Affordable Travel Options to Heathrow
There are numerous discussions about getting to London Heathrow, and I often see RailAir highly recommended, making me wonder if some of those posts are sponsored!
At £24 for a single ticket (£36 return) for a 26-mile trip that takes around 40 minutes, RailAir is quite pricey when you look at the cost per mile. While it’s convenient for its location and ease of use, £24 feels steep!
The Elizabeth Line with a transfer at Hayes isn’t much of a better option; it’s also on the pricey side.
However, I’ve had success with a different route that I haven’t seen mentioned often. Here’s a budget-friendly way to travel:
- Take the train from Reading to Slough—around £5.80 and approximately 19 minutes.
- Then, catch either the Flightline 703 bus or bus #5 from just outside Slough station to Heathrow for £2.*
This totals under £8 for a single journey and takes about an hour—a significant saving! Hope this helps!
*Please note, the bus fare might increase to £3 when the fare cap is lifted in 2025.
Thanks for sharing your experience! It’s great to hear about alternative options that can save money while traveling to Heathrow. The combination of Reading to Slough and then taking the bus is a clever workaround, and it definitely works out to be much cheaper than RailAir.
It’s true that RailAir can feel pricey for such a short distance, especially when there are more affordable alternatives available. Your suggestion might encourage others to think outside the box and explore different routes that suit their budget better.
I appreciate you highlighting the bus option as well; some folks might not be aware that public transport can be a viable choice. Have you tried any other routes, or do you think this is the best option? Thanks again for sharing!