The first train out of Heathrow towards central London is the Piccadilly line, from about 05:02 at Terminal 4 (05:12 at T2&3, 05:22 at T5). The last scheduled train most nights is the Piccadilly line too, running until around 23:35 to 23:45 depending on terminal, or all night on Friday and Saturday when the Night Tube operates. These times are official Heathrow and TfL schedules and can shift slightly by day of the week, so always check live departures before travelling very early or very late. Checked 2026.
Piccadilly line (the Tube): first and last trains
The Piccadilly line is the only Heathrow rail service that runs through the night on Fridays and Saturdays, and it's also the cheapest option, from about £5.60 to £5.90 off-peak to Zone 1.
To central London
| Terminal | First train | Last train |
|---|---|---|
| Terminals 2 & 3 | 05:12 | 23:45 (23:28 Sundays) |
| Terminal 4 | 05:02 (05:06 Saturdays, 05:47 Sundays) | 23:35 (23:37 Fridays, 23:38 Saturdays, 22:37 Sundays) |
| Terminal 5 | 05:22 | 23:42 (23:25 Sundays) |
From central London (times shown from Green Park)
| Terminal | First train | Last train |
|---|---|---|
| Terminals 2 & 3 | 05:48 | 00:33 (23:40 Sundays) |
| Terminal 4 | 05:54 (05:45 Saturdays, 07:00 Sundays) | 23:18 (23:12 Fri/Sat, 22:42 Sundays) |
| Terminal 5 | 05:48 | 00:23 (23:27 Sundays) |
On Friday and Saturday nights, the Night Tube runs about six times an hour between Heathrow and London all night. It does not serve Terminal 4, so T4 passengers travelling very late or early on a weekend need to use T2&3 or T5 instead, or the N9 night bus. These times are Heathrow's own published schedule and are stated as subject to change, so confirm on the TfL website before a very early or late journey.
Elizabeth line: first and last trains
The Elizabeth line is faster than the Piccadilly line but doesn't run as early or as late, and it costs more (Heathrow's own published fares start from £13.90 for a Zone 1 journey, though online fare checkers sometimes show closer to £15.50 depending on time of booking).
To central London
| Terminal | First train (weekdays) | Last train (weekdays) |
|---|---|---|
| Terminals 2 & 3 | 05:21 (05:54 Sundays) | 00:12 |
| Terminal 4 | 05:30 (06:03 Sundays) | 23:47 |
| Terminal 5 | 05:15 (05:49 Sundays) | 00:07 |
From central London (departure times from Paddington)
| Terminal | First train (weekdays) | Last train (weekdays) |
|---|---|---|
| Terminals 2 & 3 | 04:36 (05:12 Sundays) | 23:24 (23:03 Sundays) |
| Terminal 4 | 04:40 (05:27 Sundays) | 23:24 (23:03 Sundays) |
| Terminal 5 | 04:36 (05:12 Sundays) | 23:09 (22:48 Sundays) |
These are Heathrow's officially published first and last trains for each terminal; different times can apply at Christmas and New Year, and Heathrow itself advises confirming via TfL before travelling.
Heathrow Express: first and last trains
Heathrow Express trains run every 15 minutes between Heathrow and London Paddington, reaching Paddington in 15 minutes from Terminals 2&3 and 21 minutes from Terminal 5. Based on the operator's own published timetable, the first train of the day leaves Terminal 5 at around 05:12, with Terminals 2&3 departures starting a few minutes later, and the last train leaves Terminal 5 at around 23:57, with the final Terminals 2&3 departure just after midnight, arriving into Paddington a few minutes after that. Exact minute-by-minute times can vary slightly by day of the week, so check heathrowexpress.com before booking a very early or very late journey.
A standard walk-up single is £26, dropping to from £10 if you book at least 30 days ahead; a same-day return is £30 and a standard return is £42. Children aged 15 and under travel free in Standard Class with a paying adult.
What if I miss the last train?
Once the last Piccadilly line, Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express services have gone, your remaining options are the N9 night bus, which runs roughly every 30 minutes overnight from Terminal 5 and the Heathrow Central Bus Station into London, or a taxi. A metered black cab or a pre-booked minicab is the more comfortable choice in the small hours, though be aware that ride-hailing driver supply is thinnest from around midnight to 10am, so an app-based car isn't guaranteed to arrive quickly. See our guide to getting into London late at night for the full comparison, and our taxis page for booking a car in advance.
At a glance: first and last services from Heathrow
| Service | Roughly first | Roughly last | Runs all night Fri/Sat? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piccadilly line (Tube) | ~05:00-05:20 | ~23:35-23:45 | Yes (not T4) |
| Elizabeth line | ~05:15-05:30 | ~00:07-00:12 | No |
| Heathrow Express | ~05:12-05:17 | ~23:57-00:03 | No |
| N9 night bus | Overnight, every ~30 min | Overnight, every ~30 min | Runs overnight every night |
Frequently asked questions
What time is the first train from Heathrow Airport?
The Piccadilly line is first away, from about 05:02 at Terminal 4, 05:12 at Terminals 2&3 and 05:22 at Terminal 5. The Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express both start a little later, from around 05:12 to 05:30 depending on terminal and service.
What time is the last train from Heathrow Airport?
On most nights, the last scheduled trains leave between about 23:35 and 00:12 depending on the service and terminal. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Piccadilly line's Night Tube runs all night at every terminal except Terminal 4.
Is there a night Tube to Heathrow?
Yes. The Piccadilly line runs through the night on Fridays and Saturdays, about six times an hour, serving every terminal except Terminal 4.
Does the Elizabeth line run all night?
No. The Elizabeth line's last train leaves Heathrow around 23:47 to 00:12 depending on terminal, and it does not run through the night even on weekends.
What if I need to travel after the last train has gone?
The N9 night bus runs roughly every 30 minutes overnight from Terminal 5 and the Central Bus Station, or you can take a taxi. A pre-booked minicab is more dependable than an on-demand ride-hailing app in the small hours, when driver supply is thin.
Do first and last train times change on Sundays?
Yes, on all three services. Sunday first trains generally start later and last trains generally finish earlier than on weekdays, so check the exact time for your day of travel rather than assuming a weekday schedule applies.
Checked 2026.