You can now use your Visitor Oyster card to pay for Heathrow Express, Elizabeth Line or TfL Rail journeys simply by touching in and out using the card readers on newly installed ticket gates at London Paddington and Heathrow Airport.
The London Underground (aka 'the Tube') gets you from Heathrow to central London in under an hour, with trains running every 10 minutes. Heathrow has three underground stations, at Terminal 2/3 and at Terminal 4 and 5. Prices start from £5.50, making it one of the cheapest travel routes to London from Heathrow.
How much does the train from London to Heathrow Airport cost? Train tickets from London to Heathrow Airport can start from as little as $15.66 when you book in advance and are usually more expensive when purchased on the day. Prices can also vary depending the time of day, route and class you book.
Adult pay as you go with a Visitor Oyster card on TfL Rail costs for a single journey is £5.60 Peak/Off-Peak. Travel on Heathrow Express costs the same as a Peak or Off-Peak Express Single (£25 any-time).
London's newest rail line can get you from Heathrow to central London in under 45 minutes, with trains every 30 minutes. Prices from Heathrow to central London (zone 1) cost £12.80. The easiest way to pay is using a contactless bank card or Oyster card, but you can also buy tickets and travelcards at the station.
Is the Elizabeth Line more expensive than the Piccadilly Line? This price makes the Elizabeth Line about twice the price of the Piccadilly Line - but it will get you into central London twice as fast.
The Elizabeth Line offers a reasonable, more budget-friendly option for travelling to Heathrow. It's likely to be the best train to Heathrow if you're coming from East or Central London, as it avoids the need to change at Paddington. It's also the cheapest option if you need to travel at the last-minute.
When to arrive. We recommend getting to the airport three hours before your flight if you're travelling internationally, or two hours if you're travelling domestically or to Europe.
The London Underground (aka 'the Tube') gets you from Heathrow to central London in under an hour, with trains running every 10 minutes. Heathrow has three underground stations, at Terminal 2/3 and at Terminal 4 and 5. Prices start from £5.50, making it one of the cheapest travel routes to London from Heathrow.
The Elizabeth Line uses the same zone-based charges as Tube services, except when it comes to Heathrow Airport, which attracts a £7.20 surcharge for use of the airport's rail tunnels and infrastructure.
Free London Underground services and shuttle trains (Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express) are available for inter-terminal transfers between Heathrow Terminals 2&3 and Heathrow Terminal 4.
You can add money to an Oyster card or use contactless (card or device) straight away. You only pay for the journeys you make and it's cheaper than buying a paper single or return ticket (train companies may offer special deals on some journeys).
Is it cheaper to use Oyster or contactless? As both cards use the same Pay As You Go system and are compatible with the TfL Oyster & Contactless app, the costs are comparable. As a tourist in London, it can be worth getting an Oyster Card as part of the London Pass.
Supports cash: If you want to pay for your transport in London using cash, you can buy and top up an Oyster card with cash. This is normally a lot more cost effective than paying for a cash ticket, with the rare exception of a one-off single journey as you have to consider the cost of the Oyster card.
Adult pay as you go with a Visitor Oyster card on TfL Rail costs for a single journey is £5.60 Peak/Off-Peak. Travel on Heathrow Express costs the same as a Peak or Off-Peak Express Single (£25 any-time).