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Before you go · the UK

Heathrow Express or the Elizabeth line?

A Heathrow Express train at its platform under the iron arches of Paddington station
Heathrow Express, London Paddington

The answer

If you can buy 30 days or more ahead, book the Heathrow Express advance fare, from £⁠10 against £⁠26 for a standard single (the official prices from Heathrow Express, checked 13 November 2026); it can then cost less than the Elizabeth line.

£10

Advance Discounted Single, booked ahead, from · As of 13 November 2026, Heathrow Express

It turns on how far ahead you book, and how many of you are travelling.

If you decide on the day, take the Elizabeth line; if you have time, the Piccadilly line costs least.

The Heathrow Express reaches Paddington in 15 minutes.

The advance fare is sold only 30 days or more ahead, in a limited number each day.

Prices are read from the official pages. worth importing is an independent magazine · About

You can book 30 days or more ahead
Heathrow Express advance fare
You decide on the day
Elizabeth line
You have time and little luggage
Piccadilly line

When to skip it

If you have time and little luggage, the Piccadilly line on the Tube beats either train.

Questions people ask

What to know

  • The Heathrow Express advance fare is Standard class only and sold online or in the app at least 30 days ahead, in limited numbers each day. It cannot be refunded or changed.1
  • Children 15 and under travel free in Standard with a paying adult.2
  • The Elizabeth line has its own fare from Heathrow: to Paddington it costs more than twice the Piccadilly line.
  • Tube and Elizabeth line journeys to and from Heathrow are charged the peak fare if they start, end or go through Zone 1.4
  • Contactless and Oyster work on the Heathrow Express. Tap in and out; its fares are charged separately from Underground fares.
A bronze-gold sculpture on a lawn among tall trees, Canary Wharf, London
Canary Wharf

The figures

Advance Discounted Single, booked ahead, from2£10
Heathrow Express single, Standard Class2£26

Official prices: Heathrow Express. Checked 13 November 2026.

There is no partner link on this page. Heathrow Express sells its fares on its own website and app, and the Elizabeth and Piccadilly lines take contactless and Oyster.

FAQ

Is the Elizabeth line cheaper than the Heathrow Express?
On the day, yes, by a wide margin. Booked 30 days or more ahead, the Heathrow Express advance fare can cost less than the Elizabeth line.
Is the Elizabeth line the same fare as the Tube from Heathrow?
No. From Heathrow to Paddington it costs more than twice the Piccadilly line.
Do children pay on the Heathrow Express?
Children 15 and under travel free in Standard with a paying adult, or alone with proof of a Heathrow flight.
Can I change or refund an advance ticket?
No. The advance fare cannot be refunded or changed, so buy it once your flight is fixed.
Can I use a Railcard on the Heathrow Express?
Yes. A Railcard is accepted on the Heathrow Express.

6 sources

  1. Heathrow Express: Advance Discounted tickets · 4 November 2026at least 30 days
  2. Heathrow Express: tickets and fares · 4 November 202615 and underYou can also use a Railcard
  3. Transport for London: fare data, Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 to Paddington, Elizabeth line · 4 November 2026"cost":"14.60"
  4. Transport for London: Tube and rail fares · 4 November 2026All Tube and Elizabeth line journeys to and from Heathrow Airport are charged peak fares if they start, end or go through Zone 1.
  5. Heathrow Express: Oyster and contactless · 4 November 2026Heathrow Express fares are charged separately from London Underground fares
  6. Transport for London: fare data, Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 to Paddington, Piccadilly line · 4 November 2026"cost":"5.90"
Checked 13 November 2026

Photographs

  1. Heathrow Express, London Paddington. “Heathrow Express unit 387140 at London Paddington 26/06/25” by Foulger Rail Photos from Basingstoke, UK, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, adapted, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0