There will be no Piccadilly line service to Heathrow Airport throughout the weekend of 17–18 October 2026, with Transport for London closing the line between Hammersmith and Heathrow, as well as the Uxbridge branch, from 01:00 on Saturday. The closure includes the relevant Friday and Saturday Night Tube periods, meaning passengers cannot rely on the usual overnight Piccadilly line connection to Heathrow. TfL is directing airport passengers towards the Elizabeth line and is operating replacement buses across west London.
For most passengers travelling from central London, the simplest alternatives are the Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express. Replacement buses are more useful for people starting their journeys along the closed Piccadilly line corridor between Hammersmith, Acton, Hounslow and Heathrow. The Heathrow closure forms part of a wider weekend of London engineering work. LCM's London Tube and Train Closures guide for 17–18 October covers the other Underground, Overground and National Rail changes.
Piccadilly line platforms at Holborn Underground station, photographed on April 2026. Image: London Construction Magazine.
Best alternatives to the Piccadilly line for Heathrow
| Option | Typical Heathrow journey | Current published fare | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth line | About 28 minutes Paddington–Heathrow | From £13.90 between Zone 1 and Heathrow | Most central London passengers |
| Heathrow Express | 15 minutes Paddington–Terminals 2 & 3 | £26 standard single; advance fares from £10 | Fastest Paddington connection |
| TfL replacement buses | Varies considerably by starting point and traffic | TfL replacement service | West London and closed Piccadilly stations |
Published fares and journey times can change, so passengers should check the relevant operator before travelling.
Elizabeth line: the main alternative from central London
TfL specifically directs Heathrow passengers towards the Elizabeth line during the Piccadilly closure. Under the normal timetable, six Elizabeth line trains an hour serve Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3, with services continuing to Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. The line provides direct journeys from several major central and east London stations including Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. TfL gives a journey time of approximately 28 minutes between Paddington and Heathrow.
Passengers can use Oyster or contactless payment. Heathrow currently lists the Zone 1 fare to or from the airport from £13.90, making the Elizabeth line more expensive than the normal Underground journey but substantially cheaper than a standard walk-up Heathrow Express ticket. There is an additional west London change to watch on Sunday 18 October: TfL's station works programme says Elizabeth line trains will not stop at Acton Main Line, Hanwell or West Ealing. That does not close the Heathrow rail stations, but passengers starting from those three locations will need an alternative route to another open station.
Heathrow Express: fastest from Paddington
Heathrow Express remains the fastest scheduled rail option from Paddington. The non-stop journey to Heathrow Central, serving Terminals 2 and 3, takes about 15 minutes. Terminal 5 is reached several minutes later. Terminal 4 passengers using Heathrow Express need to leave the train at Heathrow Central and transfer to a connecting airport rail service. The inter-terminal transfer is free.
The current standard-class single fare is £26 when using pay-as-you-go, including Oyster or contactless. Heathrow Express also sells advance singles from £10 when booked sufficiently early. Passengers travelling specifically because of the Piccadilly closure should therefore compare the price available for their journey rather than assuming the Express will always cost the headline advance fare.
Which replacement buses run to Heathrow?
TfL has published four replacement bus routes covering different parts of the closed Piccadilly line.
PL1 runs during the day and night between Hammersmith and Osterley via Turnham Green, Acton Town, Ealing Common, Ealing Broadway, South Ealing, Northfields and Boston Manor.
PL3 is a daytime service running from Hammersmith to Heathrow Terminal 2 Bus Station for Heathrow Central, Terminals 2 and 3 and onward connections to Terminals 4 and 5.
PL4 serves the Uxbridge side of the closure, linking Gunnersbury with Rayners Lane through Acton Town, Ealing Common, North Ealing, Alperton, Sudbury Town, Sudbury Hill and South Harrow.
PL7 runs during the day and night between Hammersmith and Heathrow Central via Osterley, Hounslow East, Hounslow Central, Hounslow West and Hatton Cross. TfL says overnight PL7 journeys also serve Heathrow Terminal 5.
For someone starting in central London, travelling out to Hammersmith and then spending the rest of the journey on a replacement bus is unlikely to be as straightforward as taking the Elizabeth line. The buses are primarily useful for passengers who live, work or are staying near stations on the closed western Piccadilly corridor.
How to reach Heathrow Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5
Terminals 2 and 3: the Elizabeth line serves Heathrow Central directly. Heathrow Express also runs directly from Paddington to Heathrow Central. TfL replacement buses PL3 and PL7 terminate at the Terminal 2 Bus Station for Terminals 2 and 3.
Terminal 4: use a direct Elizabeth line service where available. Heathrow Express passengers change at Heathrow Central for the free connection to Terminal 4. Replacement-bus passengers arriving at Heathrow Central can use airport inter-terminal connections.
Terminal 5: both the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express normally serve Terminal 5 directly. TfL's PL7 replacement bus also serves Terminal 5 on overnight journeys. During the day, PL3 and PL7 passengers can travel to Heathrow Central and connect onwards.
Night Tube passengers need a different plan
The closure begins at 01:00 on Saturday 17 October and includes the Friday and Saturday Night Tube periods. There will therefore be no overnight Piccadilly line service from central London through to Heathrow. This matters particularly for early-morning flights. The Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express do not operate as 24-hour rail services, so passengers travelling before their first trains need to check TfL's overnight replacement buses, airport coaches or another road-based option. PL7 runs overnight between Hammersmith and Heathrow and also serves Terminal 5 on its overnight journeys.
Which option is best for passengers needing step-free travel?
The Elizabeth line is likely to be the simplest alternative for many passengers with mobility requirements. TfL confirms that all Heathrow Elizabeth line stations are step-free from train to street, while all Elizabeth line trains have wheelchair spaces, priority seating and audio and visual passenger information.
Heathrow Express is also wheelchair accessible, with level access at Paddington and Heathrow and dedicated wheelchair accommodation on board. Passengers who require assistance should check the live status of lifts and their exact interchange before leaving. Replacement buses may involve additional changes and longer surface journeys, particularly for Terminals 4 and 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Piccadilly line completely closed on 17–18 October?
No. The line continues running between Hammersmith and Cockfosters. There is no service west of Hammersmith towards Heathrow or Uxbridge.
No. The line continues running between Hammersmith and Cockfosters. There is no service west of Hammersmith towards Heathrow or Uxbridge.
Can I get the Elizabeth line to Heathrow instead?
Yes. TfL is specifically directing passengers towards the Elizabeth line between central London and Heathrow during the closure.
Yes. TfL is specifically directing passengers towards the Elizabeth line between central London and Heathrow during the closure.
Can I use Heathrow Express for Terminal 4?
Yes, but Heathrow Express does not run directly to Terminal 4. Travel to Heathrow Central at Terminals 2 and 3 and change for the free inter-terminal rail connection.
Yes, but Heathrow Express does not run directly to Terminal 4. Travel to Heathrow Central at Terminals 2 and 3 and change for the free inter-terminal rail connection.
Will the Night Tube run to Heathrow?
No. The closure includes the relevant Friday and Saturday Night Tube periods. TfL's PL7 replacement bus runs overnight between Hammersmith and Heathrow, with overnight journeys also serving Terminal 5.
No. The closure includes the relevant Friday and Saturday Night Tube periods. TfL's PL7 replacement bus runs overnight between Hammersmith and Heathrow, with overnight journeys also serving Terminal 5.
Check again before leaving for the airport
TfL currently schedules the Piccadilly closure from 01:00 on Saturday 17 October through the end of service on Sunday 18 October. Passengers with flights should check the TfL Journey Planner and their chosen rail operator again shortly before leaving, particularly for early-morning journeys and connections involving replacement buses.
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