North & north-east travel guide

RailAir coaches provide a regular service (up to every hour) between Watford and Heathrow.

Coaches on the new RA3 pick-up in Watford at the following locations:

• Watford Junction, stop 2
• Watford Library, stop W
• Hempstead Road, Wentworth Close
• Hempstead Road, Grove Mill Lane

At Heathrow, coaches pick-up and set down at Terminal 2 (stops 11-12) and Terminal 3 (stops 7-8).

A pack of 10 single tickets is available from the First Commuter Travel Club for just £57.50. Enter the unique code H3ATHROWCTC21 at www.firstbeeline.co.uk/ctc.

See www.railair.com for times.

The following are free to use between terminals: 

• H30 bus
  
• Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express
• Piccadilly line

It is now also free to travel between Heathrow terminals and Hatton Cross on the Piccadilly line and bus route H3.

You will need Oyster or contactless for free travel on trains and the Underground (to activate the ticket gates). You will not be charged for your journey between any Heathrow terminal or Hatton Cross. 

Alternatively, if using the trains between terminals, collect a free train transfer ticket from the machines at stations. They cannot be used on the Underground. Not validating a card or payment device when entering and exiting a station at Heathrow could result in a charge being incurred, which may be a maximum fine.

From Wednesday 1 January 2025, the Hotel Hoppa H5X will be free for Team Heathrow between Terminal 5 and The Renaissance Hotel (just show your valid Heathrow ID to the driver). The H5X operates daily (including Christmas Day) running every 30 minutes. The first bus leaves the Renaissance Hotel forecourt at 04:52, then at 22 and 52 mins past each hour until 23:22. From Terminal 5 (stops 17/18), buses depart at 05:10 and then every 30 minutes at 10 and 40 minutes past each hour until 23:10, with the final journey at 23:50. Please find the full timetable here: H5X | Hotel Hoppa 

Team Heathrow can use Hotel Hoppa services for £1.20 single or £2 day return upon presentation of valid Heathrow ID, except on services H2X and H5X where travel is free for Team Heathrow with valid Heathrow ID.

The 102 provides direct public transport to the airport from parts of High Wycombe, Wycombe Marsh, Holtspur, Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross. The service operates from very early until very late, seven days a week.

Team Heathrow colleagues can purchase the following tickets on the Carousel Buses App:

• £20 - Team Heathrow 10 Trip (£25 from 1 January 2025)
  
• £50 - Team Heathrow 1 Month
• £500 - Team Heathrow Annual

(also valid for use on routes 101 and 104)

The first Green Line 724 now arrives at Heathrow Central Bus Station at 03:55, and the last departs from Heathrow Central Bus Station at 00:25, every day of the week.

To improve access across the airport when the inter-terminal trains and tubes are not operating, the first and last 724 journeys also call at Terminal 5 (stop 8) on all days.

An improved Sunday morning service is also now running, with an additional arrival at Heathrow Central Bus Station at 05:55.

Team Heathrow can purchase ‘Heathrow Zone’ annual tickets between Bricket Wood and Heathrow on Arriva Bus App for £530. Team Heathrow can also sign up for Direct Debit of just £44.16 per month with no fixed period, so you can cancel your ticket at any time.

Single fares can be purchased on the Arriva website or from the driver using cash or contactless card. The £3 government fare cap applies on this route.

From 27 July, new bus route 725 will join route 724, offering a bus every 30 minutes between St Albans and Heathrow Central Bus Station. For 725 bus time  table please clik here.

See www.arrivabus.co.uk/business-travel/employer-travel-club and select Heathrow Airport from the list of ETC members.

• Morning Service: The first bus departs from Uxbridge at 03:30 AM, providing an early option for commuters heading to Heathrow.
• Evening Service: Additional trips have been added in the evening, with the last bus leaving Uxbridge at 00:00 PM, ensuring late-night connectivity.

See A10 bus timetable - Transport for London for times.

National Express introduced an earlier journey on the 707 from 28 April, calling at Hemel Hempstead Bridge Street at 03:10, arriving at Central Bus Station at 03:45 and Terminal 5 at 04:05. Other journeys depart Hemel Hempstead approximately every 2 hours until just after 19:00.

The last journey from Heathrow to Hemel Hempstead is on route 230, departing Terminal 5 at 23:45 and Central Bus Station at 00:05. 

As at 25 April, a one-way journey booked online is £9.10 with a Coachcard, or £13 return (for return journeys booked up to 3 months in advance). See Free Travel & Concessions for how to obtain a Coachcard.

The SL9 has been converted to electric buses. Travelling by bus is already a great way to do your bit to reduce congestion and improve air-quality around Heathrow. But the electric vehicles take things one step further. 

The SL9 provides fast journeys from Harrow, South Harrow, Northolt, Yeading and Hayes to Heathrow Central Bus Station, up to every 12 minutes. The N140 provides the link during the night, every 30 minutes. Fares are just £1.75 (Oyster Card or contactless payment only). 

Starting 23 July 2023, RailAir coaches will provide a regular service (up to every hour) between Watford and Heathrow.

Coaches on the new RA3 will pick-up in Watford at the following locations:

• Watford Junction, stop 2
• Watford Library, stop W
• Hempstead Road, Wentworth Close
• Hempstead Road, Grove Mill Lane

At Heathrow, coaches will pick-up and set down at Terminal 2 (stops 11-12) and Terminal 3 (stops 7-8).

A pack of 10 single tickets is available from the First Commuter Travel Club for just £57.50. Enter the unique code H3ATHROWCTC21 at www.firstbeeline.co.uk/ctc.

See www.railair.com for times.

2022 was an exciting year for rail travel to Heathrow, with the Elizabeth line improvements. However, the first trains still arrive at Heathrow too late for many colleagues on early shifts. That's why the A40 coach now operates.

For an introductory period, Team Heathrow colleagues can travel for free, but now you pay just £1 by presenting your Heathrow ID to the driver. The journey must start of finish at Heathrow. Local travel within Heathrow is also free for Team Heathrow.

Many bus services at Heathrow are provided by Transport for London (TfL). They charge a flat fare of £1.75 for any journey, but cash is not accepted. You will need an Oyster Card or contactless card/mobile device. TfL has a Hopper Fare, which is £1.75 for unlimited journeys made within one hour of touching in for the first time. There is a daily cap of £5.25, meaning you will never pay more (from 04:30 to 04:29 the next day), assuming you use the same Oyster Card or contactless account. The weekly cap is £24.70 (from Monday to Sunday).

Bus & Tram Pass season ticket

You can buy a Monthly or Annual Bus & Tram Pass and add it to your Oyster Card. 

• £94.90 for a Monthly Bus & Tram Pass - cheaper than four weekly caps.
• £988 for an Annual Bus & Tram Pass - 12 months travel for the price of ten and a half.

Where do I obtain an Oyster Card? 

You can get an Oyster Card online at www.tfl.gov.uk, at Oyster Ticket Stops in many newsagents in London or at all tube, London Overground and most Elizabeth line stations. You need to pay £7 for an Oyster card. You can then buy a Bus & Tram Pass season ticket from the same locations, or using the TfL Oyster and contactless app.  

The Elizabeth line is the stopping train between Paddington and Heathrow, running about every 15 minutes to T2/T3 and every 30 minutes to T4 and T5. Trains call at Action Main Line, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, Hanwell, Southall and Hayes & Harlington.

Travelcards with zone 6 are valid to Heathrow. For example, a Travelcard from Hanwell or Southall will require zones 4, 5 and 6, costing £37.10 for 7 days, £142.50 for a month and £1,484 for a year. You will need an Oyster Card (£7.00 extra), which you can get online at www.tfl.gov.uk, at Oyster Ticket Stops in many newsagents in London or at all tube, London Overground and most Elizabeth line stations. 

Do you travel by train from Twyford , Maidenhead or Taplow? See the Reading RailAir page in the West & North West section of this guide, for details of the early morning coaches before the trains to Heathrow commence. 

2022 was an exciting year for rail travel to Heathrow, with the Elizabeth line improvements. However, the first trains still arrive at Heathrow too late for many colleagues on early shifts. That's why the A40 coach now operates. 

For an introductory period, Team Heathrow colleagues can travel for free, but now you pay just £1 by presenting your Heathrow ID to the driver. The journey must start of finish at Heathrow. Local travel within Heathrow is also free for Team Heathrow.

Team Heathrow colleagues receive a very special welcome at the Heathrow Cycle Hub, including: 

• - Free bike servicing (worth up to £60)*
• - 10% discount on all shop purchases
• - 50% discount on the Winter Cycling Package*

Next to The Academy on Newall Road, TW6 2AP, 020 8990 9720 or email info@runwaycycling.com

Opening hours

• Monday to Friday: 08:00-18:00 (-20:00 Thursday)
• Saturday: 10:00-14:00, Sunday/holidays: Closed

_{*terms and conditions apply}

Folded bikes are carried free of charge without restriction on all train and tube services to Heathrow, plus Great Western Railway and South Western Railway services which operate nearby. Non-folded bikes can only be taken on trains and the Underground at Heathrow as follows:

Elizabeth line - Trains on Mondays to Fridays before 07:30, between 09:30 and 16:00, and after 19:00, plus any train from Paddington from start of service until 16:00, and any train to Paddington from 09:30 until end of service. Any time on weekends and public holidays.

Heathrow Express - Trains leaving Heathrow on Mondays to Fridays before 06:30 and after 10:00, leaving Paddington on Mondays to Fridays before 16:30 and after 19:00, any time on weekends and public holidays.

Piccadilly line - Between Barons Court, Hounslow West and Uxbridge on Mondays to Fridays before 07:30, between 09:30 and 16:00, and after 19:00, any time on weekends and public holidays. 

The Government approved Cycle to Work Scheme is a salary sacrifice scheme, which enables UK PAYE taxpayers to save between 32% - 47%* on the cost of purchasing a bike and accessories. 

You will pay nothing up front and the payments are taken every month for at least 12 months, without paying any tax.

Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) uses Green Commute Initiative (GCI) - www.greencommuteinitiative.uk

Other employers may have alternative providers. 

GCI hires the bike directly to the employees for six years, with no end of scheme fees. This avoids any tax liabilities, as six years is the point when HMRC considers the Fair Market Value of a hire bike to be zero. At the end of the six-year period, GCI transfer ownership to the employee for a £1 processing fee. However, in practice, the bike is the employee's from day one.

Please note, the Government's guidance stipulates that only cycles for active travel and cyclist's safety equipment can be hired under the Cycle to Work Scheme. At least 50% of the cycle’s use must be for commuting.

_{*actual amount depends on the taxpayer's rate of tax}

Runway Cycling, the company that manages the Heathrow Cycle Hub, hires out bikes by the hour, by the day and also overnight. A helmet and lock is provided as part of the hire. For more details, call 020 8990 9720, email info@runwaycycling.com or visit their website. 

Mobilityways is the UK's leading car sharing platform, and hosts the car share scheme at Heathrow. The simple yet effective system matches together commuters who make similar journeys, or travel in the same direction, each day. The result? Organised travel, shared transport costs, reduced Carbon output and reduced congestion on our roads and in our increasingly busy car parks. Register for free by clicking below.

It’s very important that you validate on the way to work (as well as displaying a car share permit in your windscreen), if you wish to use the dedicated car share spaces in car parks and be entered into our prize draw every month for high street vouchers (1 x £50 and 2 x £25). 

If you’ve found a car share partner, you can stop requests for new matches by selecting “Hide” in your account settings.