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London Liverpool Street is on the Elizabeth line, which runs direct to Heathrow with no changes. You can also change at Paddington for the Heathrow Express, or take a taxi straight to your terminal. This guide compares each option in both directions.
Liverpool Street to Heathrow: the quick answer
- Direct, no changes: the Elizabeth line runs from Liverpool Street to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5.
- Paying: Oyster and contactless are accepted on the Elizabeth line.
- Fastest from Paddington: take the Elizabeth line to Paddington and change for the non-stop Heathrow Express.
- Easiest with luggage: a pre-booked taxi straight to your terminal.
Liverpool Street to Heathrow: All Options Compared
| Option | Changes | Terminals |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth line | None | Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4, Terminal 5 |
| Elizabeth line + Heathrow Express | One, at Paddington | Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 5 (Terminal 4 by transfer train) |
| Pre-booked taxi | None | Any terminal, door to door |
Check journey times for your travel day in the TfL journey planner, as they vary with the time of day and service changes.
Elizabeth Line from Liverpool Street to Heathrow
The Elizabeth line is the simplest way from Liverpool Street to Heathrow: one train, no changes, with stops through central London including Paddington.
- Terminals 2 & 3: six trains an hour serve Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3.
- Terminal 4: four direct trains an hour.
- Terminal 5: two direct trains an hour.
- Check the destination: not every westbound train goes to Heathrow, so check the front of the train and the platform screens.
- Tickets: Oyster and contactless are accepted, and single tickets are sold at station ticket machines.
Heathrow Express via Paddington
Take the Elizabeth line west to Paddington, then change to the non-stop Heathrow Express: 15 minutes to Terminals 2 & 3 and a further 5 minutes to Terminal 5, every 15 minutes. For Terminal 4, change at Terminals 2 & 3 for the free transfer train. See our Paddington to Heathrow guide for tickets and first and last trains.
Taxi from Liverpool Street to Heathrow
Liverpool Street is a busy station, and the Elizabeth line can be crowded at peak times. A pre-booked taxi goes straight to your terminal. It's usually the easier choice when:
- you have heavy luggage, a pushchair or sports equipment;
- you're travelling as a family or group;
- you have an early flight before the first trains;
- you're staying in the City or east London, such as Canary Wharf or Stratford, and want to go door to door.
Book a Liverpool Street to Heathrow transfer
- Door to terminal: Heathrow airport transfers to and from any London address, 24/7, with TfL-licensed drivers. Book a train station transfer from Liverpool Street.
- Arriving at Heathrow: your exact meeting point is in your booking instructions; with Meet & Greet, your driver meets you in the arrivals area.
- Flight monitoring: we offer flight monitoring for pre-booked airport pickups. Add your flight number when booking, and flight monitoring helps us coordinate your pickup around updated arrival information.
- Fixed fares: fixed fares for pre-booked airport transfers. Know your fare before confirming your booking, with no meter-based fare surprises.
- Vehicles: saloons to 16-seat minibuses in our fleet. Get an instant fare quote.
Heathrow to Liverpool Street
The same options work in reverse. From Heathrow, take an eastbound Elizabeth line train direct to Liverpool Street, or the Heathrow Express to Paddington and the Elizabeth line from there. Prefer a car? Read how to get a taxi from Heathrow.
If you're dropped off at Heathrow by car or taxi, Heathrow charges £7 for every vehicle entering a terminal drop-off area, including taxis. Travelling with Banana Cars? Check your quote and booking details for how this airport charge applies to your journey.
Which Option Should You Choose?
- Simplest by rail: the Elizabeth line, direct with no changes.
- Flying from Terminal 4: the Elizabeth line, which runs direct.
- Lots of luggage, a family or a group: one vehicle to your terminal; see group transfers.
Coming from another station? See our King's Cross, Victoria and Euston to Heathrow guides. Flying from Stansted instead? Read our Stansted to central London guide.
Liverpool Street to Heathrow FAQs
Yes. The Elizabeth line runs direct from Liverpool Street to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5, with no changes.
Six trains an hour serve Terminals 2 & 3, four an hour run direct to Terminal 4, and two an hour run direct to Terminal 5.
Yes. Oyster and contactless are accepted on the Elizabeth line to Heathrow.
No. Some westbound trains go to other destinations, so check the platform screens and the front of the train for Heathrow and your terminal.
The Heathrow Express leaves from Paddington, so you'd take the Elizabeth line to Paddington and change. From Paddington it's 15 minutes to Terminals 2 & 3. The direct Elizabeth line avoids the change.
It depends on traffic, the time of day and your terminal, so allow extra time at peak periods. Fixed fares for pre-booked airport transfers. Know your fare before confirming your booking, with no meter-based fare surprises.
We offer flight monitoring for pre-booked airport pickups. Add your flight number when booking, and flight monitoring helps us coordinate your pickup around updated arrival information. Airport waiting allowances vary between 45 and 60 minutes depending on your flight category, under the terms of your booking. Any additional waiting charges are also subject to your booking terms.
Yes. MPVs, the Executive MPV-7 and 16-seaters suit families and groups. Child seats are free on advance request: Group 0/0+ (infant), Group 1 (toddler) and Group 2/3 (booster). Tell us each child's age and how many seats you need when you book.
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