Private transfer from Heathrow to Central London
The Heathrow Express gets you to Paddington in 15 minutes, and the Elizabeth line reaches the West End and the City without a change. What neither does is take you and your luggage to the door of a hotel in Mayfair, a flat in Kensington or an office in the City.
A private transfer from Heathrow does exactly that. Your driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign, walks you to the car and drives you 27 km into central London, with the Congestion Charge, ULEZ and airport charges included in one fixed price for the vehicle.
| Pickup | London Heathrow Airport (LHR) |
|---|---|
| Drop-off | Any hotel, villa or address in Central London |
| Distance | About 27 km by road |
| Journey time | 50 min – 1h 15min, depending on traffic |
| Best for | City |
| Busiest season | Year-round |
| Availability | 24/7, including late-night and early-morning flights |
The drive from LHR to Central London
From Heathrow, your driver joins the M4 motorway east towards London. It runs onto the elevated section past Brentford, then becomes the A4 through Hammersmith and the Cromwell Road into Knightsbridge at Hyde Park Corner. From there, Mayfair, Belgravia and Westminster are minutes away; the City and Canary Wharf take longer, via the Embankment or the Westway and Euston Road.
The transfer takes 50 to 75 minutes to the West End. Weekday mornings inbound and evenings outbound are the slowest times, and the last few miles through central London usually set the pace.
Meeting your driver at Heathrow
Heathrow has four passenger terminals: 2, 3, 4 and 5 (British Airways mainly uses Terminal 5). After passport control and baggage reclaim, walk through customs into the arrivals hall. Your driver waits there holding a sign with your name, then walks you to the car in the short-stay car park next to the terminal.
Arriving here for somewhere else? See every Heathrow transfer we run.
Where we drop off in London
We drive to any address in London: hotels, apartments, offices and stations. Give us the address and any building access details.
Mayfair, Belgravia and Knightsbridge
Luxury hotels and residences around Hyde Park, Park Lane and Sloane Street. Usually 45 minutes to 1 hour 5 minutes.
Kensington and Chelsea
The first central neighbourhoods on the route from Heathrow, and often the quickest drop-offs.
Westminster, Covent Garden and the West End
Theatreland, Trafalgar Square and the hotels around Whitehall and the Strand. 50–75 minutes.
The City and Canary Wharf
The financial districts in the east, 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes depending on traffic.
When to book your Central London transfer
London is busy all year. Extra demand comes with Wimbledon (late June to early July), the summer holidays, big concerts and events, and the Christmas season. Heathrow's busiest times are summer Fridays and Sundays, and the early mornings when long-haul flights from North America and Asia land together.
Private transfer vs other ways to reach Central London
| Option | Door to door | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | 50 min – 1h 15min | Straight to your door, fixed price per vehicle, driver waiting in arrivals. |
| Heathrow Express | 15 minutes to Paddington, plus onward travel | The fastest train to central London, but it stops at Paddington. Most hotels are a taxi or Tube ride further. |
| Elizabeth line | 30–45 minutes, plus a walk | Direct trains through the West End, the City and Canary Wharf. Good value, with lifts at most stations, but busy at peak times. |
| Black cab | 50–75 minutes | Metered from the Heathrow taxi rank, so heavy traffic means a higher fare. |
Choose your vehicle
Standard sedan
Up to 3 passengers · 2–3 suitcases
Couples and solo travellers
Executive sedan
Up to 3 passengers · 2–3 suitcases
Mercedes E-Class or similar
Minivan
Up to 7 passengers · 6–7 suitcases
Families and golf or ski bags
Minibus
8–16 passengers · One suitcase each
Groups, weddings, events
Exact models vary by country. Tell us about oversized luggage, golf bags, skis or strollers and we will size the vehicle to fit.
Local tips for your Central London transfer
- Give us your terminal (2, 3, 4 or 5) or flight number. Heathrow's terminals are far apart, and we'll send your driver to the right one.
- Staying in a mews or on a street with limited parking? Add access notes and your driver will plan the drop-off.
- Joining a cruise afterwards? We also drive from London to Southampton.
- For your flight home, leave central London about three hours before an international departure from Heathrow.
- Landing at Gatwick instead? We also cover Gatwick to central London.