The Heathrow Express (HEX) is a dedicated rail connection between London Heathrow Airport and Paddington station near central London. Operating on England’s Great Western main line network, the Express offers the quickest transfer time between the two points: a mere 15 minutes, non-stop. Also, daily departures are frequent, with trains leaving both Heathrow and Paddington every 15 minutes.
From London, the HEX makes two stops upon arrival at Heathrow. The first, Heathrow Central station, takes 15 minutes. The train then makes its second stop at Heathrow Terminal 5 station just 6 minutes later.
Travel route overview
London ̶̶ Heathrow Airport
Train stations: London Paddington to Heathrow Central (Terminals 2 & 3): 15m
Train stations: London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 5: 21m
Heathrow Airport ̶ London
Train stations: Heathrow Central (Terminals 2 & 3) to London Paddington: 16m
Situated in the London Borough of Hillingdon (approximately 22 kilometers southwest of central London), Heathrow is the UK’s busiest airport. It’s also the 5th-busiest air terminal globally in terms of passenger traffic. Heathrow has 2 parallel runways which point east-west and 4 active airport terminals in total.
London Heathrow actually has 3 independent trains stations, two of which handle Heathrow Express commuters. One is Heathrow Central, serving airport Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. The other is Heathrow Terminal 5, serving of course, Terminal 5. Collectively, the stations feature a number of convenient facilities, including:
There are two types of Heathrow Express ticket fares, available in one-way or round-trip:
Children between the ages of 5 and 15 receive a discount on the adult ticket price. Children under 5 years of age travel for free.
Tickets may be booked up to 3 months in advance. An e-ticket can be printed out from home upon delivery by email. A paper ticket is obtained from a self-service ticket dispensing machine using a ticket collection reference number sent by email.
All Heathrow Express services are supplied by British Rail Class 332 trains. Capable of reaching a maximum speed of 161km/h, these modern high-performance commuters combine travel efficiency with passenger comfort. Throughout the journey, Heathrow Express’ friendly onboard staff is there to help, whether you need assistance or information.
Heathrow Express coaches have dedicated luggage racks. Smaller items of luggage can be stored on overhead shelves. While standard-sized items can be transported free of charge, larger pieces may require the purchase of an additional travel fare.
Passengers can carry their bicycle on board for free, but not during peak hours (except on Saturdays and Sundays) due to space restrictions on the train.
Up to 2 pets per passenger are allowed at no cost, provided they travel in a small pet carrier. Additional animals will be charged a fee. Non-caged dogs must be kept on a leash and properly restrained during the trip.
HEX trains are accessible for passengers with reduced mobility and special needs. If travel assistance is required, the company should be contacted at least 24 hours before the train departure time.
Read more about Heathrow Express train tickets.