Heathrow sits about 14 to 15 miles west of central London, and a taxi is the most direct way in — but it's also the most expensive, by a wide margin over the train and Tube. Here's how the numbers actually compare, and when the taxi is still worth it.
Quick answer
- Black cab (metered): £75–£130, 45–75 minutes
- Pre-booked minicab (fixed price): £45–£75, price agreed in advance
- Piccadilly line Tube: from about £5.60, roughly 50 minutes
- Elizabeth line: flat £15.50 to Zone 1, about 35 minutes
- Heathrow Express: £26 walk-up (from £10 booked 30+ days ahead), 15–21 minutes
Taxi: the most direct, and the most expensive
A metered black cab from Heathrow to central London runs £75 to £130, for a 45 to 75 minute journey depending on traffic and your exact destination. Black cabs wait at official marshalled ranks just outside each terminal's arrivals hall — no booking required, and the rank you use depends on which terminal you land at. See our taxis guide for rank locations by terminal.
A pre-booked minicab is usually the better value option for the same route: commonly £45 to £75 fixed, with the price agreed before you travel and the drop-off charge already included. That's a meaningful saving over the black-cab meter, though you lose the walk-up convenience of the rank. Our guide to fixed-price vs metered fares breaks down how the two billing models differ.
Rail: far cheaper, only slightly slower for most journeys
The Piccadilly line Tube is the cheapest option into London, from about £5.60 with contactless, taking roughly 50 minutes into zone 1. It runs all night on Fridays and Saturdays; otherwise the last train is around 23:30.
The Elizabeth line is a flat £15.50 to Zone 1, in about 35 minutes — noticeably cheaper than the Heathrow Express while landing you in the same part of central London.
The Heathrow Express is the fastest way in at 15 minutes to Paddington (21 minutes from T5), but it's also the priciest rail option: £26 for a walk-up single, or from £10 if you book 30 or more days ahead. Full fares and timetables are on our public transport page.
When the taxi is still worth it
- Heavy luggage or a large group, where splitting rail fares across several people narrows the cost gap and door-to-door travel avoids station transfers
- A destination far from a Tube, Elizabeth line or Express station, where the onward leg on public transport would add significant time
- Very early or very late arrivals, when rail frequency drops and a pre-booked taxi that tracks your flight is more dependable
- Mobility needs that make station changes and platform walking difficult
How to keep the cost down
- Pre-book a minicab rather than taking the black-cab rank, if your schedule allows it
- Book the Heathrow Express well ahead — fares from £10 are a fraction of the £26 walk-up price
- Take the Elizabeth line over the Express if 20 extra minutes doesn't matter, for a meaningfully lower fare
- Split a taxi fare across a group rather than paying for multiple rail tickets, once you're three or four travelling together
FAQs
How much is a taxi from Heathrow to central London?
About £75 to £130 in a metered black cab, taking 45 to 75 minutes, or roughly £45 to £75 for a pre-booked minicab with the price fixed in advance.
What's the cheapest way from Heathrow to central London?
The Piccadilly line Tube, from about £5.60 with contactless, taking roughly 50 minutes.
What's the fastest way from Heathrow to central London?
The Heathrow Express to Paddington in 15 minutes, or 21 minutes from T5. A walk-up single is £26, or from £10 if booked 30 or more days ahead.
Is the Elizabeth line cheaper than the Heathrow Express?
Yes. The Elizabeth line is a flat £15.50 to Zone 1 and takes about 35 minutes, against £26 and 15 minutes on the Express.
Is a pre-booked minicab cheaper than a black cab?
Usually yes. A pre-booked saloon to central London is commonly £45 to £75 fixed with the drop-off charge included, against about £75 to £130 on the black-cab meter.
Where do black cabs wait at Heathrow?
At official marshalled taxi ranks just outside each terminal's arrivals hall. There's no need to pre-book, and the rank you use depends on which terminal you land at.