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London Paddington is the main rail gateway to Heathrow. From Paddington you can take the non-stop Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth line, or a taxi straight to your terminal. This guide compares each option in both directions, explains how to reach Terminal 4, and shows which suits your journey.
Paddington to Heathrow: the quick answer
- Fastest: Heathrow Express, 15 minutes to Terminals 2 & 3 and a further 5 minutes to Terminal 5, every 15 minutes.
- Every terminal, lower fares: the Elizabeth line, with direct trains to Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5.
- Terminal 4 by Heathrow Express: change at Terminals 2 & 3 for the free transfer train.
- Paying: contactless works on both; Oyster is accepted on the Elizabeth line.
- Easiest with luggage: a pre-booked taxi from your door to your terminal.
Paddington to Heathrow: All Options Compared
| Option | Terminals served | Typical time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow Express | Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 5 (Terminal 4 by transfer train) | 15 min to T2 & 3; 20 min to T5 | Speed |
| Elizabeth line | Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4, Terminal 5 | Longer, with more stops | Lower fares and Oyster |
| Pre-booked taxi | Any terminal, door to door | Depends on traffic | Luggage, families, groups, early flights |
Typical times published by Heathrow. They vary with the time of day and service changes, so check before you travel.
Heathrow Express from Paddington
The Heathrow Express is the fastest rail link between central London and Heathrow, running non-stop from Paddington.
- Journey time: 15 minutes to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, then a further 5 minutes to Terminal 5.
- Frequency: every 15 minutes.
- First and last trains: the first train leaves Paddington at 04:34 Monday to Saturday (04:55 on Sundays); the last train from Terminal 5 is at 23:57.
- Terminal 4: change at Terminals 2 & 3 for the free transfer train, which runs every 15 minutes and takes 4 minutes.
- Tickets: buy online, in the Heathrow Express app, or tap in and out with contactless. Children aged 15 and under travel free in Standard Class with a paying adult. Fares are set by Heathrow Express and are cheapest when booked well in advance.
Elizabeth Line from Paddington to Heathrow
The Elizabeth line runs from Paddington to all of Heathrow's rail stations, with stops along the way. It takes longer than the Heathrow Express but costs less, and you can pay with Oyster or contactless.
- Terminals 2 & 3: six trains an hour.
- Terminal 4: four direct trains an hour.
- Terminal 5: two direct trains an hour.
- Hours: the first trains leave Paddington from around 04:36; the last weekday trains are around 23:24 to Terminals 2 & 3 and Terminal 4, and 23:09 to Terminal 5. Times vary by day.
- Tickets: Oyster and contactless are accepted, and single tickets are available from station ticket machines.
Coming from King's Cross or St Pancras? See our King's Cross to Heathrow guide.
Taxi from Paddington to Heathrow
Train times measure station to station. Your real journey also includes getting to Paddington with your bags and, for Terminal 4, a change at the airport. A pre-booked taxi is 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 away from Paddington, for example in Kensington or Westminster.
Book a Paddington 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 Paddington.
- 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 Paddington
The same options work in reverse. The Heathrow Express leaves from Terminal 5 and Terminals 2 & 3 for Paddington; from Terminal 4, take the free transfer train to Terminals 2 & 3 first, or use the Elizabeth line. Prefer a car? Read how to get a taxi from Heathrow.
If you're dropped off 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. See our Terminal 5 and Terminal 3 drop-off guides.
Which Option Should You Choose?
- Fastest to Terminals 2, 3 or 5: the Heathrow Express.
- Flying from Terminal 4: the Elizabeth line runs direct, with no change at the airport.
- Travelling on a budget: the Elizabeth line, with Oyster or contactless.
- Lots of luggage, a family or a group: one vehicle to your terminal; see group transfers.
Paddington to Heathrow FAQs
15 minutes to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, and a further 5 minutes to Terminal 5. Trains run every 15 minutes.
The Heathrow Express is faster and non-stop. The Elizabeth line takes longer but costs less, accepts Oyster, and runs direct to Terminal 4 as well as Terminals 2 & 3 and 5.
Not directly. Change at Terminals 2 & 3 for the free transfer train, which runs every 15 minutes and takes 4 minutes. The Elizabeth line runs direct to Terminal 4.
Contactless works on both the Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth line: tap in at the start and out at the end. Oyster is accepted on the Elizabeth line.
04:34 Monday to Saturday and 04:55 on Sundays. Times can change, so check before an early flight, or pre-book a taxi.
Yes. Children aged 15 and under travel free in Standard Class with a paying adult.
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.
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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