Travel cost guide
The Piccadilly line runs direct to Heathrow Terminal 5 from central London for about £5.90, taking roughly 50 minutes. Here is the full guide: fares, journey times, first and last trains, the weekend Night Tube, step-free access, and how to switch terminals for free.
The Piccadilly line runs direct to Heathrow Terminal 5 from central London, taking about 50 minutes for around £5.90 with an Oyster or contactless card. It is the cheapest way to reach Terminal 5 by rail. The Elizabeth line is faster at about 35 minutes but costs a flat £15.50, and the Heathrow Express reaches Terminal 5 in 21 minutes from Paddington from £10 when booked ahead. A Night Tube runs to Terminal 5 on Friday and Saturday nights, the station is step-free, and travelling between Heathrow terminals is free.
Decision guide
For value, the Piccadilly line wins outright. A single from central London to Terminal 5 is about £5.90 with an Oyster or contactless card, roughly a third of the Elizabeth line and a fraction of the Heathrow Express, and it runs direct with no change. The trade-off is speed: the Tube makes many stops and takes about 50 minutes, against roughly 35 minutes on the Elizabeth line and 21 minutes on the Heathrow Express from Paddington.
Every Piccadilly line station in central London connects directly to Terminal 5, so there is no need to change. Kings Cross St Pancras, Holborn, Russell Square, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park, Knightsbridge, South Kensington and Earls Court all have a single, direct Tube to Terminal 5. Just make sure the train shows Heathrow Terminal 5 as its destination, because some Piccadilly trains run to Terminal 4 instead.
The first Tube from Terminal 5 to central London is around 05:22, and the last is about 23:42, or 23:25 on Sundays. Coming the other way, the last train from central London reaches Terminal 5 around 00:23 on weekday nights. If you land after the last train, your options are the weekend Night Tube, the N9 night bus or a taxi, so check the time before you rely on the Underground for a late arrival.
On Friday and Saturday nights the Piccadilly line runs a Night Tube service to and from Terminal 5, so you can reach the airport through the night at weekends, which can save an expensive late taxi. Terminal 5 Underground station is step-free from street to platform with lifts and wide gates, and it sits in the basement of the terminal, a short walk from check-in. There may be a small step or gap between the platform and the train.
If speed matters more than cost, the Elizabeth line reaches Terminal 5 directly from Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Liverpool Street for a flat £15.50, and the Heathrow Express runs from Paddington to Terminal 5 in 21 minutes from £10 booked ahead or £25 on the day. If you arrive at Terminals 2, 3 or 4, travel to Terminal 5 is completely free on the Tube, the Elizabeth line or the Heathrow Express, so tap in and out and you will not be charged.
2026 rail options
The direct Tube against the faster paid options, and the free hop from the other terminals.
| Option | Cost | Journey time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piccadilly line (Tube) | about £5.90 | ~50 min from central London | Cheapest, direct from every Piccadilly line stop |
| Elizabeth line | £15.50 | ~35 min from Paddington | Faster and more comfortable, direct across London |
| Heathrow Express | from £10 advance, £25 on the day | 21 min from Paddington | Fastest to Paddington |
| From another terminal | Free | a few minutes | Switching from Terminal 2, 3 or 4 to Terminal 5 |
Practical checks
These checks keep the guide useful for real journeys rather than just repeating the headline fare or fastest advertised journey time.
Piccadilly line trains split after Hatton Cross, so before you get on, check the destination shown on the front of the train reads Heathrow Terminal 5, not Terminal 4. Boarding the wrong branch means a longer trip and a change, which matters most on the way to the airport with a flight to catch.
Contactless and Oyster are cheaper than a paper single and apply the daily cap automatically. Tap in at your central London station and tap out at Terminal 5, and you pay about £5.90 rather than a higher machine fare.
The last Tube from Terminal 5 to central London leaves around 23:42, earlier on a Sunday. Long-haul flights often land late, so for a night arrival plan for the weekend Night Tube, the N9 night bus or a taxi before you count on the Underground.
Specific guidance
These are the details that change the real-world value of the route after the headline fare or journey time has already caught attention.
After Hatton Cross the Piccadilly line splits. Some trains run to Terminal 5 and others loop through Terminal 4, so a train is only useful to you if it shows Heathrow Terminal 5 as its destination. Boarding a Terminal 4 train by mistake means a longer trip and a change, which matters most on the way to the airport with a flight to catch.
Journeys between Heathrow and central London are charged the peak fare whenever they touch Zone 1, so there is no cheaper off-peak Tube fare to Terminal 5 and no off-peak Elizabeth line saving. The Piccadilly line is still the lowest fare at any time of day, which is why it stays the value choice.
The last Tube from Terminal 5 towards central London leaves around 23:42, earlier on a Sunday. Long-haul flights often land late, so check the time before you count on the Underground. Outside those hours your options are the weekend Night Tube, the N9 night bus or a taxi.
You do not need to change at Terminals 2 and 3 to reach Terminal 5. It has a dedicated Underground station in the basement of the terminal building, served directly by both the Piccadilly and Elizabeth lines, a short and step-free walk from check-in.
Related airports
Cost signals
| Airport | Best public link | Drop-off fee | Main caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow Airport | Heathrow Express | GBP 7 per entry | The 'Heathrow Express' Paddington Trap |
Save money
Small changes that cut the real cost of this journey.
Traveller questions
These answers focus on the decision points that change the real cost, not just the advertised journey time.
Yes. The Piccadilly line runs direct to Heathrow Terminal 5 from central London with no change needed. Just check that the train shows Heathrow Terminal 5 as its destination, because some Piccadilly trains run to Terminal 4 instead.
About 50 minutes from central London on the Piccadilly line, depending on your starting station. The Elizabeth line is faster at around 35 minutes from Paddington, and the Heathrow Express reaches Terminal 5 in 21 minutes.
A Piccadilly line single from central London to Terminal 5 is about £5.90 with an Oyster or contactless card, the cheapest way to reach Terminal 5 by rail. Always tap in and out rather than buying a paper ticket.
The first Tube from Terminal 5 to central London is around 05:22 and the last is about 23:42, or 23:25 on Sundays. From central London the last train reaches Terminal 5 around 00:23 on weekday nights.
Yes. On Friday and Saturday nights the Piccadilly line runs a Night Tube service to and from Heathrow Terminal 5, so you can reach the airport through the night at weekends. It does not run on other nights.
Yes. Terminal 5 Underground station has step-free access from street to platform, with lifts and wide gates. It sits in the basement of the terminal, and there may be a small step or gap between the platform and the train.
Yes. Travel between the Heathrow terminals is free on the Tube, the Elizabeth line and the Heathrow Express. If you land at Terminal 2, 3 or 4, follow the inter-terminal signs to Terminal 5 and tap in and out, and you will not be charged.
The Tube is far cheaper at about £5.90 against £15.50 on the Elizabeth line, but slower at around 50 minutes versus 35. Choose the Piccadilly line to save money and the Elizabeth line to save time or for a more comfortable, direct run across central London.
Every Piccadilly line station connects directly, including Kings Cross St Pancras, Russell Square, Holborn, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park, Knightsbridge, South Kensington and Earls Court. None of them need a change to reach Terminal 5.
Yes. The Heathrow Express runs from London Paddington to Terminal 5 in 21 minutes, stopping at Heathrow Central for Terminals 2 and 3 on the way. Singles start from £10 booked at least 30 days ahead, or £25 on the day.
How we keep this accurate: fares and fees are checked against official operator and airport sources, last reviewed 2026-07-11. We update the figures when operators change them, but prices can change without notice, so confirm the live fare before you book.
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