Navigating to London Heathrow Amid Piccadilly Line Weekend Closure

Bassyonni

ago 2 hours

This weekend, travelers heading to London Heathrow Airport will face reduced options due to the Piccadilly line’s closure. The tube will be out of service starting midnight on January 16 and will not resume until Sunday evening, January 18, 2026. Passengers reliant on the Piccadilly line for their airport transfer will need to consider alternative routes.

Navigating to London Heathrow Amid Piccadilly Line Weekend Closure

Despite the Piccadilly line’s shutdown, there are several viable transportation alternatives for reaching Heathrow Airport. While the Piccadilly line is often the most economical choice, it is not necessarily the quickest. Here are the recommended travel options to ensure you arrive on time.

Heathrow Express

The Heathrow Express operates from London Paddington.
Trains leave every 15 minutes.
It takes just 15 minutes to reach Terminals 2 and 3.
For Terminal 5, the journey is slightly longer, around 20 minutes.
Shuttle buses and the Elizabeth line are available for Terminal 4 after disembarking at Heathrow Central.
Fares start at £10, and children up to 15 years travel for free.

Elizabeth Line

The Elizabeth line connects several key locations in central London including Paddington, Bond Street, and Canary Wharf.
It takes approximately 28 minutes to reach Heathrow from Paddington.
Saturday service includes:

Six trains per hour to Terminals 2 and 3.
Four trains per hour to Terminal 4.
Two trains per hour to Terminal 5.

Standard fare from Zone 1 to Heathrow is £13.90.
Expect reduced service on Sunday.

Coach Services

National Express operates from London Victoria Coach Station with one-way fares starting at £9.30, with a journey time of around 35 minutes.
FirstBus services run from central London with journeys taking about an hour.

Bus Routes

Numerous local bus routes serve Heathrow, including:

105, 111, 278, 285
350, 423, 482, 490
A10, U3, H21, H30, SL7, SL9
Night buses: N9, N30, N40, N140 operate between 11:40 PM and 5:35 AM.

Taxis

While taxis offer convenience, they come at a higher cost. Fares can range from £45 to £120 based on your location. There’s an additional £6 charge for terminal drop-offs.

Driving to Heathrow

Driving provides flexibility, with Park and Ride options available.
Parking at Park and Ride costs £46.80 for the first day, then £37.90 thereafter.
Terminal parking starts at £98 per day.
Drop-offs incur an £8 fee, while free 29-minute parking is available at Park and Ride.

While the Piccadilly line will not be operational this weekend, travelers have plenty of alternative transportation methods to guarantee they reach Heathrow Airport on time. Planning ahead is crucial during this weekend’s closure.