Piccadilly line

Is the Piccadilly line running today?

The Piccadilly line is the deep-tube line that serves Heathrow Airport, and the most popular way for visitors to enter London from the airport. It runs from Cockfosters in the north, through the West End at Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Covent Garden, out through Earl's Court and on to all four passenger terminals of Heathrow — with a branch to Uxbridge. New trains are arriving from 2025 onwards, the first major fleet replacement on the deep-tube network in a generation.

Where it runs

From north to south-west, the Piccadilly runs from Cockfosters in north London, through Wood Green, Manor House, Finsbury Park, King's Cross St Pancras, Russell Square, Holborn, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, South Kensington, Gloucester Road, Earl's Court, Hammersmith, Acton Town, Hounslow and splits to:

• Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, then Terminal 5 (most peak services).
• Heathrow Terminal 4 (a one-way loop branch).
• Uxbridge (from Acton Town via Rayners Lane).

A bit of history

The Great Northern, Piccadilly & Brompton Railway opened in 1906 between Hammersmith and Finsbury Park. The "Piccadilly line" name dates from the 1930s. Extensions in the 1930s pushed the line north to Cockfosters and west to Hounslow, with stations including Sudbury Town and Arnos Grove that are considered landmarks of 1930s modernist architecture — designed by Charles Holden in a distinctive style influenced by Scandinavian and Dutch design.

The Heathrow extension opened in stages: 1977 (Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 & 3), 1986 (Terminal 4), and 2008 (Terminal 5).

New Piccadilly line trains

The Piccadilly is the first deep-tube line to receive a new generation of trains under TfL's "New Tube for London" programme. The new 2024 Stock — manufactured by Siemens in Vienna — features walk-through carriages, air-conditioning for the first time on the line, wider doors, and significantly improved accessibility. Trains began entering service in stages from 2025, replacing the 1973 Stock that has been operating the line for over half a century.

Notable stations

• King's Cross St Pancras — the network's busiest interchange.
• Covent Garden — the lift-only station for the Covent Garden Market and theatre district; one of the few stations where the down escalator is famously the height of a 15-storey building.
• Piccadilly Circus — interchange with the Bakerloo, gateway to the West End.
• South Kensington — museum quarter exit for the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A.
• Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 / 4 / 5 — direct airport service from central London.
• Holden stations — Sudbury Town, Arnos Grove, Southgate, Oakwood, Cockfosters: all 1930s architectural landmarks.

Step-free access

Step-free Piccadilly line stations include Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, 4, and 5, Hammersmith, South Kensington (Elizabeth-line side only), King's Cross St Pancras, Cockfosters, Southgate and a number of outer stations. The central deep-tube section has limited step-free coverage; the new trains will improve in-vehicle accessibility, but the platform-to-train gap remains a constraint on many central stations.

Hours and Night Tube

The Piccadilly runs from around 05:30 on weekdays until just after midnight. The Night Tube runs on Friday and Saturday nights between Cockfosters and Heathrow Terminal 5 (the main route), but does not serve Terminal 4 overnight. For Terminal 4 at night, transfer at Hatton Cross.

Common quirks

• Heathrow Terminal 4 is a one-way loop. Trains run anticlockwise: Hatton Cross → Terminal 4 → Terminals 2 & 3 → Terminal 5 → back. If you board at Terminal 4 you can't go directly to Hatton Cross — you must go all the way round.
• Elizabeth line is now faster to Heathrow. For Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5, the Elizabeth line is generally faster than the Piccadilly, though more expensive. For Terminals at peak times, both are reliable; the Piccadilly is the cheaper option.
• The 1973 Stock retirement. Until the full fleet swap is complete (expected by 2027), passengers will see a mix of old and new trains. The new trains are clearly distinguishable — they are walk-through and air-conditioned; the old stock is neither.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Piccadilly line go to Heathrow?

Yes. The Piccadilly line runs directly to Heathrow Airport and serves Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. Westbound trains split at Acton Town, so check the front of the train shows a Heathrow destination rather than Uxbridge before boarding.

Which Heathrow terminals does the Piccadilly line serve?

All of them that are open to passengers: Terminals 2 & 3 (one shared station), Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. Terminal 4 sits on a one-way loop, so from Terminal 4 you travel via Terminals 2 & 3 and Terminal 5 to come back.

How long does the Piccadilly line take to Heathrow?

Roughly 45–60 minutes from central London depending on your starting station. The Elizabeth line is usually faster to Heathrow but more expensive; the Piccadilly is the cheaper direct option.

Does the Night Tube go to Heathrow?

Partly. On Friday and Saturday nights the Night Tube runs between Cockfosters and Heathrow Terminal 5 and serves Terminals 2 & 3, but it does not serve Terminal 4 overnight — change at Hatton Cross for Terminal 4.

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