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Jetting off for some winter sun this weekend? We bet you’re feeling pretty smug about it. First, though, you’ve got to get to airport on time. And if you’re flying from Heathrow airport, you may have to adjust your plans.
Lots of travellers tend to rely on the Piccadilly line to get them from central London to Heathrow Airport on time. However, this weekend they’ll have to find an alternative route. The entire Piccadilly line will be shut down from midnight on Friday (January 16) until Sunday evening (January 18).
The good news is that you should be able to get by without it just fine. Just make sure you leave with plenty of time to spare. While the Piccadilly line is the cheapest way to get to the airport, it’s far from the fastest option. So, with the dark blue line out of action, here are all the ways you can get to Heathrow Airport from central London this weekend.
RECOMMENDED: All the tube and train disruption in London this weekend [January 16-18 2026].
How to get to Heathrow during the Piccadilly line closure this weekend, January 17-18 2026
Heathrow Express
You might not have the Piccadilly line, but you do still have the train that was purpose-built to get people to the airport. The Heathrow Express leaves London Paddington every 15 minutes – it reaches Terminals 2 and 3 in just 15 minutes, and Terminal 5 in just over 20. That makes it the fastest way to get there from central London, and it’s expected to run a normal service this weekend.
If you need to get to Terminal 4, you’ll need to get off at Heathrow Central and hop on a shuttle bus or the Elizabeth line (both for free). Tickets for the Heathrow Express start from £10 and kids up to 15 years old can travel for free.
Elizabeth line
If you’re catching the Lizzie line from Paddington it’ll take you around 28 minutes. You can also hop on from Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street or Canary Wharf.
On Saturday, there are six trains an hour that go to Terminals 2 and 3, four per hour going to Terminal 4 and two per hour going to Terminal 5. Travelling from Zone 1 to the airport on the Elizabeth line will cost you £13.90.
On Sunday there is some scheduled disruption to be aware of on the Lizzie line. A reduced service means that Terminal 4 will get two trains an hour, and Terminals 2 and 3 will get four trains an hour.
Coach
National Express and FirstBus both run coaches from central London to Heathrow terminals. National Express services pick passengers up at London Victoria Coach station for £9.30 one-way and the journey normally takes around 35 minutes.
FirstBus runs from Charing Cross Underground station for Terminals 2 and 5 or from Leicester Square station for Terminal 4. Those services take roughly an hour.
Bus
There are plenty of local bus routes that serve Heathrow terminals and Heathrow Central bus station, too. They are: 105, 111, 278, 285, 350, 423, 482, 490, A10, U3, H21, H30, SL7, SL9 and, between 11.40pm and 05.35am, the N9, N30, N40 and N140.
Taxi
Taxis are the most expensive way to get to Heathrow Airport. Depending on demand and where in London you are, a trip can cost anything from £45 to £120. There’s an extra £6 charge for dropping off passengers in one of the terminal drop-off zones at Heathrow Airport to help drivers cover the cost of the Terminal Drop-Off Charge.
Car
If you decide to drive to Heathrow, you’ll obviously need to leave your car at the airport while you’re away. The three Park and Ride car parks are the cheapest option and they allow both short and long stays. It’s £46.80 for the first day and starts from £37.90 each day thereafter – you can pre-book a space here.
The alternative option is to leave your car at the Terminal Parking car parks, which are located closer to the airport. Prices there start at £98 for every 24 hour period. Pre-book here.
Like taxis, if you have a friend or family member dropping you off at a designated drop off point there’ll be an £8 charge, or they can leave you off in the Park and Ride car park, which is free for the first 29 minutes.
ICYMI: A huge section of the Northern line is shutting early for four months from this week.
Plus: All the upgrades and new services coming to London’s transport network in 2026.
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