Is It Worth Catching The Heathrow Express to Save Time & Money?

Last updated: 17 July 2023

Are you heading off on a short break soon for a little post-pandemic travel? Or perhaps heading back out for in-person business meetings? Whatever the reason for your travel, you’re probably looking for the best and easiest way to get to Heathrow airport without breaking the bank. And one of the best we’ve found is by taking the train to Heathrow so question is; is it worth catching the Heathrow Express?

Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links. At no cost to you, we earn a small commission when you click on them and make a purchase. It helps us keep the lights on at Roaming Required HQ. We sincerely thank you for your support.

What is the Heathrow Express?

Let’s start off with what the Heathrow Express is; it’s a high-speed train that runs non-stop from London Paddington to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 in 15 min and Terminal 5 in 21 min. For Terminal 4 you’ll need to change at the Terminal 2 & 3 stop and then change for the Elizabeth Line transfer to Terminal 4.

Getting to the Heathrow Express

The Heathrow Express route runs exclusively from Paddington Station to the Heathrow terminals and that means that you need to get to Paddington Station first, which will likely involve an initial journey on the Tube.

Once you arrive at Paddington Station, just follow the signs to the Heathrow Express.

How much is the Heathrow Express?

The all-important question, how much are tickets on the Heathrow Express?

As with most trains and planes, the price of the ticket will depend on the class that you choose to travel in, the Heathrow Express train has both Express Class and Business First Class. Also, ticket prices also depend on how far in advance you book the tickets. The earlier, the better.

Express Class

The Express Class is our personal favourite way to travel on the Heathrow Express because not only is it cheaper than business class but the experience has always been so positive with large seats and power sockets that we’ve never found a need to upgrade. However, it all depends on what your needs are.

The cost of a single journey is £25.00 and a return is £37.00 and that’s regardless if you book via the website, app, or at the station. Previously there were different prices for peak and off-peak travel but that all changed during the Pandemic and now there is a single flat rate.

Business First Class

The Business First Class tickets are more expensive, as you’d expect, but they do provide some additional benefits such as larger seats and additional legroom, complimentary WiFi, and other small perks.

The cost of a single journey is £32.00 and a return is £55.00 so it is more expensive than the Standard Express Class but it depends on what your requirements are the 15 min journey to Terminals 2 & 3 and 21 min to Terminal 5.

Should I Buy Heathrow Express Tickets in Advance

The short answer is YES!

Heathrow Express offer Advanced Purchase tickets which means that the earlier you book your ticket, the cheaper it will be! The BEST ticket you can purchase is when you book at least 90 days from your intended travel dates because the price is only £5.50! This means that if you plan accordingly you save over 75% on the standard £25.00 Express Class ticket!

These tickets are Fixed Date fares which means that they cannot be changed or cancelled so you need to be certain of your travel dates. It’ll be worth double-checking your travel plans before booking your Heathrow Express tickets.

One point, you need to be aware that the advanced purchase tickets are sold in limited numbers and are subject to availability which means just because you are booking at least 90 days in advance doesn’t necessarily mean that the cheap tickets will be available. This is because the Fixed Date Single Advance tickets are released 52 weeks in advance and so those with strong planning skills will be booking very early!

Here’s what a quick test revealed this morning – 6 April 2023 – for Fixed Date Single Standard;

• 180 days in advance – £5.50
• 90 days in advance – £16.50
• 89 days in advance – £16.50
• 60 days in advance – £20.00
• 30 days in advance – £20.00

As you can see from the prices above, it pays to purchase your Fixed Day Single Standard ticket as far in advance as possible. We love a good discount so we’ll always be aiming for those £5.50 tickets but it’s good to know that are smaller discount are still available in weeks leading up to your travel.

The opportunity to purchase £5.50 tickets is one of our favourite things about the Heathrow Express and who doesn’t love a good discount? The £5.50 single journey tickets have long been a popular option and they’re still available however, as mentioned, it will take a little bit of planning on your part.

Here’s what you need to know about the Fixed Date fares;

• It’s only available as a one-way ticket in Express Class on a specific date
• Ticket must be purchased online or through the app
• You must book your tickets in advance (the discount depends on just how in advance)
• The tickets are non-refundable
• For all terms & conditions please see the Heathrow Express website

Do you know which ticket you want to book? If so, click here to Buy Your Tickets to Heathrow

Looking for your next holiday idea? Roaming Required can help with that!

Short Break Experts | Custom Itineraries | We’ll Help You Design Your Ideal Short Break

Simply send us an email to start the conversation about building your bespoke holiday

Where to Buy Heathrow Express Tickets

There’s no shortage of ways to purchasing Heathrow Express tickets, here’s the most common ways;

Heathrow Express Website

One of the easiest ways to purchase your ticket is through the Heathrow Express website. This is where you can purchase your tickets to get from Paddington to Heathrow and organise your return journey as well from Heathrow to London by train.

Android/iOS App

If you love a good app then you’ll be happy to know that there is a Heathrow Express app available on both Android and iOS devices which will enable you to make your bookings quickly and easily. The app also provides live train times and service information, essential information on your travel day.

On the Platform

If you haven’t had the chance to buy your ticket online then you can purchase your ticket directly on the platform before boarding your train.

Contactless Card

And lastly, did you know that you don’t even need to purchase a ticket as you can pay using contactless payment (Oyster card, phone, bank card, etc) when crossing through the gate barriers? You’ll be charged the standard Anytime Day Single rate of £25.00.

However if you’re looking to upgrade to Business First Class then you will need to pay the fare difference once you’re onboard.

Travelling as a Family?

Travelling between Paddington and Heathrow couldn’t be easier, as children under the age of 15 travel for free on Heathrow Express in Express Class or Business First Class when accompanied by a paying adult, or can travel unaccompanied in Express Class only if they possess proof of travel such as a valid flight booking or boarding pass.

The Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) to Heathrow

One question people might be asking right now is whether the Heathrow Express is still a worthwhile option given that the new Elizabeth Line, formerly known as Crossrail, will also provide a cost-effective way to get to Heathrow airport.

We believe the short answer is “yes”, however the longer answer is that it depends on what matters most to you at the time of your travel, such as cost and travel time.

Here’s what we know;

Heathrow Express

• Route: Paddington to Heathrow (non-stop)
• Frequency: Services run every 15 min
• Travel time: T2/T3 in 15 min and T5 in 21 min (T4 from T2/T3 stop, transfer waiting time can be 30 min)
• Route: Direct (only airport terminal stops)
• Cost:
  • Express Class: £25 single / £37 return / Advanced Purchase from £5.50  
  • Business First Class: £32 single / £55 return

Elizabeth Line – Terminals 2|3 & 4

• Route: Paddington to Heathrow T2|T3 & T4
• Frequency:
  • T2|T3 – Services run every 15 min (weekend services reduced)
  • T4 – Services run every 30 min (weekend services reduced)
• Travel time:
  • T2|T3 – 33 min all stops, 26 min early morning trains
  • T4 – 37 min all stops, 32 min early morning train
• Route:
  • All stops service – Paddington, Acton Main Line, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, Hanwell, Southall, Hayes & Harlington, Terminals 2|3, and Terminal 4
  • Early morning service – Paddington, Ealing Broadway, Southall, Hayes & Harlington, Terminals 2|3, and Terminal 4
• Cost: £12.80
  • However, if your journey does not cross into Zone 1 then you will be eligible for an off-peak fare (e.g. Paddington is Zone 1)
• Map: You can download a map and timetable of the Elizabeth Line Paddington to Heathrow here

Elizabeth Line – Terminals 2|3 & 5

• Route: Paddington to Heathrow T2|T3 & T5
• Frequency:
  • T2|T3 – Services run every 15 min (weekend services reduced)
  • T5 – Services run every 30 min (weekend services reduced)
• Travel time:
  • T2|T3 – 33 min all stops, 26 min early morning trains
  • T5 – 38 min all stops, 32 min early morning train
• Route:
  • All stops service – Paddington, Acton Main Line, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, Hanwell, Southall, Hayes & Harlington, Terminals 2|3, and Terminal 5
  • Early morning service – Paddington, Ealing Broadway, Southall, Hayes & Harlington, Terminals 2|3, and Terminal 5
• Cost: £12.80
  • However, if your journey does not cross into Zone 1 then you will be eligible for an off-peak fare (e.g. Paddington is Zone 1)

TFL Underground

• Route: Zone 1 to Heathrow (let’s assume Liverpool St)
• Cost: £5.50 contactless anytime
• Duration: Approx. 70 min

On the face of it, the Elizabeth Line is a cheaper option compared to the Heathrow Express standard £25 Express Class ticket but when you factor in the £5.50 advanced fixed fare ticket then the Heathrow Express stands out as a good transport option. Yes, you will need to plan ahead but if you’re able to organise your plans then we believe the £5.50 fare is hard to beat!

Is the Heathrow Express Worth It to Terminal 4?

We think the short answer is NO.

The reason is because the Heathrow Express doesn’t run directly to Terminal 4, you’ll need to change at Terminal 2/3 and take the Elizabeth Line to Terminal 4. At face value this doesn’t seem too bad except that the wait for the Terminal 4 Elizabeth Line is up to 30 min on the platform. This can significantly extend your journey time if you haven’t expected a long wait for your connecting train.

The next time we are flying from Terminal 4, we will be taking the Elizabeth Line directly from Paddington station to avoid the transfer waiting time. However, if we’re flying from Terminals 2/3 and 5 then it will be the Heathrow Express for the reasons already mentioned.

When Does the Heathrow Express Start Running?

If you’re planning on heading to Heathrow Airport for an early morning flight then you’ll need to know when the Heathrow Express starts in the morning. The first train is departs Paddington at 5:10 am and arrives at Terminals 2 & 3 at 5:26 am and Terminal 5 at 5:32 am so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to check in or drop any bags and head to the security checkpoint.

Remember that your departure gate may be further than you expect so give yourself plenty of time to get there for your flight. The Heathrow Express doesn’t run 24 hours a day so it’s important to know what the timetable is to plan for your journey accordingly. You can access the full Heathrow Express timetable here.

Final Thoughts

Is it worth taking the Heathrow Express to the airport? In our opinion, the Heathrow Express is one of the best ways to get to Heathrow Airport. It’s a quick and efficient experience and despite tickets being more expensive than other options, it’s quick and easy. And isn’t that want you want when you’re heading to the airport?

Another reason we appreciate the Heathrow Express is the return leg when you’ve just arrived back in the UK and looking to get from Heathrow to Paddington, don’t you just want the simplest, easiest, and fastest way to get home so you can just switch off and relax?

The Heathrow Express becomes even more value for money if you can plan your travel 91 days in advance and secure a £5.50 ticket!

If you’ve already used the Heathrow Express before, whether that’s going from Paddington to Heathrow or heading back from Heathrow to Paddington, then let us know what your experience was like in the comments below?

Like this post? Don’t forget to share it with others who might be interested in having a read. Safe travels.

Ready to book your Heathrow Express ticket?

Click here to Buy Your Tickets to Heathrow

Need to Relax Before your Flight? Why Not Try a Lounge?