A pre-booked taxi is the fastest way from Heathrow to Egham, taking roughly 15 to 20 minutes for around £20 to £35, since there's no direct train and the direct bus takes well over an hour. Egham, home to Royal Holloway, University of London, sits about 7 miles south-west of the airport, just off the M25, but the rail network doesn't connect the two directly, which makes road transport the practical default for this short hop. Checked 2026.
Heathrow to Egham: options compared
| Option | Duration | Indicative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked taxi / private hire | Around 15-20 min | Roughly £20-£35, fare agreed at booking | Fastest and most direct, no changes |
| Bus (route 8 from Terminal 5) | Around 60-90 min | A few pounds | Direct, but one of the slower options on this route |
| Train + walk/bus | Over 1 hour including the trip into London and back out | Train fare plus local leg | Egham is on a separate line from Heathrow; no direct rail link |
Why there's no quick train option
Heathrow's own rail connections, the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express, run into central London. Egham station sits on a completely different route, the South Western line out of London Waterloo via Staines, so getting from one to the other by rail means travelling into London and back out again, which can easily take well over an hour once you add the change. For a journey this short geographically, that detour rarely makes sense unless you're already planning to pass through London anyway.
Taxi from Heathrow to Egham
A pre-booked taxi or private hire car is the straightforward choice for this route: around 7 miles mostly along the M25, typically 15 to 20 minutes outside peak traffic. Because it's a fixed, short-distance transfer, get a quote from the operator at booking rather than expecting a metered fare, and confirm it includes the Heathrow drop-off or pickup element. If you're being collected rather than picking up a ride yourself, see our drop-off charge guide for how that £7 fee works if a friend or family member is meeting you instead of booking a transfer.
Flight tracking, offered by most operators on short local routes like this one, means a delayed landing adjusts your pickup time automatically rather than leaving a driver waiting or you stranded.
Bus from Heathrow to Egham
Transport for London's route 8 runs from Terminal 5's bus stops to Egham and on to Royal Holloway's campus. It's the cheapest option by a wide margin, a few pounds compared with a £20-plus taxi fare, but it's also the slowest, commonly 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic and time of day. It's a reasonable choice if you're not in a hurry and travelling light, but it's not realistic for a tight connection to a flight or a university open day with a fixed arrival time. Check current timetables and fares directly with Transport for London before you travel, since bus schedules are revised periodically.
Train from Heathrow to Egham
There's no direct rail link, as covered above. If you do want to use the train, the usual approach is an Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express journey into central London, then a change onto a South Western service from Waterloo to Egham, a total trip that's rarely quicker than the bus once you add waiting and walking time between stations. For most travellers heading specifically to Egham or Royal Holloway, this isn't the practical choice; see our public transport guide for fares and times on the Heathrow-to-London legs if you need them for a different part of your journey.
Which should you choose?
- Choose a pre-booked taxi if you want the fastest, most predictable door-to-door journey, especially with luggage, after a flight, or on a fixed schedule such as a university visit.
- Choose the bus if cost matters more than time and you have a couple of hours to spare.
- Avoid the train for this specific route unless you're combining it with a trip into London anyway, since the lack of a direct line makes it the slowest option here.
Returning from Egham to Heathrow
The same logic applies in reverse: a pre-booked taxi is the quickest way back, typically the same 15 to 20 minutes, and worth booking in advance if you have a flight to catch, since flight-tracking protects you against a delay. The bus runs in both directions from Royal Holloway and Egham town centre back to Terminal 5. See our taxis guide for how pre-booked fares compare with Heathrow's official ranks generally, and the routes overview for more Heathrow transfers to towns around the M25.
FAQs
How far is Egham from Heathrow Airport? About 7 miles by road. A taxi covers it in roughly 15 to 20 minutes outside peak traffic, by far the fastest of the three options here.
Is there a direct train from Heathrow to Egham? No. Egham station is on the South Western line from London Waterloo, a different network from Heathrow's own rail links, so reaching it by train means travelling into London and back out.
Is there a direct bus from Heathrow to Egham? Yes, route 8 runs from Terminal 5 to Egham and Royal Holloway, but it takes around 60 to 90 minutes, making it the slowest option despite being direct.
How much does a taxi from Heathrow to Egham cost? Quoted fares commonly fall around £20 to £35 for a pre-booked car, but get a fixed quote at booking since prices and operators vary.
What's the fastest way to get from Heathrow to Royal Holloway, University of London? A pre-booked taxi, at around 15 minutes door to door, well ahead of the bus-and-walk alternative.
Which Heathrow terminal is closest for a taxi to Egham? Terminal 5 is marginally closest to the M25 route used, but the time difference between terminals is generally only a few minutes.