Watch us race to London Heathrow by cab, the Heathrow Express and new Elizabeth Line
London Heathrow (LHR) is the U.K.'s busiest airport, and many of us will pass through its four terminals at one time or another.
There are many different ways of reaching Heathrow from central London, so with the brand-new Elizabeth Line opening, we decided to put three different methods of getting from Oxford Circus to Heathrow's Terminal 2 to the test.
Ben Smithson took a classic London black cab, Liam Spencer took the Heathrow Express and Nicky Kelvin took the Elizabeth Line on its very first day of public operation.
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
You can watch the whole experience and find out who won right here on YouTube:
Nicky Kelvin – Elizabeth Line
Cost: $14.42 (£11.50)
It was incredibly exciting to be on the Elizabeth Line within hours of its opening. The experience on board the train was brilliant with brand-new carriages and a conveniently located and impressive station on Tottenham Court Road. The other huge benefit was the cost: At $14.42, this was far cheaper than the other methods of transportation.
Where this option falls short is when it comes to time and convenience. The train takes a little longer as it makes various stops and, for the time being, you have to change trains at Paddington in order to reach Heathrow. The Elizabeth line will come into its own in the coming months when direct trains from Central London to Heathrow are set to begin.
Related: Elizabeth Line set to open in London, giving travelers more transit options to and from the airport
Liam Spencer – Heathrow Express
Cost: $31.34 (£25)
The convenience and comfort of the Heathrow Express service cannot be overstated. In terms of speed, there isn't a faster option than the 15 minutes it takes to get from Paddington Station to Terminals 2 and 3. As was the case on this occasion, there are almost always plenty of seats available, complete with charging ports and tray tables. The whole experience felt very relaxed and ensured I arrived at the airport without any stress.
On the downside, a $31.34 (£25) one-way fare is certainly not cheap. Booking farther in advance can land you a better price, but this isn't always an option for last-minute travel. It's also a shame that the service only operates from Paddington; another departure point would help to serve more of London.
Benjamin Smithson – Black Cab
Cost: $92.78 (£74)
It was a luxurious experience taking an iconic London black cab to Heathrow airport. With six passenger seats in my particular cab, there was plenty of room to spread out with my luggage, and my cheery cab driver was up for a chat as we headed to the airport. I was shocked by how quickly we reached Terminal 2 — there was no traffic and the entire journey took less than 40 minutes.
However, this convenience and comfort came at a cost. At $92.78 (£74), it's a pricey journey, though if there were six of us it would have made more sense financially.
It also took a good five minutes to hail a cab down even at busy Oxford Circus. Ride-hailing apps are cheaper and will arrive more quickly, so next time I think I would save $25.07 (£20) or so and take an Uber or Bolt instead.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.