- Heathrow Express journey times
- Why choose the Heathrow Express
- Other useful Heathrow Express pages
The Heathrow Express is a modern rail link providing easy transport to and from Britain's biggest airport. Whether you're flying out to another destination or returning to the United Kingdom, the Heathrow Express timetable is designed to ensure that you can get between the airport and Central London in as little as 15 minutes. The trains from the airport deliver you to London Paddington, a major station in the heart of London, enabling you to catch onward travel to any destination in the city or across the UK.
There are plenty of other perks associated with the Heathrow Express, too. If you're travelling with family, you'll be pleased to hear that passengers aged 15 and under can get their tickets for free. (If they're flying without an adult, they'll need to have proof of their air travel, such as a booking or boarding pass.)
There's also a Business First Class option. You get more comfortable seats and a guaranteed table and power socket. And the big benefit is that you get access to fast-track security at Heathrow, meaning your journey through the airport gets even easier. If your time is important to you, that could be well worth the extra cost.
Heathrow Express journey times
If you're planning on catching the Heathrow Express, how long it will take is a key question, so let's answer it!
While Heathrow Express times can vary slightly at certain times of the day, the basic schedule is like this: a train sets off from London Paddington every 15 minutes. Then, just 15 minutes later, it arrives at the Terminal 2 & 3 station. The train stays in the station for two minutes to allow passengers for Terminal 4 to change onto the next Elizabeth Line train. Stay on the Heathrow Express, however, and you'll be delivered to Terminal 5 four minutes later.
It's worth noting that the Heathrow Express timings do not change for rush hour. With one or two exceptions, the journeys take the same amount of time no matter when you catch the train. If you want to be sure of when each service runs, so you can be confident you'll be at the airport on time, why not check it out on our Journey Planner? It will show you the exact schedule, and you can get your tickets sorted in a few simple clicks!
Heathrow Express Time - Paddington to Heathrow
| From / To | Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 | Heathrow Terminal 5 |
| London Paddington | 15 mins | 21 mins* |
*On Sundays, the journey time to Heathrow Terminal 5 is 23 minutes.
Heathrow Express Time - Heathrow to Paddington
| From / To | Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 | London Paddington |
| Heathrow Terminal 5 | 3 mins | 20 mins* |
*On Sundays, the journey time to London Paddington is 21–22 minutes.
Transfers to Terminal 4 Via the Elizabeth Line
One quirk of the Heathrow rail link is that Terminal 4 is on a branch line. All trains to Heathrow, no matter their operator, stop at the Terminal 2 & 3 station. Heathrow Express trains then continue to Terminal 5.
Transport for London runs Elizabeth Line trains along the same route, but they also run trains that go on to Terminal 4 instead.
Since Heathrow Express doesn't go to Terminal 4, passengers who need to reach it will disembark at the Terminal 2 & 3 station and change onto the next Elizabeth Line train going to Terminal 4.
Excluding waiting time, this will add roughly five minutes onto the journey time. The good news is that this transfer is free for Heathrow Express ticket holders!
Why choose the Heathrow Express
When you're heading off on holiday, there can be a lot of things to remember. You have to check in, make your way through security smoothly and find your way through the terminal, not to mention remembering your travel documents! The last thing you need is a difficult transfer to the airport. Luckily, the Heathrow Express schedule has been designed to have advantages over some other options. Here are a few of them.
- Non-stop service between London Paddington and Heathrow in around 20 minutes.
- Trains run both ways every 15 minutes for most of the day.
- No time-sapping intermediate station stops.
- Heathrow Express timetable doesn't change during rush hour.
- Over a third faster to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 than Elizabeth Line.
- Kids 15 and under travel free (with a ticket).
- Heathrow Express stops at Terminal 2 & 3, and Terminal 5 train stations.
- No extra charge to get to Terminal 4 by changing onto an Elizabeth Line train within Heathrow.
- Makes travelling to Heathrow from Central London easy, especially with luggage or in groups.
- Connect with any other London and National Rail destinations from Paddington.
If you're ready to reach the airport hassle-free, then book your tickets on our Journey Planner. It's easy to use, it'll get another thing off your plate and get you one step closer to your trip!