Getting from Heathrow into London

Taxi not generally recommended into central London due to traffic and delay.

The HEX tickets are cheaper the earlier you buy. Many don't wish to pay walk up prices if not purchased in advance and would opt for Elizabeth Line (or Piccadilly line if better for arrival point).

Many prefer personal credit card tap and go or phone app like Apple Pay to Oyster. Each needs their own CC. I find my CC much easier than an Oyster. Haven't used one since pre-covid days.

Not complicated - follow signs. There are many officials who are happy to point out the right direction and answer questions.

https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/getting-to-central-london

edit - adding - You may get nay sayers on the HEX as it is more expensive than Tube, even when purchased t cheapest price well in advance. I, personally, find it very convenient and comfortable when staying near Paddington. Worth a bit more to me. To each his own.

You can't make reservations for the Heathrow Express, you can either just take the first available servuce and pay with Oyster or contactless, or pre-buy a ticket (valid for any service that day), which will be cheaper if done sufficiently in advance.

Here are the standard fares. A railcard will give you a third off (note you need to either prebook your ticket or buy it from a manned booth for Heathrow Express to get the discount. For Elizabeth Line just tap your Oyster card):

An advance ticket will be £10 per person, paying on the day is £25. Elizabeth Line to Paddington is £12.80, no advance fares, just pay by contactless or Oyster.

Taxi is more like £100, and will take much longer.

Thank you! You are both much easier to understand than the Websites!

A correction to the above. Don't use Oyster or contactless to travel on the Elizabeth Line if you have a railcard, but buy a ticket from the machines to get 1/3 off. Thus the Elizabeth Line fare becomes £8.55 each
With your railcard an Advance Purchased £10 Heathrow Express ticket is £6.65 each.

Oops, but didn't realise re Elizabeth Line - thanks for correcting.

TfL have been taking progressively stronger action to dissuade people taking large items on the Elizabeth line escalators at Paddington. This is because of the relatively high accident rate observed on them arising from this. This has resulted in long waits for the lifts at peak time, although some are still ignoring the notices.

So from Heathrow to Paddington the Express does have some practical advantages arriving directly into the main station and as explained above need not be at too much of a cost.

Even though the Heathrow Express gets a mixed approval here, I love it. I buy my tickets as early as possible to get the cheapest rate. The trains run about every 15 minutes, they’re easy to find from the arrivals hall and they have never ever been crowded - and I’ve ridden a dozen times or so. I don’t even need to mess with the luggage racks - I just keep my bag with me at my seat.

For you - staying near Paddingtion - the Heathrow Express is really simple - you get off the train - scan your ticket back out (Don’t forget this - keep your ticket after you scan in at Heathrow) and walk out of the station. If I’m staying near Paddington, I just walk. If I’m staying further out, I take a cab although many people then transfer to a Tube line.

Thanks, Valerie. I'm a bit confused about scanning out. I know you do this on the Tube (even with the Oyster card?), but is scanning out needed on all trains as well? What happens if you don't? We'll be taking several trains during our trip, both return and one-way. Also, why do we need to keep our tickets? (I save everything, so I'll remember!)

When you get off the train at Paddington station, you'll walk towards the front of the station...you will see electric turnstiles in front of you. Put your ticket barcode on the reader and the gate will open and you'll be loose in Paddington station. If you have trouble with the readers, don't worry...there are always uniformed staff standing right there...they will help you scan if need be.

If you tap in and don't tap out how will the ever so smart computer know how far you have travelled? The price of the ticket that is charged to your card is based on how far you travel. If you don't tap out you'll be charged for the maximum distance.