Although the Heathrow Connect train service travels along the same route as the Heathrow Express, it is slightly slower than its counterpart (as it is a local stopping service), but is remarkably cheaper. Trains depart from Terminal 4 every 30 minutes and every 15 minutes from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 with a connection needed at these Terminal stations if travelling from Terminal 5. Journey times take around 35 minutes from the airport to reach Paddington Station, with the first train leaving Heathrow at 05.23 and the last at 00.01. Although not as technologically well-equipped as the Heathrow Express, the Heathrow Connect does offer audio and visual information about London onboard. Tickets cost around £7 for an adult single and £14 for a return. For onward journeys to other UK destinations from Paddington Station, see www.nationalrail.co.uk for timetables, routes and fares.
Heathrow Airport is also served by the tube via the Piccadilly Line, which runs directly to many central London destinations, landmarks and the national rail station at Kings Cross, for onward journeys to the midlands, north-east and Scotland. The only draw-back of using the tube is the time it takes to reach central London due to the amount of stops it has to make along the way. The Piccadilly Line serves Terminals 4 & 5 every 10 minutes before stopping at Terminals 1, 2, 3, then embarking on the distance to London. The first tube from Heathrow departs at 06.00 and the last one leaves at around midnight. If you are an Oyster Card (an electronic travel card used by Londonders) holder, fares are extremely cheap into London, with it only costing around £2 for a single journey. If you are not an Oyster card holder (see www.tfl.gov.uk on how to obtain one), then a single into London will cost around £4.
By Coach
National Express (www.nationalexpress.com) operates direct services to London Victoria Coach Station from Heathrow every half an hour. The journey time usually takes around 40-50 minutes (traffic depending) and offer a relatively cheap alternative to the slow underground service at just £4 a ticket (when bought online). Buses predominantly depart from Terminals 4 & 5 (free shuttle transfers are available between Terminals), beginning at 07.00 and end at 23.30. National Express also run direct services to a number of UK towns and cities (see website for details and fares).
Should you need to reach Heathrow before/after the first/last trains have departed, Transport for London runs the N9 bus service to Aldwych in central London via Hammersmith. The buses depart every 20 minutes and take just over an hour to reach central London. The night bus is again, a particularly attractive option for Oyster Card users, with one-way fares into London costing just 90p and £2.00 for those without.
By Taxi
Although there are countless cab firms who offer services to/from the airport, the iconic black taxis are an option for those looking just to jump into a cab without having to pre-book. Journeys usually take 40 minutes to most central London destinations depending on traffic (make sure you ask the driver exact fare to your destination before taking the cab), with an average fare costing around £55-£60.
By Plane
If Heathrow is a little too far to consider travelling to by road or rail, you may want to consider the faster option of travelling by plane, with a handful of airlines offering services to destinations around the country. These are as follows:
By Car
