Journey time from Heathrow depends on where you’re going and when you travel. This guide gives typical times by destination, explains what slows the run (the M4, the M25 and the school run), and shows how to plan a realistic buffer — whether you’re heading in from a flight or out to catch one.
Key takeaways
- Central London: roughly 45–70 minutes, traffic depending.
- Kensington / west London: often quicker — around 35–50 minutes.
- The City & Canary Wharf: longer, around 55–80 minutes.
- North Kent / Dartford: around 75–100 minutes.
- Rush hour adds 20–30 minutes — and a fixed fare means it costs you nothing.
01 / TIMESTypical times by destination
| Destination | Distance | Off-peak | Rush hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor / Slough | 7–8 mi | ~25 min | ~40 min |
| Kensington / west London | 13 mi | ~40 min | ~60 min |
| Central London (West End) | 16 mi | ~45 min | ~70 min |
| The City (EC) | 19 mi | ~50 min | ~80 min |
| Canary Wharf | 23 mi | ~57 min | ~85 min |
| Dartford / north Kent | 38 mi | ~80 min | ~110 min |
Typical estimates only. Real times vary with traffic, incidents, roadworks and your exact address.
02 / SLOWWhat slows you down
Three things, mostly. The M4 corridor into London backs up at peak times. The M25 is unpredictable, and a single incident can add half an hour without warning. And central London itself is slow — the last three miles can take as long as the first fifteen. Late evenings and weekends are usually much quicker.
03 / BUFFERHow much buffer to build in
Heading to a flight, take the rush-hour figure, not the off-peak one, and add a margin on top — the cost of arriving early is a coffee; the cost of arriving late is the flight. Our departure planner works the pickup time out for you.
04 / FIXEDSlow traffic doesn’t cost you
With a fixed fare, a bad run costs you time but not money — there’s no meter ticking on the M25 and no surge because it’s busy. That means you can build in a generous buffer for free, which is exactly how it should work.
FAQFrequently asked questions
How long does a taxi take from Heathrow to central London?
Typically 45–70 minutes depending on traffic — around 45 minutes off-peak and up to 70 or more at rush hour. West London destinations like Kensington are often quicker.
How long from Heathrow to the City or Canary Wharf?
Roughly 50–80 minutes to the City and around an hour to 85 minutes to Canary Wharf, depending on traffic. Both are further east, so they take longer than the West End.
How long from Heathrow to Kent?
Around 80 minutes to Dartford and north Kent off-peak, and up to about 110 minutes at busy times, depending on the crossing and traffic.
What slows down a Heathrow taxi journey?
The M4 corridor at peak times, incidents on the M25, and central London itself — the last few miles can take as long as the motorway stretch. Evenings and weekends are usually much faster.
Does traffic increase my fare?
Not with a fixed fare — the price is agreed before you travel, so time in traffic costs you nothing extra. A metered cab or a surging app would cost more.
How much time should I allow to get to Heathrow?
Use the rush-hour figure rather than the off-peak one, and add a margin on top. Our departure planner works backwards from your flight time to give a recommended pickup time.
Time Matters
Plan your journey — get a fixed fare
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