Heathrow Express | London Paddington to Heathrow Airport - TRIP REPORT

In this trip report, we take a trip on the fastest way to get from London Paddington to the largest and busiest airport serving London. Is it worth the high prices? Enjoy the video!
| Trip Info |
Train Operating Company: Heathrow Express/Heathrow Airport Holdings.
Service: 1T32 07:10 London Paddington - Heathrow Airport Terminal 5.
Recorded: November 2021.
Train Type: Class 387 'Electrostar' EMU.
Journey Time: 20 minutes.
| Social Media |
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Instagram: / therailwaylife
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[@casperthegm741]

Great video. We'll be visiting London in a May and it sure looks like the transportation system there is way better than anything we have in the states. This video makes it much less daunting for a first time visitor, so thanks for posting it.

[@TheRailwayLife0710]

Not a problem, thank you! London does have one of the best transport networks, pretty much everywhere in the city is covered.

[@kevinkibble8342]

Outside of London and maybe Manchester public transport in the UK is notoriously poor.

[@ryandavies2634]

​@@kevinkibble8342it is heaven compared to the US though. UK never had a Henry Ford and then an Elon Musk to lobby so hard for car use.

[@josephbaumann292]

Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@Khaledamrouche11710]

1:12 cool announcement

[@TheRailwaysOfNorthWales]

Top video as always bud!

[@TheRailwayLife0710]

Thanks mate!

[@jgavin8283]

Great video big help aswell

[@trainchaserelliot]

Nice vid! Subscribed

[@katashiyume127]

To be frank, the interior of the old trains were much better! The seat was more spacious and the vibe was by far more luxurious than the new trains. Sad to see them go.

[@dixienormus9701]

anyone no which carrage from padd to be on for wayout to terminal 2 lhr thanks

[@snuggles03]

That was a very helpful video, thank you very much in May 2023 I’m travelling from Australia to London for the coronation, and I’m staying in Paddington so I’ll need to do that trip in reverse, I really hope I don’t get lost.

[@realman6ft6]

The Elizabeth Line is now open taking not much longer and much cheaper. This won’t be around for much longer. As it is loads are higher from the airport to Paddington as arriving airline passengers don’t know the full options and an aggressive sales pitch from Heathrow Express agents in arrivals sells tickets

[@snuggles03]

@@realman6ft6 So what should I do? Take the Elizabeth line or buy tickets from those aggressive sales people?

[@realman6ft6]

@@snuggles03 yes buy an Oyster card and top it up then touch in on the platform and take the Elizabeth line to Paddington.

[@jodielang2846]

Me too! There's almost too much information! I am thoroughly confused, and just may end up grabbing a taxi into Knightsbridge! See you at the Coronation! Coming from California! God Save the King!

[@realman6ft6]

@@jodielang2846 A taxi will cost around £100. If your hotel is in Knightsbridge you can take the tube directly with no changes in under 40 minutes. Again buy an Oyster and you can use that for train and bus journeys during the stay.

[@interest5217]

I wanted class 185 train to join with class 387 train too but great video

[@Bahnchef1994]

Nice Video

[@TheRailwayLife0710]

Thank you

[@striker0103]

I am planning our home base near Paddington Station when we visit in 2023.

[@mortalsaviour2870]

How did you bought the ticket? Did you book it online or what? Also, are there trains running for specific terminals of the airpirt or what?

[@JackJackProductions]

The Heathrow Express runs to Terminal 5 via Terminals 2 and 3. Change at Terminals 2 and 3 for services to Terminal 4

[@mortalsaviour2870]

Also continuing my doubts.. if you are travelling with luggage.. where do you keep it on the coach?

[@mudchute4dlr]

Overhead luggage space or the racks near doors

[@mimicker133]

Is it owned by GWR?

[@naturallyherb]

I think they did a pretty poor job at differentiating this Heathrow Express with the regular GWR services. It's a shame to see the class 332 retire, those really did have a top notch service in comparison.

[@TheRailwayLife0710]

The 332s were fantastic units and had a great interior, unfortunately I think they got quite faulty though.

[@timdaugherty5921]

Did they replace these trains? I dont remember seeing this in 2017

[@TheRailwayLife0710]

They replaced the Class 332s. The 387s operate the route to this day.

[@arnoldspottingvideos5269]

332s are really good units

[@paulanderson7796]

@@arnoldspottingvideos5269 I really liked the Class 332 units as well.

[@thenightstreamer4702]

Anyone who lives or has any experience in London know if there is a 2-week pass for buses/trains/subways? I'm headed to London soon. Was debating on Amsterdam vs. London but I chose London for the number of monuments and history. Was also supposed to leave 2 days ago, then today, then it got delayed because I was about to book with an unrecommended airlines company called Norse Atlantic. Found a legit one. Anyways, I've done tons of research on where to go, where to eat, mapped out the entire city of London. I've heard of the Oyster Card before. These are trains I'm familiarizing myself with - Southern (Green), Thameslink (white and colored train), and Jubilee (red train), Bakerloo, Overground, Victoria (If I'm coming from London Gatwick Airport, headed to Marylebone Station) and I'd get off around Victoria Station and take a red bus up to the Marylebone Station area. If I'm taking the Heathrow Airport, then I'm supposed to take the Heathrow Express that will end in Paddington Station or Elizabeth Line, then walk to where I'm staying, having to walk past St. Mary's Hospital and then passing around near Regent's University London. I know the UK uses as app called Bolt which is equivalent to Uber or Lyft here in the US. Is it better to use US dollars or pounds if using a card? From what I understand, main London area is in Zone 1. How much money is safe to take out to convert to pounds? Is it convenient to get a SIM card in London? Any hostels recommended to stay? Is it convenient to just walk from the Paddington Station/Marylebone area to Central London? (Big Ben, London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Jack the Ripper Tour, Harry Potter Tour) Are there certain areas to avoid? I've been looking around north of Hyde Park which are near well-known markets like Borough Market Markets nearby to go to: Borough Market (really damn far on the other side but want to go here more than anything) Portobello Road Market (This is closeby to me) Marylebone Farmer’s Market (This is also close enough) The Covent Garden Real Food Market (Same, closeby) Whole Foods Market Nando's being a popular fast-food chain in London. And I know, I have to try certain dishes like Fish And Chips, Scotch egg, etc These are the popular monuments and areas I've gathered to visit: - Baker Street - Borough Market (damn just realized this is the most famous markey but it is all the way on the other side of the Hyde Park area) - Buckingham Palace (to see the guards in the morning) - Big Ben - London Eye on The Queen's Walk (I have to walk across the Westminister Bridge to get here.) - Soho - Westminister Abbey - British Museum - Sherlock Holmes Museum (very close to Hyde Park) - British Museum - Kensington (heard this area is dangerous at night) - Jack the Ripper tour and Harry Potter tour sounds fun but damn they're all the way up north. (Watford area) These are other places I'd like to go but damn they're far all the way on the other side of Hyde Park: - Tower of London - St. Paul's Cathedral Places I think I'll avoid at night after doing research: - Battersea - Chelsea - Tottenham - Kensington Most likely, I'll be hanging around the Hyde Park, Marylebone, Soho areas, maybe Camden Town. If I have time, I'll try and make my way to Emirates Stadium, Wembley Stadium (This one is far) Anything else? Any help would be much appreciated. This is my first alone trip and I want to be prepared beforehand.

[@ArnoldDuan]

I hope you had a good trip, and only for advise - there are travel cards (one month) which are really cheap! The southern trains, south eastern and thameslink are mostly used in London, but if u want to visit other places, limo trains or GWR are used more

[@raymarcarloballeta5202]

Thank you for this video. What mobile application or website i can buy ticket?

[@mrjaycam18]

If you have an iPhone or Android with mobile pay that's all that is needed at the gates. Hold your phone similar to paying in a store and it works. It's called express transit and it's an Apple Pay feature, I just got back on the 27th and that's what I used. Get a bill at the end of each day. It was about $9 USD for all day on the underground, and $35 for the Heathrow Express.

[@TheRailwayLife0710]

You can buy tickets in advance on the Heathrow Express website.

[@martinkingston1498]

@@TheRailwayLife0710 Really informative video, thanks for putting it up. If you wouldn't mind answering a couple of of other questions, it would be really helpful. Firstly, what forms of payment do those HX ticket vending machines accept? If you are travelling from abroad and arriving at Heathrow before taking the train to Paddington Station, is it still possible to pay with card by contact-less payment or in cash at the airport. And secondly, are there ever any issues with getting a seat on these trains. Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[@TheRailwayLife0710]

@@martinkingston1498 you can pay by cash, credit/debit card, contactless and by apple/android/Google pay. From my own experiences I've never had an issue finding a seat on these trains.

[@martinkingston1498]

@@TheRailwayLife0710 Thanks so much for the reply. It can be a bit of a nightmare navigating train travel in a new city, especially when it comes to tickets, so it's a relief to know that there are so many payment options. Great to hear about seat availability too. Thanks again.

[@paulanderson7796]

The world's most expensive railway. Apparently you can secure good savings if you buy tickets in advance. Personally I feel that if I buy a ticket at 2:50pm and board a train at 2:53pm that is in advance.

[@bedders01]

I'm flying from Heathrow later on in the year. I booked a return ticket on the Heathrow Express for £11.00

[@paulanderson7796]

@@bedders01 that's perfect but if you're delayed in any way you'll lose your £11 and have to buy a ticket at full price.

[@bedders01]

@@paulanderson7796 as long as I travel on the days specified as I’ve got 2 fixed day singles then it should be ok mate. If I’m delayed for 24 hours on either leg then the Heathrow express is the least of my worries to be honest

[@paulanderson7796]

@@bedders01 I appreciate that. If cost is no object and time is of the essence then run with it. I'd do the same in similar circumstances. But if not I'd use the Piccadlly Line service.

[@bedders01]

For a couple of quid more each way and only 15 mins from Paddington it’s a no brainer for me mate 😁