Heathrow Airport is huge, London is massive, and the distance between them can feel a lot longer than 15 miles when you’re stuck in a taxi cab during a traffic jam.
Whether you’re trying to make your flight home or desire nothing more than to get to your hotel and wash hours of transatlantic travel off of your body, the last thing you want to do is be at the mercy of road congestion or a shuttle bus that has zero sense of urgency.
That’s why the train is rarely a regrettable decision.
Hard to believe? Take one look at the long taxi line outside of Heathrow’s departure gate and you’ll reconsider. Depending on the time of day, it could literally take hours to reach central London from Heathrow by taxi or Uber.
If you want to know what’s the easiest way to get from Heathrow to London and back, allow Trainline to introduce you to the speedy solution that is the Heathrow Express.
Heathrow Express: need to know
- Download the Trainline app, select from Heathrow Airport (Any) to London Paddington, select your time, and get mobile barcode tickets on your phone in minutes
- Trains depart from Terminal 2 & 3, as well as Terminal 5 to London Paddington Station
- Nonstop service to Paddington Station in 15 minutes
- Complimentary 4G Wi-Fi for all passengers
- Business First Class passengers also enjoy onboard TV, seat power sockets, and more legroom
Image credits, Unsplash, Tomek Baginski. Location, Paddington Station, London.
Find a familiar friend at Paddington Station
Children and the young at heart should both know exactly how to get from London Heathrow Airport to Paddington station if for no other reason than to say hello to the eponymous bear himself.
Our childhood friend from the deepest, darkest Peru lends more than his name to this station. Hop off the Heathrow Express and snap a photo with the bronze Paddington Bear statue or adorable Paddington Bear bench.
For a cuddly souvenir, head to The Lawn at the station’s south-eastern end where you’ll find a Paddington Bear shop as well as the Mad Bishop & Bear Pub (which has a full menu if you didn’t pack your own marmalade sandwich).
Aside from the allusions to our furry friend, Paddington Station is an ideal destination to begin your London adventure. The sublime Hyde Park is a half-mile stroll past multiple cafes and restaurants, and once you walk to its opposite end, you can cross the street and waltz across the gardens of Buckingham Palace.
How to get from Heathrow to London
Travelers curious on how to get to London from Heathrow should plan their trip with a destination in mind. London’s extensive railway network is easy to navigate, though taking “The Tube” can seem overwhelming for first-time visitors. Envision London the same way you would New York City: a sprawling metropolis where rail lines are a visitor’s best friend.
Heathrow to London St Pancras
Planning to pop over to Paris for a day trip? Access the Channel Tube rail route from London St Pancras station. Take the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station then the Circle or Hammersmith & City line to London St Pancras International station using the London Underground. Estimated travel time: 47-60 minutes.
Heathrow to London Victoria
Getting to Central London from Heathrow is easy by rail. Take the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station then the Circle line to London Victoria using the London Underground. Estimated travel time: 57 minutes.
Heathrow to London Bridge
Cross Tower Bridge off of your sightseeing list straight away by taking the tube to its neighbor, London Bridge. There is a lot of confusion about which bridge is which, but think of London Bridge as the one with little to no decoration whereas Tower Bridge (in the photo below) is truly something to behold.
Hop the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station then the Circle London Underground line to Baker Street. Finally, take the Jubilee line to the London Bridge station and walk east to the iconic Victorian bridge. Estimated travel time: 60-70 minutes.
Header image credits, Unsplash, Chang_lee94. Location, London Bridge, London.
The Heathrow Express caters to travelers needs and desires. Direct lines straight to Heathrow allow you to avoid wasting hours traveling to and from the airport, leaving you more time to shop Soho, tour The British Museum, and even make a magical memory at Platform 9 ¾ only a single train stop away.
Header image credits, Unsplash, Vicki Mozara. Location, Big Ben, London.