Tube Fares to Heathrow

Transport for London recently slipped out the news that all journeys to and from Heathrow stations through central London will be charged at peak rates from today.

There doesn't seem to be any official announcement of the bad news from either TfL or the Mayor's office - they seem to have chosen to brief journalists without a detailed press release.

So from today a single fare from Oxford Circus to Debden (Zone 6) will continue to cost you £3.50 off peak, the same journey to Heathrow (Zone 6) will cost you £5.50 at all times.

This only applies to/from or through Zone 1, so if you're west of Zone 1 you're in luck, or if your normal Heathrow journey skirts Zone 1 (using Overground for example) you're also in luck.

Just like how Gatwick journeys are usually cheaper if you change trains at East Croydon and circle the gate line, it's also now cheaper to change trains for Heathrow journeys.

But there are so many different stations where you could split your journey - which should you choose?  It turns out that the answer is simple - Hatton Cross.  Because there's free travel between Hatton Cross and the Heathrow stations, the answer is always Hatton Cross!

The only journey where the answer is anything other than Hatton Cross, is if you are starting in Zone 1 during Peak, and you can change train during Off Peak at a Zone 1/2 boundary station (e.g. Earls Court)

Peak:  From Zone 1 to Zone 1/2 boundary (e.g. Earls Court)  £2.50

Off Peak:  From Zone 1/2 boundary (e.g. Earls Court) to Heathrow  £1.90

Save £1.10

Conclusion

If you want to avoid the £2 fare increase for Off Peak travel between Heathrow and Central London, then for almost everybody changing at Hatton Cross and circling the gate line is the answer.  

And don't forget the East Croydon trick to reduce the cost of your Gatwick travel.