CHELSEA · FULHAM · WANDSWORTH · CLAPHAM · PUTNEY · WIMBLEDON → HEATHROW
South West London to Heathrow taxi,
catch your flight, not the last available cab.
RushXO connects you with local, licensed drivers for a fixed-fare, door-to-door departure transfer from South West London to Heathrow — postcode-specific timing, full terminal guidance, and the £7 drop-off charge already included in your fare.
Fares and terminal info checked 17 August 2026
| Fixed fareStandard saloon | FROM £35 | — |
| Journey timeVaries by postcode | TYPICAL | 35–50 min |
| £7 forecourt chargeSince Jan 2026 | INCLUDED | no extra |
| Terminal transferT5 ↔ T2/T3, if needed | 25–30 MIN | plan ahead |
BY POSTCODE
Not every SW postcode is the same distance.
Heathrow sits west of London, so where exactly in South West London you're starting from genuinely changes your journey time — Chelsea and Fulham are noticeably closer than Wimbledon or Streatham.
| Area | Postcodes | Typical time | Fare from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea / Fulham | SW3, SW6, SW10 | 30–40 min | £32 |
| South Kensington | SW7 | 30–40 min | £32 |
| Putney / Barnes | SW15, SW13 | 35–45 min | £35 |
| Wandsworth / Battersea | SW18, SW11 | 35–45 min | £35 |
| Clapham | SW4 | 40–50 min | £38 |
| Balham / Tooting | SW12, SW17 | 40–50 min | £40 |
| Wimbledon | SW19, SW20 | 45–55 min | £42 |
| Streatham / Brixton | SW16, SW2, SW9 | 50–60 min | £45 |
Figures are typical, non-peak estimates — your exact fare is confirmed to your specific address when booking.
The short answer: a taxi from South West London to Heathrow typically costs from around £35, with a journey of 35 to 50 minutes depending on your exact postcode and traffic.
HOW EARLY TO LEAVE
Check-in windows, plus your drive time.
Airlines and airports generally recommend arriving with a buffer before your flight closes — how much depends on where you're flying.
Short-haul, European
Around 2 hours before departure is a common recommendation — add your drive time from South West London on top.
Long-haul, international
Around 3 hours before departure is typical, more if you're checking bags with a full-service carrier.
School holidays & bank holidays
Security queues run longer during peak travel periods — build in extra margin rather than cutting it fine.
CT scanners are speeding things up — but not everywhere yet
Heathrow has been rolling out CT scanners at security, which remove the 100ml liquid restriction where installed. Terminal 2 has full CT coverage; other terminals are still rolling it out. Check your terminal's current status before assuming you can pack liquids over 100ml.
TERMINAL GUIDE
Four terminals, one rule of thumb.
There's no Terminal 1 any more — it closed in 2015. Heathrow now runs Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5, each handling different airlines and alliances.
The Queen's Terminal
Star Alliance — Lufthansa, United, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Swiss, Austrian, Turkish and others.
oneworld + others
Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, American Airlines and most oneworld carriers.
SkyTeam + Gulf carriers
Air France, KLM, Qatar Airways, Etihad and similar — sits below the southern runway.
British Airways
Almost the exclusive home of BA's network, with a small number of short-haul flights still using T3.
Airlines occasionally move terminals — this is a rule of thumb, not a guarantee. Check your boarding pass or airline confirmation before you travel, and tell us your terminal when booking so we drop you at the right one.
TAXI OR TUBE?
Reliability, on a morning you can't afford to be wrong.
Most SW postcodes don't sit directly on the Piccadilly line — a Tube journey to Heathrow from South West London usually means at least one change, commonly at Earl's Court or Hammersmith.
| Factor | Taxi | Tube / Elizabeth line |
|---|---|---|
| Changes required | None — door to door | Usually at least one |
| Luggage | No stairs or platform changes | Carried through each change |
| Very early departure | Available 24/7 | Limited or no service before ~5am |
| Service disruption risk | None — fixed booking | Delays or closures possible |
| Group of 3+ | Often cheaper overall | Priced per person |
For a solo traveller with light luggage and no time pressure, public transport can still be the cheaper option — a taxi earns its fare on reliability, luggage, timing and groups.
HOW PRICING WORKS
One fare, agreed before you travel.
The fare is set by your exact postcode and vehicle type, confirmed before you travel, and doesn't move for traffic, time of day, or the £7 Heathrow forecourt charge — that's already built in.
HOW TO BOOK
Four steps, plus your terminal.
- Enter your South West London pickup address
Any SW postcode — we'll confirm the exact fare for your specific starting point.
- Confirm your terminal and flight time
Give your flight number so we can track it and time your pickup correctly.
- Confirm the fixed price
See the full fare before you commit — no estimate, no range, £7 charge included.
- Book and track
Pay online or with the driver, then track your vehicle as pickup approaches.
FAQ
South West London to Heathrow — your questions.
How much does a taxi from South West London to Heathrow cost?
From around £35 for most SW postcodes, with a journey of 35 to 50 minutes depending on your exact starting point and traffic. Chelsea and Fulham tend to be quickest; Wimbledon and Streatham a little longer.
How early should I leave for a flight?
As a general guide: 2 hours before a short-haul European departure, 3 hours before a long-haul departure, plus your drive time from South West London. Add extra margin during school holidays or over a bank holiday weekend.
Which Heathrow terminal do I need?
As a rough rule: Terminal 2 is Star Alliance (Lufthansa, United, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines and others), Terminal 3 is oneworld plus Virgin Atlantic and Emirates, Terminal 4 is SkyTeam and Gulf carriers, and Terminal 5 is almost exclusively British Airways. Airlines do occasionally move terminals, so always confirm on your boarding pass before travelling.
Is there a charge for being dropped off at the terminal?
Heathrow charges £7 per vehicle for forecourt drop-offs, camera-enforced with a 10-minute limit. This is included in your RushXO fixed fare — you won't be asked to pay anything extra at the terminal.
What if I need to get between terminals?
Terminal 5 connects to Terminals 2 and 3 by free inter-terminal transfer, typically 25 to 30 minutes — you cannot walk between T3 and T5. If your connection is under 90 minutes, don't assume there's time for a terminal transfer; tell us in advance if you're at all unsure which terminal you need.
Do you charge more during rush hour?
No. Your fare is fixed at booking regardless of traffic, time of day, or how busy the roads are.
Can I book a very early morning pickup?
Yes, 24/7 — early departures are one of our most common bookings from South West London, since public transport options are limited before the Tube and Elizabeth line start running.
What vehicle should I book for a group with luggage?
An estate or MPV gives noticeably more boot space than a saloon — useful for two or more people with hold luggage. An 8-seater minibus is available for larger groups travelling together on one fare.
Is a taxi from South West London to Heathrow faster than the Tube?
Usually, yes, once you account for getting to a station and any changes required — most SW postcodes don't sit directly on the Piccadilly line, so a journey often means a change at Earl's Court or similar. A taxi is door to door with no changes and no risk of a delayed or cancelled service on the morning of your flight.
Related pages
READY WHEN YOU ARE
Book your Heathrow departure transfer — fixed price, £7 charge included.
Licensed driver, confirmed vehicle, timed to your flight.