Calling those who know London!!

[TripPlanning]

I have to travel from near Waterloo to Heathrow Terminal 3.
What's the quickest and easiest way, please?

(I have googled but I get so many different suggestions my head is 🤯)

https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/by-rail-or-train

this gives the details of the various options

heathrow express quickest of running and you can get cheap fares in advance

Londoner logic:

• Heathrow Express is a rip off, avoid
• Lizzie line has lifts and is better for luggage
• Picadilly line is cheapest, and fine with minimal luggage and if you don’t mind it taking a bit longer
• if in doubt, ask Citymapper

Just bear in mind the terminal each train goes to and which you need - not a problem changing terminal but factor into timing

Waterloo to Bond Street
then Bond Street get the Heathrow Elizabeth line train
by far the fastest

Elizabeth line is great. Reliable and spacious

Thanks so much! I'm in awe of the effortless knowledge Londoners have.
I gather the Elizabeth Line doesn't always go to Heathrow so I need to make sure I get on the correct one
Someone mentioned a taxi - that would be great but the two I got an online quote for were very pricey...about £80.

Nothing to add, just want to applaud @Nesbi for saying Elizabeth Line line 👏😄

I love London. Lived there for most of my professional life. I will say, OP, if you’re not used to it, the routes to LHR are the ones with the highest rate of pickpockets. Stands to reason, stressed and distracted travellers with luggage and possibly cash.

I suspect the Elizabeth line (still can’t bring myself to abbreviate it!) is better than Heathrow express with the Piccadilly line being worst. Please just keep your wits about you. It’s a great city and I’d hate for you to have additional stress on your journey.

I use the Lizzie line a lot. All Heathrow trains go to terminals 2 and 3. So if it’s going to T4 or T5, it stops at T2 and 3 first.

Now you have even more options and opinions 😂 I’d take the tube (Northern line) to Tottenham Court Road and Elizabeth Line from there to Heathrow.

I agree with this and you've definitely got the best option already, but if you're bored, seeing as you're at Waterloo you can:

Get a train to Feltham
Bus to Hatton Cross
Tube to T3

I would only do this route with a taxi in the wee small hours OP, and certainly not on a Friday afternoon!
Whichever of PP's public transport options you choose will be significantly quicker and cheaper.

Thank you so much! I will adopt a defensivel stance and glare menacingly to deflect thieves!
But seriously - that's a helpful piece of advice.

Phew! Thanks!

Elizabeth Line is also one of those long continuous trains, no carriages, so it's less claustrophobic than the Tube. And from a safety point of view less chance of being vulnerable to any anti-social behaviour.