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Public transport to Heathrow Airport
Heathrow taxi telephone number: 0203 286 7540
Although a taxi to Heathrow is generally quicker and more convenient way to the airport, getting to Heathrow by public transport is not difficult. Use the travel planner tool below to find the public transport options to Heathrow Airport. If you don't know the post code don't worry just add the village or town name and the error page will allow you to selct town or village option.
There are two options that you can take; the trains and underground or coaches and buses. On the whole coaches can be cheaper then trains although it is possible to get some very low off peak train fares. When coming to Heathrow in many instance it will involve changing somewhere in London.
Trains and underground to Heathrow Airport
If you want to miss out on transferring trains in London then you need to book to Reading Station where there is the RailAir link This is a dedicated coach service from Reading Station direct to London Heathrow. You should be aware that using the RailAir service does not deliver you directly to all the terminal Passengers for T4 and T5 need to get off at T1 and catch the shuttle train between terminals.
The main train service to Heathrow is the Heathrow Express a quick shuttle service between Paddington and Heathrow. The journey time is 15 minutes and is an ideal way to get into and out of central London if you do not have excessive baggage. You do need to be aware that if you are traveling to T4 you need to change trains at Heathrow Central as the Paddington train now goes onto T5 after stopping at Central.
The other main rail route into Heathrow is Heathrow Connect. This is a direct service between Heathrow and Paddington but with a number of stops on route. This journey takes about 25 minutes.
Important note: If you travel by Heathrow Connect you need to change at Heathrow Central for T5. This train continues on to T4. Do not get confused - although it is only a short ride back if you make a mistake.
Traveling to Heathrow by Underground is not the preferred method to get to the airport from central London. It can take up to an hour to get to the airport. Heathrow is served by three stations. One station (Heathrow Central) serves T1 T2 and T3. Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 each have their own underground station.
Buses and Coaches to Heathrow
The main coach service that operates from Heathrow is National Express. It is the largest coach operator in the UK and offers a large range of destinations. Services leave from Heathrow Central coach station which is located close to T1 2 and 3. There is a free connecting train shuttle between the coach station and T4 and T5. The National Express booking office at the station is very helpful and can guide you as to the best routes to take to get to most main cities and towns in the UK. The web site at National Express is also very easy to use and may be the best option as the booking office can be very busy if you go there is person. While it is possible to pay the driver for your fare on last minute bookings you should be aware that many services are very popular and there's no guarantee that there will be any space.
A number of London buses operate out of the Bus station at Heathrow Central. A good resource for arranging your bus travel is from Transport for London who oversea public transport in London.
Overall if you need to get to Heathrow by public transport our advice is to use the Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect service from Paddington. These tend to be quick, clean and reliable.