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LHR → London · head to head

N9 night busorThe Airline coach?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The N9 night bus reaches Paddington, and the whole of Zone 1 beyond it; the The Airline coach does not. Oxford is a separate city, well outside London; this does not reach central London at all.

The The Airline coach is quicker: 1 h 20 against 1 h 22. The N9 night bus varies between 79 and 89 minutes.

N9 night bus: 23:43–04:45. The Airline coach: Runs all night.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in GBP. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersN9 night busThe Airline coachDifference
1£1.75from £25up to £23.25
2£3.50from £50up to £46.50
3£5.25from £75up to £69.75
4£7from £100up to £93
5£8.75from £125up to £116.25
6£10.50from £150up to £139.50
7£12.25from £175up to £162.75
8£14from £200up to £186

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
N9 · Transport for LondonN9 night bus
From
Terminal 5 and Heathrow Central Bus Station
To
Green Park in 79 minutes, Piccadilly Circus in 82, Charing Cross in 86
Luggage
A London bus. There is a luggage rack by the door and no guarantee of space on a full one.
Runs
23:43–04:45
Journey
79–89 min

It only exists at night. Between 04:45 and 23:43 there is no N9, and this is the only option here that runs in the small hours at all.

It is slow: 82 minutes to Piccadilly Circus against the Express's 15 to Paddington. You are trading an hour for £24.25.

It runs every night of the week, unlike the Night Tube, which runs on Friday and Saturday nights only.

N9 night bus: price for every party size

Check the N9 route and times with TfL
The Airline · Oxford Bus CompanyThe Airline coach
From
Heathrow Central Bus Station (Terminals 2 & 3); Terminal 5 at stand 10 in the arrivals concourse
To
Gloucester Green, Oxford, calling at High Wycombe and Lewknor
Luggage
Standard airport coach allowance; ask about bikes, skis or musical instruments before you travel.
Runs
All night
Journey
80–90 min

Every fare here is a floor: the £25.00 single and £31.50 return are the cheapest online prices, and cost more bought on the day.

Oxford to Heathrow Terminal 5 is about 80 minutes; to the Central Bus Station for Terminals 2 and 3, about 90.

The Airline coach: price for every party size

Check times and fares with the airline

This compares two of 12 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

The other comparisons at Heathrow