Heathrow Airport: Honest Guide to Trains, Fares, Terminals and the 2-Litre Rule | Britain Adventures
UK airports · Heathrow
Heathrow Airport: the honest guide to getting in, getting through and getting out
Britain's biggest airport and Europe's busiest. Three railway lines, four terminals, a new two-litre liquids rule and a drop-off charge that catches people out. What you actually need to know.
Key facts
Where: west London, about 24 km from the centre, in Travelcard zone 6
Terminals: 2, 3, 4 and 5. Terminal 1 closed in 2015. Check your terminal before you travel; the trains split
Cheapest into town: Piccadilly line, about £6 with contactless, 50 to 60 minutes
Best all-rounder: Elizabeth line, £15.50 to central London since March 2026, about 30 to 35 minutes
Fastest: Heathrow Express to Paddington in about 15 minutes; £25 on the day, from £10 if booked well ahead
Liquids: containers of up to 2 litres allowed in hand luggage since January 2026
Drop-off: £7 per drop-off at the terminal forecourts since 1 January 2026
Fares, drop-off charges and security rules at UK airports changed several times in 2026. The figures here were checked against current sources, but always confirm on the airport's and the operator's own websites before you travel.
Getting into London: three trains, three prices
Heathrow has three rail links into London, and staff at the ticket machines often steer visitors towards the most expensive one. Know which one you want before you arrive.
Piccadilly line (the Tube): the cheapest, at about £6 with a contactless card. It takes 50 to 60 minutes and stops at Earl's Court, South Kensington, Green Park, Piccadilly Circus and King's Cross. Fine with a cabin bag; tiring with big suitcases at rush hour.
Elizabeth line: since March 2026 the fare to central London is £15.50. It is faster, roomier and step-free, and goes straight through to Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. Trains to Terminal 5 are less frequent than to Terminals 2 and 3.
Heathrow Express: 15 minutes to Paddington, and only Paddington. The walk-up fare is £25; advance fares from about £10 are good value if your flight times are fixed.
Coach: National Express runs to Victoria Coach Station and to cities across Britain, without changing in London.
Taxi: a black cab to central London often costs £60 to £100, and can take over an hour in traffic.
Pay with the same contactless card or phone in and out on the Tube and the Elizabeth line, and the daily cap applies automatically. More on fares on our Getting around London page.
Terminals and security
Terminals 2 and 3 share one station. Terminal 4 has its own Piccadilly line and Elizabeth line stop. Terminal 5, mostly British Airways, has its own station too.
Moving between terminals: free on the Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line between the Heathrow stations. Allow plenty of time if your connection means changing terminals.
Liquids: Heathrow finished installing new CT scanners in January 2026, so you can carry containers of up to 2 litres and leave them in your bag. Your return flight may still have the old 100 ml rule at the other end.
Arrivals: eligible passport holders can use the eGates. Everyone else should expect queues at peak times, especially in the mornings when the long-haul flights from Africa and Asia land.
Drop-off, pick-up and parking
Drop-off: £7 per entry to the terminal forecourts since 1 January 2026, recorded by number-plate cameras. Pay online by midnight the next day, or face a penalty notice.
Free alternative: drop-off at the Park and Ride car parks, then a shuttle bus to the terminal.
Pick-up: use the short-stay car parks, which charge from about £7.50 for half an hour.
Parking: book online in advance; the prices on the day are much higher.
Honest verdict
Heathrow works, but it is big, busy and expensive. The terminals are modern, especially Terminal 2 and Terminal 5, but walks are long and queues at passport control can be painful. The real savings are on the way into town: the Tube or the Elizabeth line instead of the Express or a taxi.
The future: the government backed Heathrow's plan for a third runway in 2025 and wants planning permission by 2029. In September 2026 Heathrow said the runway might not open until 2039. Nothing changes for passengers for many years.
Flying in from Africa
Heathrow has more direct flights to Africa than any other UK airport: British Airways and many African airlines fly to West, East and Southern Africa, and North Africa is a short hop. Most other routes connect through the Gulf, Istanbul, Paris, Amsterdam or Brussels.
Day trips from London to Windsor, Stonehenge, Bath and Oxford, plus London sightseeing. Entrance fees are included in the tour price; tips are not included but are always welcome.