London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 5 Trains From €14.23*

Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth line are the two direct rail options between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5. The journey covers approximately 15 miles, with six direct trains to Terminal 5 operating each hour.

Heathrow Express trains run every 15 minutes, and all continue to Terminal 5, while Elizabeth line services to Terminal 5 operate twice per hour, with other trains serving Terminal 4 instead.

The table below compares journey times, station facilities and onboard features to help you.

• Journey time: Heathrow Express is around 10 minutes faster than the Elizabeth line.
• Service frequency: Heathrow Express departs every 15 minutes, while direct Elizabeth line trains to Terminal 5 run every 30 minutes.
• Value for money: The Elizabeth line offers lower fares, particularly for contactless payment users.

Travelling from London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 5 is one of the quickest airport rail journeys in the UK.

Departure from London Paddington

London Paddington handles more than 69 million passenger journeys each year and is one of the capital's busiest transport hubs.

Specific transport links

• The Tube: The Bakerloo, Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines serve Paddington, providing direct links from central London, Westminster, King's Cross and the City.
• Elizabeth line: Cross-London Elizabeth line services connect Paddington with Canary Wharf, Liverpool Street, Stratford and Reading without requiring a change.
• Local bus services: TfL routes 7, 23, 27 and 36 stop along Praed Street, offering straightforward connections from Victoria, Marble Arch and nearby districts.
• Taxi and rideshare: The official black cab rank is located near Platform 12, while designated rideshare pick-up and drop-off points are clearly signposted outside.

Station layout

• Main concourse: Platforms 1-12 form the historic train shed and accommodate most long-distance Great Western Railway and Heathrow Express departures.
• Heathrow Express platforms: Services to Heathrow Airport depart from Platforms 6 and 7, with departure boards confirming platform allocation.
• Elizabeth line platforms: Follow the purple Elizabeth line signs to the low-level Platforms 14 and 15 beneath Eastbourne Terrace.

Pre-departure essentials

Boots and Marks & Spencer Simply Food are popular for meal deals, snacks and travel essentials, while coffee shops along the main lawn concourse provide a quick caffeine stop. Digital departure boards are positioned throughout the station, making it easy to monitor platform information while grabbing food or drinks.

Onboard trains from London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 5

The rail journey covers approximately 15 miles, with trains reaching speeds of up to 110 mph on sections of the Great Western Main Line.

The scenic side

• Sit on the left-hand side when leaving Paddington for views of Old Oak Common, one of Britain's largest rail infrastructure projects and a future HS2 interchange.

Key landmarks

• Old Oak Common: This major redevelopment site is being transformed into one of the UK's largest integrated transport hubs.
• Wharncliffe Viaduct: Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, this Grade I-listed structure remains one of Britain's most important railway landmarks.
• Grand Union Canal: Sections of the canal run alongside the railway through west London, offering glimpses of historic industrial waterways.
• Hayes and Harlington: The route passes through this key west London railway junction before diverging towards Heathrow Airport.

Arriving at Heathrow Terminal 5

Heathrow Terminal 5 station is located approximately 20 metres below ground and serves more than four million combined rail and Underground passengers annually.

The correct exit

• Main terminal exit: Use the central lifts or escalators to enter the Terminal 5 arrivals concourse for check-in desks, baggage reclaim and terminal facilities.
• Flight departures access: Follow the overhead signs from arrivals to the departure level using the terminal's lifts and escalators.
• Taxi rank exit: Continue towards the ground-floor forecourt to reach the official London black cab rank and authorised private hire collection zones.
• Hotel connections: Follow terminal wayfinding signs for hotel shuttle pick-up points serving nearby Heathrow accommodation.

Onward travel

• Terminal 5 Bus Station: Follow the clearly marked signs from arrivals to reach local TfL buses and regional coach services within a two-minute walk.
• National Express coaches: Direct long-distance coach services operate from the bus station to destinations across England and Wales.
• Free inter-terminal transfers: Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line services are free between Heathrow terminals.
• London Underground: The Piccadilly line provides direct Tube connections to central London, King's Cross St Pancras and Covent Garden.

Walkability

Heathrow Terminal 5 is highly walkable within the airport environment itself. The station connects directly to the terminal via step-free indoor routes, making it easy to reach check-in areas, shops, lounges and terminal hotels.

However, Heathrow is surrounded by major roads and airport infrastructure, so walking beyond the airport complex is impractical. For nearby hotels, surrounding towns or other terminals, use the airport's rail, bus, shuttle or taxi services.