if your hotel is near Paddington, it’s hard to beat.
- Pros:
- Quickest option from Heathrow (Terminals 2 & 3 to Paddington in ~15 minutes).
- Comfortable seating with lots of space for luggage.
- Predictable schedule and minimal hassle.
- Cons:
- Cost: on-the-day fares are expensive — standard one-way ~ £25; Business First ~ £32.
- Even though there are advance-purchase discounts (as low as £10 if you book well ahead), availability may be limited
- Limited usefulness if your destination isn’t near Paddington — may require transfer (time + effort).
- Doesn’t count toward TfL daily fare caps.
On our last trip, when we were hauling large suitcases for a week-long cruise, the Heathrow Express would have been a more comfortable choice. Yes, it’s pricier, but with an advance fare it’s not unreasonable — and the extra luggage space can make a big difference.
Elizabeth Line
The Elizabeth Line has quickly become our go-to for most Heathrow arrivals. Travel time to Paddington is about 28-30 minutes, with trains also running through central London and beyond.
- Pros:
- Much cheaper than the Express but still faster than the Underground. One-way from Heathrow to Zone 1 is £13.90 with contactless/Oyster.
- Direct service to many parts of the city, reducing the number of transfers.
- Counts toward TfL daily fare caps when you tap with contactless, which we found very convenient.
- Modern stations and relatively comfortable trains.
- Cons:
- Slower than the Express to Paddington, so if your time is tight, you’ll notice the difference.
- It can be crowded at peak times; luggage logistics aren’t as easy as on the Heathrow Express.
When I was traveling solo with just my carry-on (my trusty Travelpro), the Elizabeth Line was perfect. Tap in, ride into central London, and the fare capped with the rest of my travel that day. But with heavier luggage, it’s more of a struggle compared to the Express.
London Underground (Piccadilly Line)
The Underground is the classic budget option from Heathrow, running straight into the city without a transfer. It’s slower, but it works.
- Pros:
- Cheapest of the three options. One-way using contactless/Oyster from Heathrow to central London is about £5.80.
- Included in TfL daily fare caps.
- Direct service to many Underground-served areas not reached by the Elizabeth Line or Express.
- Cons:
- The slowest choice — expect close to an hour or more travel time, especially with luggage or during peak times.
- Smaller trains, less luggage space, more stairs / escalators / walking within stations.
This is still the best bet if you’re looking to save money and don’t mind the extra time. It’s less ideal if you’ve got more than one bag.
Final Thought
We’ve now used all three ways of getting from Heathrow into London. For short trips with light luggage, the Elizabeth Line offers the best balance of speed, cost, and convenience. But when we’re traveling with large bags — like for our recent cruise — the Heathrow Express would have been worth the splurge for the space and comfort, especially since advance fares can bring the cost down considerably.
Here’s a quick cost/time trade-off snapshot:
- Heathrow Express: ~£25 one-way (standard), ~15 minutes to Paddington
- Elizabeth Line: ~£13.90 one-way to Zone 1, ~28-30 minutes
- Underground (Piccadilly Line): ~£5.80 one-way, ~50-60+ minutes
As always, it comes down to your own priorities. If you want fast and easy, book the Express in advance. If you’re traveling light, take the Elizabeth Line. And if cost is the main concern, the Underground is still there for you.
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary, or put ads on our site? Click here for more info
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
