How Do I Get Between Heathrow Terminals?

If you have a non-connecting flight in a different terminal to the one you land in or perhaps you’ve booked a hotel located in a different terminal to the one you fly from you might be wondering How Do I get between Heathrow Terminals? In this post, we want to take a look at the different options you have to get between Heathrow terminals remaining landside (AKA before security etc.)

The easiest way to get between Heathrow Terminals…

The easiest way to get between Heathrow Terminals is to use the train which is FREE between ALL Heathrow Terminals. You have 3 options to choose from either the Underground, Heathrow Express, or The Elizabeth Line. Whilst the latter two have bigger/nicer trains the Underground is a lot more frequent AND includes transfers to Hatton Cross (useful if you’ve booked a hotel there.)

If you are taking the Underground you will need an Oyster card or credit/debit card to open the gates but don’t worry you won’t be charged. Alternatively, if you don’t have an Oyster card or credit/debit card or you wish to use The Elizabeth Line/Heathrow Express you can use one of the clearly labeled inter-terminal transfer ticket machines in the station to get a free ticket.

From Terminal 5

Destination: Terminal 2 or 3. Take either the Underground, Heathrow Express, or Elizabeth Line service one stop to Terminals 2 & 3.
Destination: Terminal 4. Take the Underground to Hatton Cross, and change at Hatton Cross for a train to Terminal 4. Alternatively take the Heathrow Express/Elizabeth Line service to Terminals 2 & 3, here change for another Heathrow Express/Elizabeth Line service to Terminal 4.

From Terminal 4

Destination: Terminal 2 or 3. Take either the Underground, Heathrow Express, or Elizabeth Line service one stop to Terminals 2 & 3.
Destination: Terminal 5. Take the Underground to Hatton Cross, and change at Hatton Cross for a train to Terminal 5. Alternatively take the Heathrow Express/Elizabeth Line service to Terminals 2 & 3, here change for another Heathrow Express/Elizabeth Line service to Terminal 5.

From Terminal 2 or 3

Destination: Terminal 4. Take the Heathrow Express, or Elizabeth Line service one stop to Terminal 4. Alternatively, take the Underground to Hatton Cross, and change at Hatton Cross for a train to Terminal 4.
Destination: Terminal 5. Take either the Underground, Heathrow Express, or Elizabeth Line service one stop to Terminal 5.

Between Terminal 2 & 3

If you need to interchange between Terminals 2 & 3 you can do so via a pedestrian underpass. From Terminal 2, follow the signs to Terminal 3 by taking the elevator or escalator down to Level -1, here the route is well signposted. From Terminal 3, take the elevator/escalator located opposite Zone D down to Level -1, again the route is well signposted from here. It should take you roughly 5 – 10 minutes to get between terminals.

The not-so-easy way to get between Heathrow Terminals…

If you so wish you can also get a bus to go in between Heathrow Terminals, this isn’t free (£1.65) as Heathrow, unfortunately, got rid of their Free Travel Zone in 2021! On top of this, it can be considerably slower and less convenient with luggage. Buses can however start earlier/finish later than the tube so they may well be your only options!

From Terminal 5

Destination: Terminal 2 or 3. Use the 441 bus from outside arrivals.
Destination: Terminal 4. Use the 482 or 490 bus from outside arrivals.

From Terminal 4

Destination: Terminal 2 or 3. Use the 555 or 557 bus from outside arrivals.
Destination: Terminal 5. Use the 482, 490, or 724 bus from outside arrivals.

From Terminal 2 or 3

Destination: Terminal 4 Use the 555 bus from outside arrivals.
Destination: Terminal 5. Use the 441, 724, or N9 night bus from the bus station.

Conclusion

As you can see once you know where you are going/what you are doing switching between terminals for hotels and flights is super simple! Do you have any tips for landside transfers? Let us know in the comments below!