After a pleasant stay in London, my family returned to LHR via the Heathrow Express for our onward flight. Despite a delay, we saved time versus using London Underground or a taxi in the height of rush hour.
Heathrow Express To LHR With Family
Heathrow Express tickets cost as little as £5.50 when you buy specific trains well in advance, but the walk-up price is £25.00 one-way or £37.00 for a return ticket. Children aged 15 and under travel free.
The service runs daily as frequently as every 15 minutes (service and frequencies may be impacted, as they are today, by industrial action). You can catch the train in Heathrow T5, Heathrow T2&3 (between the two terminals), or at London Paddington station. The journey takes about 15 minutes.
With my Star Alliance Gold status, we could have sat in Business First cabin at no additional cost (normally £32.00 one-way or £55.00 return), which includes:
- Power sockets at every seat
- Extra luggage space
- Larger seats and additional legroom
- More spacious and private environment
- Complimentary magazines and newspapers
- Tables
> Read More: Free Upgrade to Business First Class on Heathrow Express with Star Alliance Gold Card
However, we just entered the car closest to us and took a seat. It was not crowded onboard, even though we ended up waiting over 20 minutes for a train at Paddington after the scheduled train did not show up…
My jet-lagged daughter instantly fell asleep (I did move her feet off the cushion…) while Augustine was busy trying to take pictures using our iPad.
We were coming from Bermondsey Station on the Jubilee Line and had to transfer at Baker Street to the Bakerloo Line. That was a bit rough with the kids and luggage, but my wife’s sister was a great help.
So is the Heathrow Express too much for families? I don’t think so. Kids are free and while not as convenient as a taxi, it is nice to avoid the traffic.
CONCLUSION
While Heathrow Express did not save us money, it did save us time and proved convenient despite the delay. Rather than sit in London traffic, traveling on the Heathrow Express between LHR and London makes a lot of sense, even when traveling with young children.
This is part of my summer to Europe trip report.
You could have purchased a “family & friends” railcard for £30. On this single journey it would have saved you £46.67 off the walkup fares. The card is valid for a year, and the discounts even work on the 90-day advance purchase rate. UK railcards are a great value!
Yikes. Good to know. You can use it on Heathrow Express?
Absolutely. I’ve done it before with my “two travel together.”
Jerry, I am doing this trip in a few months. Can you help me understand how the card would save 46.67 on walkup fares for two one-way tickets?
When I read about the family and friends card, it says save 1/3, so why isn’t the savings 16.65 for two one-way walkup tickets?
I didn’t realize kids were free when I wrote that, so I was wrong. I assumed each niño would get 60% the full fare. Thanks for making me clarify.
You are correct that two adults would save £16.65. Railcards are still a great deal. I stand behind that!
I appreciate the clarification Jerry– and the mention of the rail cards. I was not aware of these cards, and it will certainly save me some money on my next trip, as we day trip out of London. I wish I had known about it last summer.
In an attempt to return the favor, I’ll mention that I have in the past gotten good value out of a BritRail first class pass, when doing vacations with a few day trips out of London. A good part of the value is being able to go on whatever day seems best at the time (weather, schedule, etc..), and whatever time suits, without booking in advance.
Or you could have spent a lot less and used the Elizabeth Line.
Another +1 for the Elizabeth line, its only about 10 min longer or so from Paddington but is substantially cheaper for adults.
I also had a scheduled train not show up on my recent trip, quite an experience on the platform when the signs suddenly skip your train.
Also avoids the double change. For this route just one change at Bond Street. Overall probably same amount of net time (or maybe 5 minutes longer) by avoiding the 2nd line change and not having to go all the way to ground level at Paddington.
Elizabeth Line was hugely over budget and took too long, but it’s fantastic for London. 18% of all national rail rides are now on it.
The Elizabeth line is great! It just takes a bit longer and is way cheaper if you don’t book HX farrrr out. It’s also still air conditioned and modern, they even pick up from the same platform at LHR so I feel like there’s really no reason to not take the Elizabeth
Also, you needed to change twice (Baker St and Paddington) to get to LHR rather than once, at Bond Street. Once you factor in the additional change (time and inconvenience), I doubt that there were really any significant savings by using HX. Personally, I can’t see the service lasting much longer; scrapping HX would also release two valuable platforms at Paddington.
Paddington is hardly “Central London”.
I love the Heathrow Express but First is totally a waste of money. The difference is marginal especially in a 15 min ride.
Agree with all the above comments. First is a waste and Paddington is hardly central London. I enjoy using it but only when I’m really crunched for time. The Elizabeth line is far better value.
Although an Uber can be cheaper for say a family over the Heathrow express, now there is the ‘Ultra Low Emissions zone” almost all the way out to LHR it means vehicles (even when the roads are empty) can only travel at 20mph and it is heavily enforced by speed averaging cameras. So the train is a better idea as it can be agonizing traveling to and across London at that rate.
For me, the Piccadilly Line works best, although I am anxious to try the new Elizabeth Line.
When I was a college student on a tight budget, the Pic. line was my go to mode of transportation for LHR.
Doing near monthly trips to LHR I use a basic criteria for which to choose, either a taxi or Heathrow Express. Pull up Google Maps and determine the time to your hotel. If an hour or under I take a taxi. Anything more I take the Heathrow Express. The reality is that from a time perspective arriving at Paddington means transferring to the tube or a taxi. Which adds a lot of time and logistics. As well sometimes waiting 15 minutes for the Heathrow Express at LHR. Despite being 15 minutes travel time it never takes into account all of the other factors. Unless you are really lucky every step of the way Heathrow Express is 70% often more time and more schlepping.
Since the Elizabeth line opened, we stopped taking the HE.
Elizabeth line all the way to central, instead of the overpriced Heathrow Express that stops in Paddington and makes you change.
I actually bought an advance ticket for HEX and it took me longer to get to Tottenham Court Road and I had to lug all my luggage from the Paddington terminal to the Elizabeth line.
Heathrow Express is little more than a tourist trap nowadays.
The biggest problem with the HE is that its in the wrong part of London for almost anywhere AND its only every 15 min. So from Elephant & Castle – it’s 25 min tube, a 6 min schelp up into Padders, a potential 14 min wait, and 20 min to T5. For a kings ransom.
It is faster than alternatives — but its marginally so and wildly expensive. It is nicer. And its quite fun rocketing along at 125 MPH. Whenever I take – Its usually because I arrived back London well served. I almost always wander back home on foot.
From the Bermondsey area – there isn’t really a clear winner how to get to LHR. The tradeoff triangle( Speed/Cost/Quality) is pretty fairly balanced for all options . My last 6 trips there over July/Aug = 1 Uber. 2 Elizabeth Line. 2 Piccadilly Line. 1 HE
So is this article about how NOT to travel to LHR? Why would anyone choose a longer, less convenient (2 changes involving a lot walking) and more expensive option? Rather than a single change on a cheaper and quicker Elizabeth line with one simple change.
Too bad we don’t have such express service at US airports.
Lucky to have a few subway connections (DC Metro), but little to no express.
Happy to see Brightline in Florida is catching on. Will have MCO service soon.
Heathrow Express was cool 20 years ago when you could check in at Paddington and Check in your bags there.
Now you are better on the Elizabeth Line or the Piccadilly Line.
Google Maps would have told you Jubilee to Bond St and Elizabeth to LHR
Completely pointless now the Elizabeth line has increased frequency. Especially from Bermondsey with one change at Bond Street for Heathrow. Cheaper, quicker and only one change.
The Heathrow Express has a catchy and alluring brand name, which easily sucks tourists into using it. They’re even willing to pay a premium because they might assume the “express” means they’ll get to London Proper faster.
But as others have pointed out, the Elizabeth line is now the better option. In fact, coming from Bermondsey, you could have just taken the Jubilee to the Elizabeth direct to LHR T5, without having to transfer to the HE. It would have been cheaper and less hassle with moving luggage.
Anyhow, what’s done is done, but just something to keep in your back pocket for the future.