Does the Elizabeth line go to London City?

The Elizabeth line is open through central London, connecting all the way across the capital from Heathrow Airport and Reading to Shenfield and Abbey Wood. Trains run seven days a week, from early morning to late evening.



The Elizabeth line does not go directly to London City Airport (LCY); however, it provides a very efficient connection via the Custom House station. To reach London City Airport using the Elizabeth line, you would take the "Abbey Wood" branch to Custom House. From there, it is a very short and easy transfer to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) toward Woolwich Arsenal, which stops directly at London City Airport in just two stops (about 4-6 minutes). While the Elizabeth line is famous for its direct high-speed links to Heathrow Airport, it was not designed to serve London City Airport's specific footprint. For travelers coming from the West End or Canary Wharf, this Elizabeth-to-DLR transfer is often the fastest way to reach LCY. If you are traveling from the City (Liverpool Street), you might find it more direct to take the DLR from Bank station instead. In 2026, the Elizabeth line remains London's flagship rail service, significantly cutting journey times across the capital, and while it doesn't have a "City Airport" station, its integration with the wider TfL network makes it a core part of the airport's accessibility for residents and business travelers alike.

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Despite being named under the same system as London Underground lines, and having sections which are underground, the Elizabeth line is not classified as a London Underground line. Under the project name of Crossrail, the system was approved in 2007, and construction began in 2009.

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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.

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Ticket and fares Travel on the Elizabeth line costs £12.80 at all times of the day, for a journey to or from Heathrow airport, where that journey starts, ends or goes through Zone 1. Single journey tickets and Zones 1-6 Travelcards can be purchased from airport station ticket machines.

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Elizabeth line fares are the same as the Tube on journeys within TfL's nine fare zones, which extend to Brentwood. But passengers travelling to and from Shenfield in the east, and to or from all stations beyond West Drayton in the west, are charged “special” rates equivalent to national rail fares.

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Can I use an Oyster or contactless payment card on the Elizabeth line? Yes, Oyster cards are accepted for most journeys, except for stations west of West Drayton.

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The fares on the central section of the Elizabeth line (Paddington to Liverpool Street) are the same as the fares on London Underground in Zone 1. So travelling from Paddington to Liverpool Street would cost you £2.80 – the same as the Tube.

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First and foremost, it is not a 'tube line' – it is a regular national railway line. But it coexists and operates side-by-side with the London Underground. Perhaps the biggest and most obvious difference are the trains themselves.

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Fares and ticketing Tickets for National Rail services to/from London Terminals are not valid on the Elizabeth line between Paddington and Liverpool Street.

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The Elizabeth Line is about half the price of a full-fare Heathrow Express ticket, but takes twice as long to reach Paddington. Trains depart every 30 minutes and it takes just 35 minutes to travel between Paddington Station and Heathrow.

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The Elizabeth line is not one of the few Transport for London services to run an all-night timetable, but its trains do start quite early in the morning and run late at night. Only five Tube lines run a 24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays: the Victoria, Piccadilly, Jubilee, Central and Northern lines.

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Trains run seven days a week, from early morning to late evening. You can use your Oyster or contactless payment card for most journeys on the Elizabeth line.

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Travel free on bus, tram, Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line. You can travel free on TfL services with your Older Person's Freedom Pass from 09:00 weekdays and anytime at weekends and on bank holidays.

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The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: This fare increase was chosen as one which would have a lower impact on Londoners currently worried about the cost of living, and to ensure that journeys that avoid zone 1 will not be affected, helping to protect those living near and working at the airport.

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I think Isn31c meant to say that the Elizabeth line is only 5-10 minutes quicker rather than slower. But you will have to change taking that route so overall time won't be much different, a bit more hassle and more expensive. For this the Piccadilly line is both most convenient and cheapest.

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Using contactless or Oyster payment, a journey within Zones 1 and 2 costs £2.50; those buying a paper ticket would pay £6.30 (or £14.40 for a day travel card, which covers unlimited journeys between the two Zones).

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You can get an Oyster card:
  1. Online with a contactless and Oyster account, if you live in the UK.
  2. At Oyster Ticket Stops in many newsagents in London.
  3. At all Tube, most London Overground and most Elizabeth line stations.
  4. Some DLR stations.
  5. At Visitor Centres.
  6. At the Tramlink Shop in Croydon.


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Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6 of London's zoned transport system. To understand the zone system which is the basis for all fares on the London Underground, read our using the London Underground page. London's tube system is called the London Underground and not Metro London, as is common in some other Major cities.

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On Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail services in London: Peak fares - Monday to Friday (not on public holidays) between 06:30 and 09:30, and between 16:00 and 19:00.

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