London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the biggest airport serving London, England, and one of the world’s most important hubs for international travel.
It is located 14 miles west of Central London in the Borough of Hillingdon. It is London’s primary airport, although five other airports serve the megalopolis: Gatwick (LGW), Luton (LTN), Stansted (STN), Southend (SEN), and City (LCY).
With almost 75 million international passengers served in 2024, London Heathrow is the second busiest by this criteria in the world, only after Dubai International (DXB). It facilitates connections to hundreds of destinations worldwide.
Heathrow’s importance to the world of commercial aviation cannot be overstated - it’s truly a world airport of great significance.
Major Airlines - British Airways, Virgin Atlantic
Heathrow serves as the main hub for British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic.
BA is the UK’s national carrier and operates a fleet of over 280 aircraft to more than 100 destinations in the world.
Virgin Atlantic focuses on transatlantic flights to destinations in the US and the Caribbean.
Additionally, over 90 airlines operate from Heathrow, offering flights to more than 180 destinations across 90 countries. This includes pretty much all of the biggest airlines in the world such as Qatar Airways, Emirates, KLM, American Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and many others.
Click here if you’d like to see a full list of airlines that have scheduled flights at London Heathrow.
Terminal Layout of Heathrow Airport
The airport comprises four operational passenger terminals:
Terminal 2 (The Queen's Terminal): Hosts various international carriers like Aegean, Austrian, Eurowings, Turkish, and EVA Air.
Terminal 3: Accommodates both international and domestic flights. Some of the carriers at T3 include China Airlines, Qantas, American Airlines, Aeromexico, and Virgin Atlantic.
Terminal 4: Primarily serves long-haul and European flights. Big airlines at T4 include Malaysia Airlines, Azerbaijan Airlines, Korean Air, Etihad, and KLM.
Terminal 5: Predominantly used by British Airways (which also uses T3 for some flights). The other airline that uses T5 is Iberia for its flights to the Spanish mainland and the Canary Islands.
Terminal 1 ceased operations in 2015 and is no longer in use.
Heathrow Airport has only 2 runways, which, for such a massive airport, results in a bottleneck in the number of flights that can be served. There is a strict limit of 5800 flights per year with heavily restricted operations during night time (11:30 pm to 6:00 am).
This has prompted calls for the development of a third runway and an additional terminal. After years of court-mandated ban, it was lifted in 2020 and now the building of new facilities is being planned.
Connecting Flights and Transit at LHR
Having a connecting flight at Heathrow may seem overwhelming at first but is actually not that difficult or troublesome. As a matter of fact, LHR is the number one airport in the world by the number of connection options!
The minimum connecting time if both flights use the same terminal is 60-75 minutes (depending on which one) and 90 minutes if changing terminals.
Airside Connections
The majority of connecting flights will use the same terminal. You will likely have your luggage checked through to your final destination. In this case, you can relax and enjoy a lounge or grab a bite at one of the restaurants in this terminal (see below) and then just proceed to your new gate.
But some airlines (including British Airways) and airline alliances operate flights at different terminals, so you may need to do some interterminal traveling. Worry not - all terminals of Heathrow Airport are connected airside.
Buses provided by Heathrow Airport depart from a fixed airside area within each terminal. These areas are clearly marked with purple "Flight Connections" signs. The buses connect all terminals and run every six minutes.
Landside Connections
For all self-connections and transits that involve two tickets NOT booked together, you will need to clear Immigration and move between Heathrow’s terminals on the landside, using public transport. An exception is if you take a domestic flight to arrive at Heathrow, and then change to an international flight.
Here are your best options depending on which terminals your flights use:
Between T2 and T3: Connected by an underground tunnel. It takes 5-10 minutes to walk between the two.
Between T2/3 and T4: Use the Heathrow Express or Elizabeth Line of the London Underground. You can also use the Piccadilly Line but only if going from T4 to T2/3. It takes 15-20 minutes to transfer, including an average waiting time for the subway of around 3 minutes.
Between T2/3 and T5: Use the Piccadilly Line or the Elizabeth Line in either direction. Transit time is around 10-15 minutes.
Between T4 and T5: No direct connection exists so you will need to first get to T2/3 and then proceed to the other terminal. You can connect two subway rides or take the free H30 local bus that runs between T4 and T5. Allow at least 25-30 minutes for this connection.
Taking a public bus is also an option between any two terminals but usually slower and less convenient. However, it may be your only option (bar taxis) late at night or early in the morning when the London Tube doesn’t operate.
You can pay for your ride using a credit/debit card or an Oyster card.
Wi-Fi at Heathrow
Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout Heathrow Airport. To connect, select “_Heathrow Wi-Fi” from the list of available networks and then follow the on-screen instructions.
The connection is not limited in time, though you may have to reconnect if changing terminals.
Dining Options at London Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport has a vast selection of places to eat and drink. You will be able to choose from some of the world’s most well-known restaurants, fast-food kiosks, bars, as well as some popular local brands and unique dining places too.
Every terminal in Heathrow has at least a few different places to eat at though T2 and T5 boast the greatest selection.
Here are some of the best dining options at LHR:
Terminal 2:
Big Smoke: A casual pub with beer on tap and delicious food.
London's Pride By Fullers: Try the special Terminal 2 lager called Wingman together with a selection of grab-n-go specialties.
Shan Shui: Try a wide variety of gastronomic delights from China and Southeast Asia.
The Queen’s Arms: A perfect place for plane spotters who also enjoy cuisines from around the world plus craft beers and more.
The Vinery: A hi-tech venue where wine-matching and ordering is part of the overall experience. Try delicious wines and luxury food like caviar and champagne in a stylish atmosphere.
Terminal 3:
The Curator: Offers artisanal cocktails, craft beers, and light fare with local ingredients.
The Oceanic: Serves fresh beers and signature cocktails plus an eclectic food menu.
Spuntino: British breakfast, Italian lunch, and American dinner - a truly intriguing mix from a unique venue.
Terminal 4:
Co-Pilots Bar & Kitchen: An all-day brasserie serving pastries, sandwiches, salads, burgers and more.
The Commission: Coffee, business breakfast, or a cocktail - this casual pub has it all.
Costa: The nation’s favorite coffee house. It also offers teas, chilled drinks, pastries, and various desserts.
Terminal 5:
Fortnum and Mason Bar: Located near gate A17, this relaxed bar is the perfect place for first-class dining and fancy cocktails.
Giraffe: A catch-all global menu of comfort food and local favorites.
Gordon Ramsay Plane Food: An open kitchen concept restaurant with a separate cocktail bar. Kids eat free!
Lounges at London Heathrow
Heathrow provides numerous lounges across its terminals, including airline-specific lounges such as the British Airways Galleries Lounge in Terminal 5 and the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Terminal 3.
Additionally, independent lounges like Plaza Premium (in T2, T4, and T5), No1 Lounges (in T2 and T3), and Club Aspire (in T3 and T5) are open to anyone for an entrance fee of about 35-42 GBP.
These lounges offer varying degrees of comfort and number of amenities. In general, they have comfortable couches or armchairs, premium Wi-Fi, complimentary food, and reading materials (digital or paper). Some may present pleasant views of the runways and business facilities.
Most lounges are limited to 3 hours of stay (usually the 3 hours prior to the departure of your flight) and only open between 5 AM and 9-10 PM.
Transport to and from Heathrow Airport
Heathrow is well-connected to Central London and surrounding areas by a variety of options, both public and private.
Here is a quick rundown of available transport at Heathrow Airport:
The Heathrow Express: A premium non-stop train service from Heathrow to London Paddington. The journey takes just 15 minutes (21 from/to T5).
- London Underground: Two lines serve Heathrow and connect to the vast network of the London Tube. It is a slower way to get to Central London but much cheaper than the Heathrow Express train.
The Piccadilly Line provides direct access to the airport with stations at T2/T3, T4, and T5.
The Elizabeth Line: Has stations at T4 and T5 and crosses through Central London with stations in many popular places.
Bus and Coach: Numerous services connect Heathrow to destinations across the UK. The Heathrow Central Bus Station serves T2/T3 but many buses also operate at the bus stations at T4 and T5.
Hotel Hoppa: A frequent shuttle service connecting Heathrow (except T4) to airport hotels in the vicinity. It operates between 4:00 and 00:00. While convenient, the service is not free, though cheaper than a taxi: 6.80 GBP for a single ticket or 12 GBP return.
Taxis: Licensed taxis are readily available outside all terminals. This includes the classic London black cabs as well as new options like the WeKnow electric car transfers and the Minicabit transfer service. The approximate taxi fare from Heathrow to London is 60-100 GBP depending on distance and the type of vehicle.
Ride Sharing: Ride-sharing services such as Uber and Bolt are available at Heathrow. Check their respective apps to see the designated pickup points.
Transport from Heathrow to other London airports
London is served by a total of 6 international airports. It’s quite common to need to transfer between any two of them.
The following are the best ways to travel between Heathrow Airport and each of the other airports but are by no means the only ways:
Heathrow to Gatwick: Numerous coaches and buses plow between the UK’s two biggest airports around the clock. National Express, Flixbus, and Oxford Bus Company run buses several times per day with prices between 12 and 20 GBP.
Heathrow to Luton: Take the London Underground to St Pancras Station then change to a Thameslink service direct to Luton Airport.
Heathrow to Stansted: The farthest airport from Heathrow, Stansted (STN) can be reached easily by a National Express Coach (Routes 250, 727 & 728) in about 80 minutes for a price of 19 GBP.
Heathrow to Southend: Take the Elizabeth Line to Liverpool Street Station, then change to a National Rail service to Southend Airport.
Heathrow to London City Airport: Take the Elizabeth Line to Woolwich then change to the DLR which goes directly to City Airport.
Parking at Heathrow
Heathrow Airport offers a range of parking options near all of its terminals. No matter your intended length of stay, there is an official parking lot suitable for you.
Short Stay Car Parks are available at each terminal. They are located 5-10 minutes walking from their respective terminals, usually under a covered walkway (except at T3). Meet and Greet areas are present at each of the short-stay car parks.
For longer stays, you’re better off parking at one of the Park & Ride (formerly Long Stay Parking) also available at each terminal of LHR. They are a bit further away from their respective terminals but all are served by a free shuttle bus that frequently makes the 10-minute journey back and forth.
The premium equivalent is called Park & Ride Plus (formerly Business Parking) and is available in Terminals 2, 3, and 5. It offers an even more frequent terminal shuttle bus and improved facilities.
Terminal 5 also offers POD Parking where you get on-demand transfer to the terminal via small autonomous pods which take just 6 minutes of travel.
Lastly, Valet Parking is available in Terminals 2, 3, and 5 so you can drop your car off on the terminal forecourt and pick it up from a designated area upon your return.
For all car parks, pre-booking is highly recommended, especially during peak travel periods. It will not only guarantee your spot but also the best rates possible.
Hotels near Heathrow Airport
As such a massive international air travel hub, it is unsurprising that Heathrow Airport does indeed have a few airport hotels situated inside the terminals.
These include:
Aerotel in Terminal 3
Hilton in Terminal 4
Sofitel in Terminal 5
In addition, the No1 Lounges in Terminal 3 offers bunk beds twin rooms, and singles for short stays of at least 3 hours making it the perfect place to snooze during a short layover. This is the only airside accommodation option as all the rest are located before Security (landside).
Since Terminal 2 doesn’t have its own hotel inside, the closest one is the Aerotel in T3.
Outside of the airport grounds, there are dozens of hotels that cater to all sorts of budgets and preferences.
London, United Kingdom
No
