Pick your Heathrow route
Each route below has its own page with journey times, local detail and — where we publish them — fixed fares. If yours isn't listed, we still run it: send the postcode and we'll quote it.
From Heathrow
To Heathrow
Popular Heathrow Airport Taxi Routes
The Heathrow journeys passengers look up and book most often. Each route page shows the fixed fare, typical journey time and exactly where your driver meets you at the terminal.
Heathrow journey times without the fantasy
Every figure below is a working range across normal conditions — the number our dispatchers actually plan with, not the one a brochure prefers. Peak means weekday 07:00–10:00 and 16:00–19:00.
| Route | Off-peak | Peak reality | Dispatcher's margin note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayfair / West End | 40–50 min | 60–80 min | A4 corridor is the swing factor; Hammersmith decides your day |
| The City / Bank | 50–65 min | 75–100 min | Cross-town adds a second traffic system to survive |
| Canary Wharf | 55–70 min | 80–110 min | Consider flight timing around the Wharf's own rush |
| Knightsbridge / Chelsea | 40–55 min | 60–85 min | Hotel forecourt access is booked ahead where it's restricted |
| Victoria / King's Cross | 50–60 min | 70–95 min | Rail-connection bookings get extra buffer on principle |
| Windsor | 15–25 min | 25–40 min | Deceptively close; castle-event days rewrite everything |
| Reading / Thames Valley | 30–45 min | 45–70 min | Tech-belt commute flows both directions — check yours |
| Guildford / Surrey | 35–50 min | 55–80 min | M25 south-west quadrant sets the tone for the whole run |
| Oxford | 60–75 min | 80–110 min | M40 J8 roadworks cycles are the recurring villain |
| Stansted Airport | 75–100 min | 100–130 min | The northern M25 arc; no through train exists on this pair |
| Gatwick Airport | 45–65 min | 70–100 min | Western M25 quadrant; connection bookings get doubled margin |
| Cambridge | 90–110 min | 2–2.5 hrs | Full M25 arc; dawn slots transform this run |
| Southampton / cruise berths | 70–90 min | 100–130 min | Sailing-day bookings run under cruise-deadline doctrine |
↔ Swipe the table sideways on mobile
How to read these: they're kerb-to-door ranges in normal conditions, not best cases. Your quoted pickup time is calculated per booking against the actual day and hour you're travelling, then confirmed in writing — we'd rather tell you an uncomfortable number early than a comfortable one you can't use.
What makes LHR unlike anywhere else you'll land
The terminal lottery
Same airline, different terminal depending on route and codeshare. Booked through a partner? Your ticket says one carrier, your aircraft wears another's paint, and the terminal follows the metal — not the logo on your confirmation email.
Distance inside the perimeter
T4 and T5 anchor opposite ends of the airfield with the central area (T2/T3) between them. Arriving at the wrong one isn't a stroll — it's a transit train or a drive around the perimeter road. Terminal accuracy is the whole game.
Widebody wave immigration
Long-haul banks land in clusters — a dawn wave from Asia and the Gulf, an afternoon wave from North America. Land mid-wave behind three widebodies and border timing becomes the biggest variable in your whole journey. Our waiting policy exists for exactly this.
Runway alternation
Heathrow's two runways swap arrival and departure duties at 15:00 daily to share noise across West London. It subtly shifts taxi times and which side of the field you roll to — one reason identical flights reach stands at different speeds on different days.
The M4/M25 pincer
Road access funnels through the M4 spur, the M25 J14/J15 complex and the A30 southern edge. When one artery clots, pressure redistributes to the others within minutes. Route choice on approach is live tactics, not a sat-nav default.
Scale that eats time
Heathrow handled a record 84.5 million passengers in 2025, making it Europe's busiest airport. Everything — walkways, lift queues, forecourt lanes — carries crowd latency a smaller airport never shows you. Heathrow margins are real margins, and we build them in silently.
The four terminals, from the driver's seat
Not the airport's marketing copy — the operational picture our drivers carry in their heads on every LHR job.
Terminal 2 — The Queen's Terminal
The Star Alliance stronghold: Lufthansa, United, Singapore, Air Canada and cousins. Rebuilt from the ground up, it's the most logically laid-out of the four — but its arrivals hall funnels everyone through one main exit, which makes name-board positioning refreshingly predictable. Short-stay parking sits directly opposite; kerb-to-car is one covered walk.
Terminal 3 — The Veteran
The mixed long-haul house — Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, and much of oneworld's non-BA traffic. Oldest working terminal, quirkiest geometry: arrivals can release passengers in staggered pulses when multiple widebodies clear together, and the walk from gate to landside can be the longest on the airfield. We time T3 pickups with extra patience baked in.
Terminal 4 — The South-Sider
SkyTeam's home plus a broad cast of Gulf, Asian and European carriers. Physically separate from the central area on the airfield's southern edge — its own road approach, its own rhythm, generally the calmest forecourt of the four. If your airline flies from T4, you've quietly drawn the easiest pickup at Heathrow.
Terminal 5 — The Fortress
British Airways' dedicated kingdom (with Iberia lodging), and a small city in its own right — main building plus two satellite concourses linked by underground transit. Gate-to-kerb from a B or C satellite gate can take twenty minutes before you've seen daylight. Our T5 waiting maths accounts for the satellite factor other operators forget exists.
The one habit that prevents most Heathrow pickup chaos: give us your flight number and we resolve the terminal ourselves against the live allocation on the day — codeshares, equipment swaps and late gate changes included. Passengers guess terminals; systems don't. Terminal allocations do change, so always confirm your own with the airline before you travel.
From your gate to our back seat, engineered
What we're doing while you taxi in
- Stand-side awareness: which pier your aircraft docks at changes your walking time by up to fifteen minutes. Dispatch reads the stand allocation where available and adjusts the driver's park-and-walk timing to match.
- The wave read: if your arrival sits inside a widebody bank, we already expect border queues and hold the driver's entry to the terminal accordingly — you never pay for congestion you didn't cause, and the driver never stands three hours at a rail.
- Forecourt discipline: Heathrow's terminal approaches are camera-controlled with strict dwell rules. Our drivers use the short-stay car parks and walk in with your name board — the professional method the airport itself designed the system around.
Your two-minute part
- Follow "Arrivals", ignore everything else: Heathrow signage is dense with detours to lounges, hotels and transit. The green-lit arrivals route is always the shortest path to your driver.
- Oversize items surface separately: buggies, golf and skis appear at the outsized-baggage point near your carousel, not on the belt. Knowing this saves the classic fifteen-minute stare at rotating suitcases.
- One message beats ten calls: cleared customs and can't see your board within a minute? WhatsApp +44 20 8888 9988. Dispatch sees your booking, your driver's position and your terminal map simultaneously.
We target kerb arrival around three hours before an intercontinental departure — security waves are survivable, but bag-drop queues at peak can be their own event. Check your airline's own guidance too.
Around two hours ahead as standard, tuned by terminal and hour. T5 domestic with hand luggage runs leaner; we advise per booking rather than pretend one rule fits all.
Sixty minutes' waiting included from actual touchdown. Widebody immigration wave? Slow carousel? Covered — the clock was designed around Heathrow's worst habits.
Early arrivals from Asia, Africa and the Americas meet a still-sleepy road network — often the fastest LHR-to-London runs of the entire day. A silver lining we cheerfully exploit.
Four Heathrow journeys we run every single day
The transatlantic executive
Lands T3 or T5 off the morning New York bank, needs the City by the 10:00 meeting, works the whole drive. Quiet cabin, charger live, driver briefed that conversation is optional. We've turned the M4 into a thousand boardrooms.
The family long-haul launch
Four passengers, six cases, one buggy, an eleven-hour flight ahead. MPV with seats fitted before pickup, kerb time unhurried, terminal drop at the correct door on the first pass. The holiday starts calm because the transfer was.
The Gulf-wave arrival to the shires
Emirates or Qatar into T3 or T4, onward to Oxford, the Cotswolds or Thames Valley homes. Long-haul fatigue plus a motorway hour is exactly when a tracked, fixed-fare driver outperforms every alternative ever invented.
The cruise connector
Heathrow to Southampton's berths, luggage at cruise scale, a sailing time that doesn't negotiate. Runs under our cruise doctrine: generous buffers, terminal-exact port routing, and a dispatcher watching both the flight and the clock.
Which Heathrow train, or a car straight to your hotel?
A common question from visitors is which train to take from Heathrow. The useful answer depends less on the train and more on where your hotel is.
Rail works well if you travel light and your hotel is a short walk from a station on the line you choose. The Elizabeth line runs across central London. The Piccadilly line stops at many West End stations but is slow. The Heathrow Express only goes to Paddington, so most Express users still need a Tube or taxi at the other end.
A car is usually the better fit when:
- your hotel needs a change of line or a long walk from the station
- you have more than one large case each
- you are a group, because our fares are priced per car, not per seat
- your flight could run late, since airport pick-ups include 60 minutes' free waiting
Q: Will I need to change trains to reach my hotel from Heathrow?
A: Often, yes. Unless your hotel is near an Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line station you should expect at least one change, and the Heathrow Express always ends at Paddington. A car takes you to the hotel door with no changes.
Is the Heathrow Express worth it for two or more people?
A common question is whether the Heathrow Express is worth paying for when the Elizabeth line costs much less. For a group, it helps to do the sums per party, not per person.
The Express costs £26 per adult walk-up, or £10 if booked 30 or more days ahead, and children travel free. Two adults paying walk-up fares spend £52 before they have left Paddington. You then need a Tube, bus or taxi to reach your hotel, with your bags.
Our fares work the other way. They are priced per car, so adding a partner or two teenagers does not change the price, and airport charges, parking and tolls are already in the quote.
The Express makes sense for a solo traveller with light bags staying near Paddington. For couples and families heading anywhere else, compare the train total with one car fare.
Q: Does the Heathrow Express go to central London hotels?
A: No. It runs only between Heathrow and Paddington, so most travellers need another journey from Paddington to their hotel.
Two suitcases on the Piccadilly line: what to expect
Visitors often ask whether they can manage the Piccadilly line from Heathrow with two large cases. You can, but it helps to know what you are signing up for.
- It is the slowest rail option into central London, with many stops.
- It is a busy commuter line with no dedicated luggage space, and trains fill up at weekday peaks.
- Many central stations have stairs, long passages or escalators only. Not every station is step-free from street to platform.
If you do take the Tube, check TfL's step-free guide for your destination and avoid weekday rush hours.
With a car, your cases go from the trolley to the boot and out at your hotel door. There are no stairs or changes, and if bags are slow to arrive, airport pick-ups include 60 minutes' free waiting.
Q: Are all London Tube stations step-free?
A: No. Only some stations have step-free access from street to train. Check TfL's step-free guide for your station before travelling with heavy luggage.
Black cab, Uber or a pre-booked car from Heathrow?
A common question is what a taxi from Heathrow to central London costs and whether Uber is cheaper. The three options price the journey in different ways.
- Black cab: from the rank outside arrivals, on the meter. The fare depends on traffic, so a slow motorway can push it well above what you expected.
- App car: you are usually sent to a pick-up area in a car park rather than the kerb, and the price moves with demand. Busy evenings and strike days cost more.
- Pre-booked car: the price is agreed before you fly.
Our quotes are per car, with no surge or night rate, and airport parking and charges are included. Airport pick-ups include 60 minutes' free waiting, so a slow passport queue does not change the fare.
Whichever you choose, compare the final price you will pay, not the starting estimate.
Q: Is Uber cheaper than a black cab from Heathrow?
A: Sometimes, but app prices change with demand, so the same trip can cost very different amounts at busy times. A fixed quote lets you know the price before you land.
Landing at Heathrow after midnight or before 6am
Visitors often ask what runs from Heathrow in the middle of the night. Options are thin.
- Night Tube: the Piccadilly line runs through the night on Friday and Saturday nights only.
- Other nights: the N9 night bus is the main public transport option. It is slow, makes many stops and has little room for luggage.
- Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express: they do not run through the night, so check first and last train times for your date.
For a late or very early arrival, a pre-booked car is often the calmest choice. We have no night rate, so the fare is the same as at midday. Airport pick-ups include 60 minutes' free waiting, which helps if a late flight gets later.
Q: Is there a Night Tube from Heathrow?
A: Only on Friday and Saturday nights, on the Piccadilly line. On other nights the N9 night bus is the main public transport option.
How long to allow for immigration before your pick-up
A common question is how much time to leave between landing and a car or train. Queue times vary by terminal, time of day and passport.
If your passport is eGate-eligible, passport control is usually quicker. Families with a child under 8 cannot use eGates and need a staffed desk, which can take longer. Then there is the wait for checked bags.
This is where the type of onward travel matters:
- Train: you can just catch the next one, but if you booked an advance ticket, check its conditions before you travel.
- Pre-booked car: you do not need to guess. Airport pick-ups include 60 minutes' free waiting and parking is in the quote.
Make sure everyone in your group who needs a UK ETA has one before you fly, or the queue will be the least of your problems.
Q: Can children use the eGates at Heathrow?
A: Children aged 8 to 17 can use them with an adult, provided they are at least 120cm tall and hold an eligible passport. Under-8s must go to a staffed desk with the family.
Heathrow to Gatwick: coach, train or car
Travellers often ask how to transfer between Heathrow and Gatwick, especially on separate tickets. There is no rail link between the two, so you have three choices.
- Coach: direct between the airports with no changes. Check times, as departures are not constant.
- Train: through London, for example the Elizabeth line to Farringdon then Thameslink to Gatwick. That is a change with all your bags.
- Car: terminal to terminal around the M25.
Allow plenty of time. You will need to clear UK border control at Heathrow, so check whether you need an ETA, then reclaim and recheck your bags at Gatwick.
With a car, Heathrow pick-ups include 60 minutes' free waiting, and parking and Gatwick's drop-off charge are in the quote.
Q: Do I need an ETA to change from Heathrow to Gatwick?
A: If your nationality needs one, yes. Moving between airports means passing through UK border control, so the airside transit exemption does not apply.
Night before an early Heathrow flight: airport hotel or central?
A common question is whether to sleep at a Heathrow hotel before a dawn flight or stay in central London. It depends on how you plan to reach the terminal.
- Airport hotel: many are not walkable from the terminals. The Hotel Hoppa bus charges a fare, and you still need to be up early.
- Near Paddington: convenient for the train, but check the first departure. It may be too late for a very early check-in.
- Anywhere, by car: a pre-booked car collects you from your door at any hour.
We have no night rate, so a 4am pick-up costs the same as a daytime one, and Heathrow's drop-off charge is in the quote. That lets you choose a hotel for your last evening in London rather than for the airport.
Q: Is the Heathrow hotel shuttle free?
A: The Hotel Hoppa bus that serves many airport hotels charges a fare. Check your hotel's own transport options when you book.
Heathrow's drop-off charge and your fare
A common question is who pays Heathrow's drop-off charge. Every vehicle that enters a terminal drop-off zone is charged £7. It is not paid at the kerb or the ticket machines. The driver pays online or by phone by midnight the following day, and an unpaid charge becomes a parking charge notice.
If a friend drives you, they pay it. If you take a taxi, check whether the fare includes it.
With us you do not need to think about it. Airport charges, parking and tolls are included in the quote, so the price you book is the price you pay. The same applies to pick-ups, where short-stay parking is covered while your driver waits up to 60 minutes free of charge.
Rail travellers avoid the charge altogether. For a group with luggage, though, one car fare with charges included can still work out cheaper than several train tickets.
Q: Can I pay the Heathrow drop-off charge at the airport?
A: No. It is paid online, by phone or through autopay, by midnight the day after you use the drop-off zone.
Southampton cruise to a Heathrow flight on the same day
Cruise passengers often ask whether they can disembark at Southampton and make a midday flight from Heathrow. It is possible, but tight. Disembarkation times are set by the ship, and collecting bags in the terminal can take a while.
- Cruise line transfer: simple, but coaches leave when they are full, not when you are ready.
- National Express coach: fixed departure times, so you need a buffer if you miss one.
- Private car: leaves when you walk out with your bags and goes straight to your terminal.
Allow for traffic on the M3 and M25 and your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines. If you can, choose an afternoon flight.
Our car fares are per vehicle, not per seat, so two couples sharing pay one fare. Heathrow's drop-off charge is included in the quote.
Q: Can I make a noon flight from Heathrow after a Southampton cruise?
A: It is risky. Your disembarkation time is set by the ship and road traffic varies, so an afternoon flight gives a much safer margin.
Heathrow to a Dover cruise: the long way round
Cruise passengers flying into Heathrow often ask how to reach Dover. It is a long trip from west London to the Kent coast, and the route matters.
By rail, you would take a train into London, cross the city to St Pancras, ride the high-speed train to Dover Priory, then take a taxi to the cruise terminal. That is several changes with cruise luggage, straight after a long flight.
By car, it is one journey around the M25 and down to Dover. The Dartford Crossing toll is included in our quote, along with Heathrow parking. Airport pick-ups include 60 minutes' free waiting in case immigration is slow.
If your flight lands on embarkation morning, leave a wide margin for the ship's check-in deadline. Many passengers fly in the day before and stay overnight.
Q: Should I fly into Heathrow on the day my Dover cruise sails?
A: Only with a generous margin. The road journey is long and traffic varies, so many passengers arrive the day before.
Connecting at Heathrow: do you need an ETA?
A common question is whether you need an ETA if you are only changing planes at Heathrow. In 2025 the government exempted passengers who stay airside and do not pass through UK border control. The change was described as temporary, so check GOV.UK close to your travel date.
You will need an ETA, if your nationality requires one, when you:
- leave the airport during a layover, even for a few hours
- have to collect and recheck bags, for example on separate tickets
- transfer to another airport such as Gatwick
- stay overnight in a hotel
If you plan to go landside and use a car to Gatwick, a hotel or central London, get your ETA first. With it sorted, our pick-ups include 60 minutes' free waiting while you clear immigration.
Q: Do I need an ETA to change planes at Heathrow?
A: Not if you stay airside and do not pass through UK border control. If you go landside for any reason, you need one if your nationality requires it.
Leaving bags at Heathrow during a long stopover
Travellers with a long stopover often ask whether they can leave bags at Heathrow and head into London. Heathrow has paid left-luggage services in the terminals, so you can store large cases and travel light.
Before you plan it, check:
- Landside: left luggage is outside the secure area, so you will pass through UK border control and may need an ETA.
- Time: allow for immigration on the way out, the journey each way and security on the way back.
- Checked bags: bags checked through to your final destination stay with the airline, so you may only need to store hand luggage.
If you have a long gap and several people, a car into town and back with fixed per-car fares can be simpler than juggling train times.
Q: Is there left luggage at Heathrow?
A: Yes. Heathrow has paid left-luggage services in its terminals. Check the airport website for locations and opening hours.
Heathrow transfer questions, answered properly
How long does it take to get from Heathrow to Central London?
40 to 65 minutes off-peak and 60 to 100 minutes in the weekday peak, depending on which part of central London you're heading for. Mayfair and the West End sit at the fast end via the A4; the City and Canary Wharf add a second traffic system to cross. Those are kerb-to-door ranges in normal conditions, not best cases — your quoted pickup is calculated against the actual day and hour you're travelling.
I don't know my terminal — is that a problem?
Not even slightly. Give us the flight number and we resolve the terminal against Heathrow's live allocation on the day of travel, catching codeshare quirks and last-minute switches automatically. It's more reliable than anything printed on a booking confirmation months in advance. That said, allocations do change, so it's always worth confirming with your airline as well.
How much waiting time is included after my flight lands?
Sixty minutes from actual touchdown, not from your scheduled arrival — which matters, because a delayed flight otherwise eats a waiting allowance you never used. The hour is designed around Heathrow's specific habits: widebody immigration waves, slow carousels and the long walk from a T5 satellite gate. Your driver waits inside arrivals with a name board rather than circling the forecourt.
My flight lands at T5's satellite gates — does that change anything?
Only in ways we've already planned for. B and C gate arrivals ride the underground transit before reaching the main building, adding ten to twenty minutes you can't skip. Your included waiting hour absorbs it entirely, and T5 pickups are timed with the satellite factor as standard.
How early should I leave Central London for a morning long-haul?
For a 10:00–12:00 intercontinental departure we typically collect from Zone 1 around three and a half to four hours ahead — covering peak-road reality plus a three-hour airport target. Your exact pickup is calculated per booking against the day of week and terminal, then confirmed in writing. Check your airline's own recommended arrival time too, since it varies by carrier and destination.
Can you collect me from a Heathrow hotel instead of the terminal?
Constantly — the Bath Road hotel strip, T4-adjacent properties and T5's hotels are all standard pickup points. Overnighting before a dawn departure and transferring the final mile in the morning is one of the smartest patterns in Heathrow travel, and we run it daily. See our early morning transfers guide for how the timing works.
What if I'm connecting at Heathrow but my bags aren't checked through?
Then you'll clear immigration, collect bags and re-check — effectively landing and departing as two separate journeys. If both flights are at LHR you may just need patience and the free inter-terminal transit. If the second flight is at Gatwick or Stansted, you've entered inter-airport territory, where a three-to-six-hour buffer between landing and onward departure is the sensible planning figure.
Is a fixed fare really fixed on a route this traffic-prone?
Yes — that's precisely where fixed pricing earns its keep. The fare sealed at booking includes access charges, pickup parking and waiting; an M4 crawl costs you time but never money. The risk of Heathrow's roads is ours to manage, and we're rather good at it.
Is the Heathrow drop-off charge included in the fare?
Yes. Heathrow currently charges £7 per visit to use its terminal drop-off zones. That charge, and car park fees when we collect you, are already in your fixed fare, so there is nothing extra to pay on the day.
Making the Most of Your Journey: Stops & Sightseeing
Eat & shop like a Londoner: fish & chips, roast, afternoon tea, pies, ale, vegan, British brands – with prices (tap to open)
Eat and shop like a Londoner: fish & chips, Sunday roast, full English, afternoon tea, pies, pale ale, vegan & the best British brands
Our drivers get asked for these every day, so here is the shortlist we give in the car. Prices are from the venues’ own menus and booking sites (seen October 2026); tap the Google Maps link for photos, today’s menu and star ratings. Want a stop on the way? Say so when you book and the driver will wait.
Fish & chips
- Poppies Fish & Chips
Spitalfields E1, Soho W1, Camden NW1, Portobello W11
1950s East End chippy, haddock and cod fried to order, mushy peas
cod & chips £21.99, haddock £20.99 (menu)
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps - Golden Union
Poland St, Soho W1
Proper chippy with a sit-down room, gluten-free batter on request
about £15–£19 for fish and chips
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps
Sunday roast
- Hawksmoor
Seven Dials WC2, Borough SE1, Air Street W1, Wood Wharf E14, Knightsbridge
The roast most Londoners name first: dry-aged rump, beef-dripping roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding
Sunday roast rump £29.50 (menu); book ahead
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps - Blacklock
Soho W1, Shoreditch EC2, Covent Garden WC2, Canary Wharf E14
Chop-house roasts with all the trimmings and bottomless gravy
roast about £24–£28 (menu)
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps
English breakfast
- E Pellicci
332 Bethnal Green Rd E2
Family caff since 1900, Art Deco interior, fry-ups and Italian specials; cash-friendly, Mon–Sat mornings
full English about £10–£13
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps - The Wolseley
160 Piccadilly W1
Grand café breakfast under chandeliers: the full English, kedgeree, eggs Benedict
full English about £20–£24 (menu)
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps
Afternoon tea
- The Ritz, Palm Court
150 Piccadilly W1
The classic: finger sandwiches, scones, pastries and a pianist; jacket and tie for men, book weeks ahead
£85 a head, £105 with Champagne (2026); 12.5% service added
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps - Fortnum & Mason, Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon
181 Piccadilly W1
Fortnum’s own teas, a trolley of cakes and the famous scones
from £75 a head (2026)
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps
Pies
- Mother Mash
Carnaby St, Soho W1
Pie, mash and gravy or sausage and mash, choose your mash and your gravy
pie, mash & gravy from about £15
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps - Pieminister
Leather Lane EC1 and across London
Award-winning British pies incl. vegan and veggie; takeaway or sit in
pie & mash about £12–£15
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps
British pale ale
- The Churchill Arms
Kensington Church St W8
Flower-covered Fuller’s pub, London Pride on cask, Thai kitchen at the back
pint about £6–£7
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps - Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
Fleet St EC4
Rebuilt 1667, Dickens drank here; Samuel Smith’s ales, cellar bars
pint about £5–£6 (no cards in some Sam Smith’s pubs – carry cash)
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps
Vegan & vegetarian
- Mildreds
Lexington St, Soho W1 (also Camden, King’s Cross, Dalston, Covent Garden)
London’s best-known vegetarian restaurant since 1988, now fully plant-based
about £38 a head (TheFork); mains £15–£20
rated 9.3/10 on TheFork, 2,800+ Tripadvisor reviews
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps - Gauthier Soho
Romilly St, Soho W1
Michelin-trained French fine dining, 100% vegan tasting menus
tasting menus from about £75
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps
Souvenirs & British brands
- Fortnum & Mason
181 Piccadilly W1
Tea, biscuits, marmalade and hampers in the famous eau-de-nil tins since 1707
tea caddies from about £10; hampers £50+
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps - Liberty London
Regent St W1
Tudor-fronted store for Liberty print scarves, Barbour, Burberry, Mulberry and British designers
scarves from about £45
website · photos, menu & ratings on Google Maps
Tipping: 10–12.5% service is often added in restaurants, never in pubs or chippies. Most places take cards; a few old caffs and Sam Smith’s pubs are cash-only. Vegan and gluten-free options are marked on almost every London menu – just ask. The airport shops sell the same tea tins and biscuits at 2–3 times the supermarket price, so buy souvenirs in town.
Full list with prices: London food & shopping guide.
Heathrow, handled.
Down to the terminal letter.
Flight-tracked. Terminal-verified. Sixty minutes' waiting included. One fixed fare from your door to the right kerb of the right building — first time, every time.
More Heathrow Airport routes we cover
More Heathrow Airport routes we cover (94 pages)
- Aldgate to Heathrow Airport
- Bank to Heathrow
- Barking and Dagenham to Heathrow
- Barnet to Heathrow
- Bethnal Green to Heathrow Airport
- Bexley to Heathrow
- Bloomsbury to Heathrow Airport
- Brent to Heathrow
- Brixton to Heathrow Airport
- Camden to Heathrow
- City of London to Heathrow
- Clapham to Heathrow
- Colchester to Heathrow Taxi
- Croydon to Heathrow
- Dover to Heathrow Taxi
- Ealing to Heathrow
- Enfield to Heathrow
- Euston to Heathrow Taxi
- Gillingham to Heathrow Taxi
- Greenwich to Heathrow
- Hackney to Heathrow
- Hammersmith and Fulham to Heathrow
- Haringey to Heathrow
- Harrow to Heathrow
- Havering to Heathrow
- Heathrow to Barking & Dagenham
- Heathrow to Barnet
- Heathrow to Bexley
- Heathrow to Brent
- Heathrow to Bristol Taxi
- Heathrow to Bromley
- Heathrow to Camden
- Heathrow to City of London
- Heathrow to Colchester Taxi
- Heathrow to Croydon
- Heathrow to Ealing
- Heathrow to Enfield
- Heathrow to Euston Taxi
- Heathrow to Gillingham Taxi
- Heathrow to Greenwich
- Heathrow to Hackney
- Heathrow to Hammersmith and Fulham
- Heathrow to Haringey
- Heathrow to Harrow
- Heathrow to Havering
- Heathrow to Hillingdon
- Heathrow to Hounslow
- Heathrow to Islington
- Heathrow to Kensington and Chelsea
- Heathrow to Kingston upon Thames
- Heathrow to Lambeth
- Heathrow to Lewisham
- Heathrow to Merton
- Heathrow to Newham
- Heathrow to Paddington Taxi
- Heathrow to Redbridge
- Heathrow to Richmond upon Thames
- Heathrow to Southampton
- Heathrow to Southwark
- Heathrow to Sutton
- Heathrow to Tower Hamlets
- Heathrow to Waltham Forest
- Heathrow to Wandsworth
- Heathrow to Westminster
- Hillingdon to Heathrow
- Hounslow to Heathrow
- Islington to Heathrow
- Kensington and Chelsea to Heathrow
- Kingston upon Thames to Heathrow
- Knightsbridge to Heathrow Airport
- Lambeth to Heathrow
- Lewisham to Heathrow
- Luton to Heathrow
- Merton to Heathrow
- Monument to Heathrow Airport
- Newham to Heathrow
- Old Street to Heathrow Airport
- Piccadilly to Heathrow Airport
- Redbridge to Heathrow
- Richmond upon Thames to Heathrow
- Shoreditch to Heathrow Airport
- South East London to Heathrow Taxi
- South West London to Heathrow
- Southampton to Heathrow
- Southwark to Heathrow
- Strand to Heathrow Airport
- Streatham to Heathrow Airport
- Sutton to Heathrow
- Tower Hamlets to Heathrow
- Vauxhall to Heathrow
- Waltham Forest to Heathrow
- Wandsworth to Heathrow
- Westminster to Heathrow
- Whitechapel to Heathrow Airport
See also: hotel transfers, Richmond airport transfers.
ExCeL London transfers - exhibitions, airports & stations
- Heathrow to ExCeL London
- Gatwick to ExCeL London
- Stansted to ExCeL London
- Luton to ExCeL London
- London City Airport to ExCeL London
- St Pancras International to ExCeL London
- Euston to ExCeL London
- Paddington to ExCeL London
- Liverpool Street to ExCeL London
- ExCeL exhibitions 2026-27
- ExCeL hotel transfers
- ExCeL London to Heathrow
- International visitors guide
Heathrow travel help: fares, airports & guides
Fixed fares, per vehicle, confirmed before you book. See the Christmas & New Year airport taxi page for airport fares.
Fixed-price routes from Heathrow
- Heathrow to Barking and Dagenham from £123
- Heathrow to Barnet from £113
- Heathrow to Bexley from £178
- Heathrow to Brent from £75
- Heathrow to Bristol
- Heathrow to Bromley from £96
- Heathrow to Cambridge
- Heathrow to Camden from £126
Left luggage, check-in & security timing from Heathrow
Left luggage at Heathrow
- Excess Baggage Co - T2
Terminal 2 Arrivals, main concourse ground floor; exit Intl Arrivals, turn right, opposite lift/exit
£10 0-3h; £15 3-24h; £27.50 24-48h; £40 48-72h; then £12.50/day · Daily 05:00-23:00 · source - Excess Baggage Co - T3
Terminal 3 Arrivals
£10 0-3h; £15 3-24h; £27.50 24-48h; £40 48-72h · Daily 05:00-23:00 · source - Excess Baggage Co - T4
Terminal 4 Arrivals
£10 0-3h; £15 3-24h; £27.50 24-48h; £40 48-72h · Daily 05:00-23:00 · source - Excess Baggage Co - T5
Terminal 5 Arrivals
£10 0-3h; £15 3-24h; £27.50 24-48h; £40 48-72h · Daily 05:00-23:00 · source
Dropping off at Heathrow: £7 each time a vehicle enters a terminal drop-off area. Free alternative: Free drop-off at Heathrow Park & Ride car parks (formerly Long Stay) with free bus to terminal. Airport source.
Things to see, eat and stay near Heathrow this Christmas
Places to see
- Windsor Castle
Oldest and largest occupied castle in the world; adult from £32 advance · more - Hampton Court Palace
Henry VIII's riverside palace at East Molesey, Surrey · more - Kew Gardens
UNESCO World Heritage botanic garden in Richmond with 50,000+ living plants · more
Hotels nearby
- All hotels near Heathrow on Google Maps
- Airport hotels guide – if you have an early flight
Dates, prices and menus are as published by each venue (seen 15 Oct 2026); entries marked “2025 dates” are last season’s and will be updated when 2026 dates are announced. Check the linked site before booking. We can take you door to door to any of these – Christmas fares.
At Heathrow Airport: parking, car hire, getting into London & assistance
Heathrow Airport car parks – official prices
| Car park | Price | Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Stay T2 (official) | 0-29 min £8; 30-44 min £12.50; 45-59 min £15.50; 1-2h £20; 2-3h £24; 3-4h £28; 12-24h £98 (from 6 Jan 2026) | 24/7 | book |
| Park & Ride (formerly Long Stay) | Drive-up £46.80 first 24h then £37.40/24h; pre-book from about £11-15/day | 24/7 | book |
| Meet & Greet (official) | Drive-up £138.60/day | 24/7 | book |
| Terminal Drop-Off Charge | £7 per visit (from 1 Jan 2026), 10-min max | 24/7 | book |
Car hire at Heathrow Airport
- Car Rental Centre (Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Europcar, Sixt)
Northern Perimeter Road, Heathrow - shuttle from terminals · book
Heathrow Airport to London: public transport vs taxi
| Option | Time & fare | Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow Express to Paddington | 15 (T2/3), 21 (T5) · £25 anytime single on the day; advance from £10-£16.50 (Oct 2026) | first ~05:10, last ~23:40 | timetable |
| Elizabeth line to Paddington/central London | ~30-35 to Paddington · from £13.90 to Zone 1 (Oct 2026) | first ~04:36 from T2/3, last ~23:24 | timetable |
| Piccadilly line to central London | ~50-60 min · Zone 1-6 contactless £5.90 peak / £4.00 off-peak (from 1 Mar 2026) | last Night Tube Fri/Sat | timetable |
| Our fixed-fare taxi | see route page | 24/7, meet & greet in arrivals, flight tracked |
Assistance, step-free access, assistance dogs & pets at Heathrow Airport
Special assistance: Book via your airline at least 48h ahead. Assistance areas: T2 Level 5 behind check-in A/B; T3 Level 1 above A/B; T4 Zone B by Excess Baggage; T5 Zone E; help points throughout. Tel T2-4 020 8757 2700, T5 020 8283 6415. Step-free: Accessible lifts throughout; accessible passport lanes; lifts to rail and tube platforms. Accessible toilets & Changing Places: Accessible toilets throughout all terminals. Assistance dogs: ADI/IGDF-recognised assistance dogs accepted; notify airline 48h; relief areas in every terminal before and after security and in arrivals (e.g. T5 Level 0 Assistance Area; T3 Departures next to Gate 27). Pets: Heathrow Animal Reception Centre approval at least 72h before flight; +44 20 8745 7894. Blue Badge parking: Blue Badge bays in all car parks. Airport accessibility page
Families at Heathrow Airport
Family facilities: Baby change in all terminals; family lanes at security.
- Legoland Windsor
~25 min drive
from about £34 online, approx · more - Windsor Castle
~20 min drive
adult £32 (£36 on the day) · more - Kew Gardens
~30 min
adult £25 online / £28 gate, under-4s free · more
Car park, car hire, rail and accessibility details are as published by the operators and airports (seen October 2026) and from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors) – check before you rely on them; TfL Journey Planner times are for a weekday 10:00 departure. Our fares are the fixed saloon price on the linked route page.
More guides: Left luggage guide · Check-in & security timing guide · Immigration & eGates · SIM cards & data · Things to do at Christmas · Festive restaurants · Taxi vs train vs coach · Airport hotels · Parking vs taxi · Your questions answered
Heathrow Airport taxi: stations, towns and areas we collect from
More Heathrow Airport routes
- Angel to Heathrow taxi
- Archway to Heathrow taxi
- Bayswater to Heathrow taxi
- Belgravia to Heathrow taxi
- Belsize Park to Heathrow taxi
- Bow to Heathrow taxi
- Camden Town to Heathrow taxi
- Canonbury to Heathrow taxi
- Chelsea to Heathrow taxi
- Clapton to Heathrow taxi
- Covent Garden to Heathrow taxi
- Edgware to Heathrow taxi
- Golders Green to Heathrow taxi
- Gravesend to Heathrow taxi
- Hampstead Garden Suburb to Heathrow taxi