If you’re connecting flights at Heathrow and can’t use the airside connections facility, or simply want to access a different terminal, follow this guide to see how to do it.
Heathrow has four different passenger terminals (2, 3, 4 and 5), and they are positioned on different sides of the airport, meaning that transferring between them often requires use of train or Tube. Transferring is easy, but the best method depends which terminals you want to move between.
Terminal 2 to Terminal 3
Getting between terminals 2 and 3 is easy, as you can walk between in five minutes them using the underground walkways.
Signs should direct you to where you need to go, but if you don’t immediately see signs for the terminal you want, you can initially follow signs to Trains or Underground, as the stations are located between the two terminals. Once in the underground walkway to the stations, you’ll see signs for the terminal you need.
The underground passageways have moving walkways (travelators) to speed the journey, and you can take luggage trolleys with you on the walk between the two terminals
All Other Terminal Transfers
All other transfers between terminals require you to use a train or Tube to get between them:
- Terminals 2&3 <-> Terminal 4
- Terminals 2&3 <-> Terminal 5
- Terminal 4 <-> Terminal 5
The best choice is to use a train (Heathrow Express or Elizabeth Line). To do this, follow the blue signs to ‘Trains’.
It’s free to use any of the trains to transfer between terminals, but you need to get a free transfer ticket in order to open the barriers. Look for the blue machines that print these tickets (see images below) – they are next to the other ticket machines, but only issue the transfer tickets. At Terminals 2 & 3 and Terminal 4, the machines can be found in the stations themselves, but at Terminal 5 all the ticket machines are on the arrivals floor, before the lifts to take you down to the station.
Simply select how many free tickets you want, and press the big green ‘Print’ button.
Once you’ve got your tickets, make your way to the ticket barriers, and place your ticket into the slot. The barrier will return your ticket – take it, and the gates will open. Keep hold of your ticket, as you’ll need it to exit at your destination.
Due to the layout of the tracks, trains run directly between:
- Terminals 2 & 3 <-> Terminal 4
- Terminals 2 & 3 <-> Terminal 5
You can’t get a direct train between Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. Instead, first take a train to Terminals 2 & 3, then walk across to the opposite platform to connect to another train.
Screens and announcements will show you which trains are leaving from which platforms.
At Terminal 4 and Terminal 5, all trains run to Terminals 2 & 3, so you just need to find out which train is leaving first. The trains will have a destination of central London, but simply get off at the first stop, which will be Terminals 2 & 3.
At Terminals 2 & 3, all trains to other terminals leave from platform 1. Don’t take a train into central London from platform 2!
You can take any train (Elizabeth Line or Heathrow Express) that calls at the terminal you want.
There are lots of staff at the stations and platforms, so ask someone if you aren’t sure which train to get.
Once you arrive at the terminal you need, place your ticket into the gate to leave the station, and take the lifts to the surface.