Heathrow Underground: quick answer
- Line: Piccadilly Line
- Heathrow to Central London: about 50 minutes
- Heathrow to Zone 1: £5.90 pay as you go
- Heathrow stations: Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5
- Travel zone: Zone 6
- Payment: Oyster or contactless
Does the London Underground go to Heathrow Airport?
Yes. Heathrow Airport is connected directly to the London Underground by the Piccadilly Line.
Heathrow has three Underground stations. One station serves Terminals 2 and 3, while Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 each have their own Underground station.
| Terminal | Underground station | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 2 | Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 | Piccadilly Line |
| Terminal 3 | Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 | Piccadilly Line |
| Terminal 4 | Heathrow Terminal 4 | Piccadilly Line |
| Terminal 5 | Heathrow Terminal 5 | Piccadilly Line |
How long is the Tube from Heathrow to London?
A Piccadilly Line journey between Heathrow Airport and Central London normally takes about 50 minutes.
The exact travel time depends on your Heathrow terminal and the London station where you leave the train.
Destinations in West London such as South Kensington and Knightsbridge are reached sooner, while travelling farther towards King's Cross takes longer.
How much is the Underground from Heathrow to London?
The 2026 pay as you go fare between Heathrow Airport and Zone 1 on the Piccadilly Line is £5.90.
You can pay with an Oyster card or a contactless bank card or mobile payment device.
A paper single ticket covering Zones 1 to 6 currently costs £7.00, so Oyster or contactless is normally the simpler option for visitors.
Is Heathrow in Zone 6?
Yes. Heathrow's London Underground stations are in London fare Zone 6.
This is important if you are using a Travelcard. A Travelcard must include Zone 6 to cover a Tube journey between Central London and Heathrow Airport.
The 2026 daily pay as you go cap for Zones 1 to 6 is £16.30.
Can I use contactless from Heathrow?
Yes. Contactless payment is accepted on the Piccadilly Line at Heathrow.
Touch in using your bank card, phone or other compatible payment device at Heathrow and touch out using the same card or device when you reach your destination.
Each passenger needs a separate payment method. Two adults cannot travel simultaneously using the same contactless card.
Can I use an Oyster card from Heathrow?
Yes. Oyster cards are accepted at all Heathrow Underground stations.
Make sure the card has enough pay as you go credit before starting your journey.
Oyster and contactless are both included in TfL's fare-capping system.
Where is the Underground station at Heathrow?
Terminals 2 and 3
Terminals 2 and 3 share one Underground station: Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3.
The station is located between the two terminals. A pedestrian subway connects the station with Terminals 2 and 3.
Terminal 4
Heathrow Terminal 4 Underground station is located below the Terminal 4 Arrivals area.
Terminal 5
Heathrow Terminal 5 Underground station is located in the basement of the terminal building.
Our Heathrow Terminal 5 guide covers other transport options from Terminal 5.
Where does the Piccadilly Line go from Heathrow?
One of the main advantages of the Piccadilly Line is that it runs directly through many popular visitor areas in Central London.
South Kensington
Direct from Heathrow. Useful for the Natural History Museum, V&A and nearby hotels.
Knightsbridge
Direct Piccadilly Line service from Heathrow.
Green Park
Direct from Heathrow and convenient for Mayfair and Buckingham Palace.
Piccadilly Circus
Direct service from Heathrow into the heart of the West End.
Leicester Square
Direct Piccadilly Line connection for Soho and the West End.
Covent Garden
Direct service from Heathrow on the Piccadilly Line.
Russell Square
Useful for Bloomsbury and hotels around Russell Square.
King's Cross St Pancras
Direct Piccadilly Line connection from Heathrow without changing trains.
How often does the Piccadilly Line run from Heathrow?
Heathrow states that passengers should normally not need to wait more than around ten minutes for a Piccadilly Line train, even during off-peak periods.
Standard services generally operate from around 05:00 until 23:30, although exact first and last trains differ by terminal and day of the week.
Does the Night Tube go to Heathrow?
Yes. The Piccadilly Line Night Tube operates throughout Friday and Saturday nights.
Heathrow states that Night Tube services run six times per hour between Heathrow and London during these nights.
However, there is an important exception: Night Tube does not serve Terminal 4.
Passengers using Terminal 4 during Night Tube hours should check alternative terminal transfer or airport transport options before travelling.
Is travel between Heathrow terminals free on the Tube?
Underground travel within the Heathrow free travel area can be free when using Oyster or contactless.
You still need to touch in and out with your Oyster card or contactless payment method even when no fare is charged.
This can be useful for passengers transferring between Heathrow terminals.
Piccadilly Line or Elizabeth Line from Heathrow?
Both are useful, but they serve different parts of London and have very different fares.
| Piccadilly Line | Elizabeth Line | |
|---|---|---|
| Central London time | About 50 minutes | Under 45 minutes for many destinations |
| Zone 1 fare | £5.90 | £15.50 |
| Best destinations | South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly Circus, King's Cross | Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Liverpool Street |
| Best for | Lower cost and direct Piccadilly destinations | Faster journeys across Central London |
If your hotel is close to a Piccadilly Line station, the Underground can be particularly attractive because you avoid changing trains.
For Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon or Liverpool Street, the Elizabeth Line will normally be faster.
Read our Elizabeth Line from Heathrow guide →
Piccadilly Line or Heathrow Express?
Heathrow Express is much faster to Paddington but costs substantially more when buying a regular ticket on the day.
The Piccadilly Line is better suited to budget-conscious passengers or travellers whose accommodation is directly served by the line.
Heathrow Express is strongest when Paddington is your destination and the shortest possible journey time matters.
Read our Heathrow Express guide →
Is the Underground the cheapest way from Heathrow to London?
For many passengers travelling to Central London by rail, the Piccadilly Line is the lowest-cost direct option.
A £5.90 pay as you go journey to Zone 1 is considerably cheaper than a standard Heathrow Express ticket and also cheaper than the Elizabeth Line Heathrow to Zone 1 fare.
The trade-off is journey time. The Underground makes many stops between Heathrow and Central London.
Heathrow Underground FAQ
Which Tube line goes to Heathrow?
Heathrow Airport is served by the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground.
How much is the Tube from Heathrow to London?
The 2026 Oyster or contactless pay as you go fare between Heathrow and Zone 1 is £5.90.
How long does Heathrow to London take on the Tube?
A typical journey to Central London takes around 50 minutes, depending on your Heathrow terminal and London destination.
Can I use contactless from Heathrow?
Yes. Contactless cards and mobile payment devices can be used on London Underground services at Heathrow.
Is Heathrow in Zone 6?
Yes. Heathrow Underground stations are in London fare Zone 6.
Does Heathrow Terminal 5 have an Underground station?
Yes. Terminal 5 has its own Piccadilly Line station in the basement of the terminal building.
Does Heathrow Terminal 4 have an Underground station?
Yes. Terminal 4 has a Piccadilly Line station below the Arrivals area.
Does the Night Tube run to Heathrow?
Yes. Night Tube operates on Friday and Saturday nights, but Terminal 4 is not served by Night Tube.