Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 at Heathrow is a short train ride, not a walk. Terminals 2 and 3 are a walk apart, while Terminals 4 and 5 sit on their own and need a train or coach to reach the others. Most transfers are free, and the time you need depends on whether you are on one ticket or two, whether your bags are checked through, and whether you are moving landside or airside.
This guide is for anyone changing terminals at Heathrow, including passengers on connecting flights, people who arrive at the wrong terminal and anyone moving between a hotel and the airport. It sets out the best route between each pair of terminals, explains the free options, and tells you how much time to allow. If you would rather have a driver for heavy bags, our Heathrow airport transfer page explains how a pre-booked car can move you between terminals or to a hotel.
We had never connected at Heathrow, and the signs were confusing. Knowing the free train from the start made it a lot less stressful.
Quick answer: the best way between each pair of terminals
|
From and to |
Best option |
Time |
Cost |
|
T2 and T3 |
Walk |
10 to 15 min |
Free |
|
T2 or T3 and T4 |
Elizabeth Line |
About 5 min (25 to 40 min door to door) |
Free within the airport |
|
T2 or T3 and T5 |
Heathrow Express or Elizabeth Line |
6 to 7 min (25 to 40 min door to door) |
Free within the airport |
|
T4 and T5 |
Elizabeth Line via Heathrow Central, or Piccadilly line via Hatton Cross |
12 to 15 min (30 to 50 min door to door) |
Check the current rules |
Heathrow now operates four terminals, 2, 3, 4 and 5, because Terminal 1 has closed. If an older guide or ticket mentions Terminal 1, ignore it.
Door-to-door times are longer than ride times
The ride itself is short, but you also have to find the station, wait for a train and walk from the platform to the departures hall. That is why the table shows two numbers. When you plan a connection, use the door-to-door figure, not the ride time.
Walking between terminals
Terminals 2 and 3 are joined by a walkway of about 800 metres, which takes 10 to 15 minutes with travelators. You cannot walk from Terminal 4 or Terminal 5 to any other terminal. If you are searching for whether you can walk from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3, the answer is no. Use the train or coach.
Walking with luggage
The walkway between Terminals 2 and 3 is flat and covered, with lifts and travelators, so it works well with trolleys. It is a long walk with children or limited mobility, so ask staff about assistance if you need it.
Free landside trains
The Elizabeth Line and the Heathrow Express link the terminals, and Heathrow lists free travel between its terminals on these services. The Elizabeth Line serves Terminals 2 and 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 directly, with Terminals 2 and 3 the most frequent and Terminal 5 about two trains an hour. The Heathrow Express serves Terminals 2 and 3 and Terminal 5 but does not stop at Terminal 4, so use the Elizabeth Line for that. Check the front of the train and the platform board.
The Piccadilly line
The Piccadilly line also links the terminals, with Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 on separate branches that meet at Hatton Cross. It can be useful between Terminals 4 and 5, but check the current fare rules for travel between terminals, and expect busier, older trains with less space for luggage.
Reading the signs
Follow the signs for Trains and Underground in each terminal, and use the destination on the platform board to pick the right service. Conflicting sources mention shuttle hours and ticket rules, so confirm the details on the day if you rely on a free ticket.
The free Flight Connections coach
The Flight Connections coach runs airside between terminals about every 6 to 10 minutes, following purple signs. It is for passengers on a single ticket with through-checked bags, so you do not leave the secure area. A transfer from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 takes about 20 to 25 minutes in total.
Who should use it
Use it if you are on a connecting itinerary with a single booking and you do not need to collect your bags. You stay airside and go through connection security. If you are on separate tickets, or you need to check in again, use the landside trains instead.
Terminal by terminal
Terminal 2 to Terminal 5
Take the Heathrow Express or Elizabeth Line from Heathrow Central. The ride is 6 to 7 minutes. Allow 25 to 40 minutes door to door.
Terminal 3 to Terminal 5
The route is the same as from Terminal 2, with a short walk to the station. Terminal 3 to Terminal 5 takes about the same time.
Terminal 2 to Terminal 4
Take the Elizabeth Line, about 5 minutes. Allow 25 to 40 minutes door to door.
Terminal 3 to Terminal 4
The route is the same, from Heathrow Central. Terminal 3 to Terminal 4 takes about 5 minutes on the train.
Terminal 4 to Terminal 5
Use the Elizabeth Line with a change at Heathrow Central, or the Piccadilly line via Hatton Cross. Allow 30 to 50 minutes. If you are asking how to get from Terminal 5 to Terminal 4, the route is the same in reverse.
Tight connections: how much time you really need
On a single ticket in the same terminal, allow at least 1 hour. Between terminals on a single ticket, allow at least 1 hour 30 minutes. On separate tickets, allow 3 to 4 hours, and British Airways recommends at least 4. Walks inside terminals can add up to 20 minutes. Peak hours add queues at security, and arrivals from outside the Common Travel Area need time for immigration. If you need help, ask for airport assistance in advance.
A worked example
Suppose you land at Terminal 5 at 10:00 and your next flight leaves Terminal 3 at 13:30, on separate tickets. You leave the aircraft and clear immigration by about 11:00, collect your bags by 11:30, and reach the station by 11:45. The train takes about 7 minutes, and the walk to check-in about 15 minutes more, so you arrive at Terminal 3 by about 12:15. That leaves just over an hour before departure, which is tight. Allow more, or book a later flight.
Why separate tickets are risky
If your first flight is late and you are on separate tickets, the second airline has no duty to wait for you or rebook you. Build a generous buffer, and consider travel insurance.
Separate tickets or a missed connection
On separate tickets you must clear immigration, collect your bags, move landside and check in again. Use the landside trains between terminals. If you miss a flight, speak to the airline desk first, as your ticket may not cover the cost, and ask what rebooking options are available.
Accessibility, children and heavy bags
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Lifts and ramps: terminal stations and trains have step-free access, but allow extra time at busy hours.
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Assistance: ask your airline for help in advance, because a trained member of staff can guide you between terminals.
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Buggies and trolleys: terminals provide trolleys, but you cannot always take them onto trains. A car avoids this.
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Peak times: early mornings and late afternoons are the busiest, so allow longer.
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Signs: follow the colour-coded signs for trains, coaches and your terminal.
Taxi or private car between terminals, and to a hotel
A car makes sense for heavy bags, groups, reduced mobility or a tight timetable. A driver can collect you from one terminal and take you to the correct door at another, and a car can run at any time, even when the trains have stopped. If you need a nearby hotel, see our guide to a Heathrow hotel transfer.
Moving on from Heathrow
If you are travelling on from Heathrow, read our guide on how to use a train to Heathrow in reverse, or Heathrow to Gatwick if you are changing airports.
FAQs
Can you walk between Heathrow terminals?
Only between Terminals 2 and 3. Terminals 4 and 5 need a train or coach.
Is the transfer free?
Yes, on the landside Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express between terminals, and on the airside coach. Check the current rules for other services.
How long does it take?
About 5 to 25 minutes for the ride, depending on the pair, plus time to reach the station.
Which terminals does the Elizabeth Line serve?
Terminals 2 and 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. Terminal 5 has about two trains an hour.
What is the Flight Connections coach?
A free airside coach for single-ticket passengers with through-checked bags.
How long do I need for a connection?
About 1 hour 30 minutes between terminals on a single ticket, and 3 to 4 hours on separate tickets.
Can I use a taxi?
Yes. A pre-booked car is useful for heavy bags and groups.
What if I miss my flight?
Speak to the airline desk straight away.
Are there step-free routes?
Yes. Ask for assistance in advance.
Planning Your Heathrow Terminal Transfer
Terminals 2 and 3 are a walk apart, and everything else needs a short ride. The Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express are the simplest landside options, the Flight Connections coach is for single-ticket passengers staying airside, and a generous buffer is the best protection on separate tickets. Transpovia can arrange a car between terminals or to a nearby hotel, with a driver who tracks your flight.
