Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3

Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 station is the main Underground hub at Heathrow Airport, serving the largest passenger volumes of any station at the airport complex. Terminal 2 -the Queen's Terminal, rebuilt and opened in 2014 -is home to Star Alliance airlines including Lufthansa, Air Canada, United, Singapore Airlines and many others. Terminal 3 handles long-haul carriers including American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates and Qantas. Between them, these two terminals serve the majority of Heathrow's non-BA international traffic.

The station serves both the Piccadilly and Elizabeth lines and is the logical starting point for most passengers arriving at Heathrow from these terminals. With the Elizabeth line providing fast, direct connections to Paddington, Bond Street and Liverpool Street, and the Piccadilly line offering a slower but more affordable alternative to a broader set of central London destinations, passengers have genuinely useful options for their onward journey into the city.

Station Overview

Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 station sits in Zone 6 and is served by the Piccadilly and Elizabeth lines. The station is positioned between the two terminal buildings with covered walkways connecting directly to each terminal. The Elizabeth line platforms are located deeper within the station complex, added as part of the Crossrail project and opened in 2022. Full step-free access is available throughout.

Elizabeth Line Connections

The Elizabeth line from Terminals 2 & 3 runs every 10 minutes and reaches Paddington in approximately 35 minutes, Bond Street in 40 minutes, Tottenham Court Road in 44 minutes and Liverpool Street in 50 minutes. The service runs from approximately 05:30 to midnight. Fares are standard TfL Oyster/contactless pricing -significantly cheaper than the Heathrow Express and only 5 minutes slower.

Piccadilly Line Connections

The Piccadilly line runs every 5-9 minutes and reaches Green Park in approximately 45 minutes, King's Cross in 55 minutes, and Leicester Square in 50 minutes. The Piccadilly line serves different central London stations to the Elizabeth line -Knightsbridge, South Kensington, Earls Court and Covent Garden (adjacent stations) are among those only on the Piccadilly line from Heathrow.

Inter-Terminal Connections

Terminal 4 is served by a separate Piccadilly line branch -one stop south of the Terminal 2 & 3 loop. The journey requires boarding a southbound Piccadilly train to Terminal 4 (not all trains serve Terminal 4 -check the destination board). Terminal 5 (British Airways) is served by both the Piccadilly line (via the Terminal 5 loop, about 7-8 minutes) and the Elizabeth line (7 minutes eastward, through Terminals 2 & 3). Free bus transfers between all terminals also operate from the ground floor of each terminal.

Facilities

Both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 have extensive airport facilities including ATMs, currency exchange, left luggage, retail, cafes and restaurants. The retail in both terminals pre-security is comprehensive; post-security retail is even better in Terminal 3 (which has been renovated more recently). Free TfL Wi-Fi operates in the station. Assistance is available for disabled passengers from both terminal operators and TfL.

Accessibility

Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 station has full step-free access on both the Piccadilly and Elizabeth lines. Lifts serve all platform levels. Both terminals are accessible with assistance services available from airport staff and airlines.

Travel Tips

• For most central London destinations, the Elizabeth line is faster than the Piccadilly line and costs the same on Oyster/contactless. Reserve the Piccadilly line for destinations it serves exclusively -Knightsbridge, South Kensington, Covent Garden.
• If your airline is in Terminal 4 (check before travelling), you need to take the Piccadilly line one stop south to Terminal 4 station -not all Piccadilly trains stop there, so check the destination board.
• Contactless bank card payment is accepted throughout the TfL network and is often faster than queuing to top up an Oyster card on arrival. Any contactless Mastercard or Visa card will work.
• Left luggage facilities at Terminals 2 and 3 allow you to store bags after arrival -useful if you are arriving before hotel check-in time.
• The Piccadilly line Night Tube (Friday and Saturday nights) means there is 24-hour service from Heathrow on those nights -useful for very early morning or very late night flights on those days.

Nearby Attractions

Terminal 2 (Queen's Terminal) -Directly connected. Star Alliance airlines. Good pre-security retail and a selection of post-security restaurants and lounges.

Terminal 3 -Directly connected. American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and others. Post-security retail is extensive and recently refurbished.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

The Elizabeth line from Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 operates approximately 05:30 to midnight Monday to Saturday and 07:00 to 23:30 on Sunday. The Piccadilly line operates similar hours with Night Tube on Friday and Saturday nights. The airport itself operates 24 hours; early morning flights (before 06:00) may require alternative transport or the Heathrow Express night service from Paddington. Check specific times on the TfL Journey Planner for late-night or early-morning journeys.