Heathrow is one of the world’s biggest airports and a hub for most passengers flying to and from the UK and Europe. Here’s how to navigate Heathrow Airport – for a painless and simple journey
Heathrow Airport is colossal.
London heathrow spans 1,227 hectares and consists of five terminals, and saw 72.3 million people pass through its doors in 2013. It was a record-breaking year for Heathrow: on its busiest day, 238,949 passengers arrived and departed. Heathrow’s two runways see an average of 1,286 flights land and leave every day, as 82 airlines serve 180 destinations in 85 countries.
All Heathrow passengers can us 45 minutes of free Wi-Fi: choose _Heathrow Wi-Fi and follow the instructions. If you’re a member of Heathrow Rewards you can access 90 minutes for free. The airport also offers pay-as-you go Wi-Fi after you’ve used your allotted free time: £3 for up to an hour, £5 for three hours, £9 for midnight to midnight access, £70 for six months and £130 for one year’s access.
If you’re transferring between flights at Heathrow, find out what will happen to your baggage. Often, your luggage will sent through to your final destination and you won’t need to touch it at Heathrow – but some airlines and flights don’t offer this service. Also, if you booked your flights separately (or on separate airlines), you’ll have to retrieve your bags and check them in again.
Flight transfers will often require a dash between terminals. Heathrow is well set up for this, with excellent signposting and helpful staff, but just be careful: the airport is vast. Use this official guide to help plan your transfer time.
There is nowhere to sleep inside the airport, but there are plenty of options if you need to rest your head before, between, or after your flights. Terminal 3’s No.1 Traveller Lounge (in the departure lounge, after security) offers bedrooms for daytime use. Rooms booking can be made for two hours or more; opening hours are 4:30am-10:30pm. The following hotels are within a few minutes’ walk of the terminals: Sofitel London Heathrow (T5), Hilton London Heathrow Airport (T4), YOTEL (T4).
Opened in 1968 and later redeveloped in 2005, Terminal 1 is Heathrow’s main base for domestic flights, as well as a smaller number of European short-haul and long-haul flights. Roughly 14 million passengers pass through Terminal 1 every year. Heathrow plans to demolish T1 in 2016, and expand T2 over the current T1 site.
The majority of airlines based in T1 are moving to Heathrow’s swanky new T2. The relocations should be complete by the end of 2014. T1 has an array of shops and 12 restaurants and bars for you to while away the hours. For great views of the arrivals and departures, head to The Tin Goose or Caffe Nero, which are both situated after security in the departures lounge.
Many of Heathrow’s eateries offer a selection of restaurants that produce 15-minute menus – a guarantee that your food will ready within 15 minutes of ordering. Bridge Bar, Caffe Nero, Caviar House & Prunier Seafood Bar, giraffe, Harlequin Alehouse & Eatery, Pret A Manger, The Skylark and The Tin Goose all offer an assortment of 15-minute menus in T1.
Heathrow’s stylish new £2.5bn Terminal 2 opened in June 2014, and is now capable of handling 20 million passengers a year.
By the end of 2014, 26 airlines will have relocated to T2. This will include 23 members of Star Alliance plus Aer Lingus, Germanwings and Virgin Atlantic Little Red. Once the moves have been complete, T2 will see 332 daily flights to 54 global destinations. The Queen’s Terminal is home to 28 stores, including an airport debut for John Lewis. T2 also has a selection of 14 bars and restaurants, 11 of which offer 15-minute menus.
The brand new Plaza Premium Lounge boasts shower rooms, en-suite bedrooms, a spa and a range of complimentary food and drink. The lounge also provides Wi-Fi, international magazines and televisions. Entrance to the lounge costs £38 for two hours.
Terminal 3 may be Heathrow’s oldest terminal, but this 1960s creation – mainly home to long-haul airlines – has an average 18.4 million passengers pass through every year. Got a last-minute postcard to send? T3 is home to Heathrow Airport’s only Post Office, located just before security at departures.
T3 has 19 restaurants and bars for you to pick from. Bridge Bar, Caviar House & Prunier Seafood Bar, Oriel French Restaurant and Bar, Pret A Manger, “rhubarb”, Strada, The Three Bells and Yo! Sushi all offer a selection of 15-minute menus. Once suitably refuelled, explore T3’s 41 outlets for an airport bargain or maybe even a luxury pre-flight treat.
Two lounges can be found in T3. Like T1, T3 is home to a Servisair Lounge. Here you can pass the time with runway views, complimentary food and drink, and a cinema. The lounge also includes a spa, showers, bedrooms and a family room.
Located on the southern edge of Heathrow, Terminal 4 is mainly used for long-haul and European flights. The terminal is Heathrow’s smallest in terms of passenger numbers (a yearly average of 60,109 flights).
T4 is a short walk from the four-star Hilton Heathrow. Alternatively, YOTEL cabin hotel, which has 32 Japanese-inspired cabins.
The View Heathrow Observation Desk treats visitors to a 270-degree view of Heathrow’s runways. It’s located between gates 15 and 16, just 250 metres from the southern runway. T4 is also home to a vast number of designer stores, from Gucci to Bulgari. You will also find 11 bars and restaurants, nine of which offer 15-minute menus.
Terminal 5 has risen out of the ashes of its shambolic opening to become one of the best terminals in the world today. Opened in 2008, it saw 30 million passengers pass through its doors in 2013.
T5’s 36 retail stores include your usual mix of fashion, accessories, and duty free stores. 13 of its 18 bars and restaurants offer 15-minute menus: apostrophe, Caffe Nero, Carluccio’s, EAT, Espresso, giraffe, Gordon Ramsey Plane Food, Huxleys, Pret A Manger, The Crown Rivers, The Five Tuns, Wetherspoon Express, wagamama.
If you want to escape away from the shops and eateries, T5 is home to an award-winning art gallery. The gallery hosts a range of exhibitions throughout the year, championing established and up-and-coming artists.
London City Airport (LCY) is one of the easiest and most accessible airports in London owing to its location just 9.5km (6 miles) east of Central London and 4.8km (3 miles) from Canary Wharf.
A single runway handles short-haul flights with a strong emphasis on business travel to Europe and specialised flights to New York. Airlines that currently fly from London City Airport include.
British Airways, Alitalia, Blue Islands, CityJet, KLM, Lufthansa, Luxair, Sky Work and Swiss International Airlines. Due to its size, arrivals and departures through London City Airport can be much quicker and easier than the larger London airports.
You Can you taxi , bus or Underground/DLR to get to the Airport. Its single terminal incorporates shops, restaurants and cafes, information and taxi desks, a bureau de change and a left luggage facility. London City Airport arrivals come through the first floor and can be met on the ground floor as you enter the small terminal. After you leave the aircraft, you’ll pass through passport control, baggage reclaim and Customs.
London City Airport departures can be found on the first floor of the terminal. All passengers must clear security control before entering the departure lounge, where you’ll find shops, bars and cafes. The departures area is small but has a good choice of outlets, complimentary WiFi throughout and lots of comfortable seating.
Once you’ve arrived and passed through London City Airport, there are a number of options at your disposal for your onward journey into London. London City Airport is well-connected to the Tube network. The airport has its own stop on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which takes you to Tube interchange stations such as Canning Town, Stratford and Bank. For more information visit the Transport for London (TfL) website.
If you are going to be in London for more than a day, it’s worth booking a Visitor Oyster Card in advance. The Visitor Oyster Card is sent to your home before you arrive in London. This means you can board the Tube right away.
If you do not have a Visitor Oyster Card, but still plan to travel around London for more than a day, you can buy an Oyster card at the airport Tube station. Exit the airport and follow the signs for the Underground. You can purchase an Oyster card at the cashier window.
Catch the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to London City Airport. Services run every eight to 15 minutes. Fares on the DLR are the same as those on the Tube. Local bus routes serving the airport are the 473 (Stratford, Silvertown, North Woolwich, and Prince Regent DLR Station) and the 474 (Canning Town, North Woolwich and East Beckton via Silvertown).
There are usually taxis queuing for customers at London City Airport. The cost of the cab run meter and displayed inside the cab. Only use a reputable mini-cab and never use unauthorised drivers.
The City Airport website has average fares and you can ask the driver or mini-cab company how much your journey will cost beforehand. There are a number of private chauffeur services in London that can pick you up from London City Airport. Your driver will make themselves known to you usually by using a sign as you exit the terminal.
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) was the UK’s first fully accessible railway for wheelchair users. There are lifts, escalators and/or ramps on every station platform of the DLR and all platforms are level with the trains for step-free access. There is also a designated wheelchair/pram bay on every train. Disabled travellers should be aware that a significant number of Tube stations dont have lifts.
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London Gatwick (LGW) is the most efficient single-runway airport in the world, serving 200 destinations in 90 countries for 35 million customers a year. LGW Location 45km (28 miles) south of London. To see the airport’s exact location,
Gatwick Airport’s two terminals, North and South, both have a comprehensive selection of shops, bureaux de change, help desks and left-luggage facilities.
For Gatwick flight departures, check-in desks can be found on the 3rd floor of both the North and South Terminals. All passengers must clear security control before entering the departure lounge where you’ll find shops, bars, cafes and currency exchange. Boarding begins 45 minutes before take-off.
For Gatwick flight arrivals, you’ll first pass through passport control after leaving the aircraft. Then follow the signs for Baggage Reclaim to pick up your luggage, before going through Customs. In the arrivals hall, you’ll find shops, bars, restaurants and currency exchange.
There are an excellent range of hotels in the Gatwick area. Many provide a courtesy coach service from Gatwick rail station, which is directly linked to Gatwick’s South Terminal. See our Where to Stay section to find and book a hotel near Gatwick Airport.
If you are going to be in London for more than a day, it’s worth booking a Visitor Oyster Card in advance. The Visitor Oyster Card is sent to your home before you arrive in London. It is one of the easiest ways to get around London.
If you do not have a Visitor Oyster Card, but still plan to travel around London for more than a day, buy an Oyster card at the Concierge outlets in Gatwick North Terminal or Gatwick South Terminal. You must exit through Customs first. You can also buy an Oyster Card at the Skybreak Service Centre in both terminals and at the Gatwick Airport train station.You cannot use your Visitor Oyster Card or Oyster Card until you reach either London Bridge, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, Farringdon, St Pancras International, East Croydon or Clapham Junction.
Learn more about Oyster Cards.
Travelling To Gatwick Airport to London By Train and there are many different trains to London from Gatwick airport. The Gatwick Express is the fastest way into Central London. Trains run every 15 minutes between Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal and London Victoria Station every day from 4.35am to 1.35am.
Journey time is 30 minutes and the service is non-stop to Victoria station.
Thameslink provide direct trains from Gatwick Airport to Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras International that leave four times an hour. Southern also offers regular train services during the day from Gatwick to London Victoria via East Croydon and Clapham Junction.
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National Express runs frequent services between Gatwick and Victoria Coach Station. Coaches run approximately every 30 minutes. Journey time varies according to route, most are about one hour 20 minutes. Some services stop at Hooley, Wallington, Mitcham Junction, Mitcham London Road, Streatham, Stockwell and Pimlico.
EasyBus also offers a high-frequency, low-cost express bus service between Gatwick Airport and Earls Court/West Brompton. The easyBus service runs throughout the day and night, direct with no stops. The journey takes just over one hour.
There are usually taxis queuing for customers at London’s airports. Only use a black cab or reputable mini-cab and never use unauthorised drivers. The official Gatwick taxi concession is Airport Cars Gatwick. You can ask the driver for an estimate of how much your journey will cost beforehand. Find out more from the TfL taxi fares page.
If you’d prefer to drive along the roads of Central London yourself, then you can hire a car at the airport. You can also find out where to park your car in London on the NCP website.
The Gatwick Express rail service has a range of features to make travelling easy for everyone, including dedicated areas for passengers with wheelchairs. For information visit the Gatwick Express website.
Southern provides assistance boarding and alighting from trains, and will alert station staff to the needs of disabled travellers. The company also provides a free taxi service for disabled travellers at stations with restricted access, which takes them to the next accessible station on their route. More information on the Southern website.
First Capital Connect’s staff has training to help passengers with accessibility requirements. You should contact them at least 24 hours before travelling. Visit the First Capital Connect website for more details.
National Express can help with accessibility requirements if you contact them at least 36 hours before you are due to travel. For more details see the National Express website.
London Stansted Airport (STN) is the UK’s third busiest airport and one of the fastest growing airports in Europe.
The airport Location 64km (40 miles) to the north-east of London. It is home to many of the UK’s low-cost airlines, serving mostly European and Mediterranean destinations.
The Stansted Airport Arrivals hall has a range of shops, restaurants, currency exchange services and car rental reservation desks.
Stansted Airport Departures can be found on the ground floor. After checking-in, passengers must clear security control before entering the departure lounge, where there’s a selection of shops, bars and restaurants.
There are frequent trains to London from Stansted Airport. Stansted Express is the quickest way into Central London. Full-service trains leave the airport from approximately 5.30am (depending on the day of the week) to 11.45pm (or until 12.30am without stopping at Tottenham Hale – services operate later during weekends). Trains run every 15 minutes. The journey time is 47 minutes and most trains stop at Tottenham Hale station before terminating at Liverpool Street station.
If you are going to be in London for more than one day, it’s worth booking a Visitor Oyster Card in advance. The Visitor Oyster Card is Sent to your home before you arrive in London. If you do not have a Visitor Oyster Card before you arrive, you can purchase Visitor Oyster Cards at Stansted Airport train station, before continuing your journey into Central London with the Stansted Express. You will be able to use your Visitor Oyster Card as soon as you reach Tottenham Hale or Liverpool Street station.
24×7 Stansted operates a 24-hour service to and from the airport. Black cabs do not operate from Stansted although you can catch one to the airport. Visit Stansted Airport’s taxi page. The cost of all taxis is on meter and displayed inside the cab. Extra charges, such as evening and weekend journeys are also shown here
The Stansted Express rail service has equipment for disabled passengers with specially designed seating areas and toilet facilities. Visit the Stansted Express website for more information on the service.
Currently easyBus services on the Stansted route do not cater for wheelchairs due to the size of the buses. The easyBus website has more details. There are a number of airport hotels near London Stansted, with the majority offering airport transfers and other services.
London Luton Airport (LTN) is one of the UK’s largest airports, carrying 9.7 million passengers in 2013. The airport is a major base for low-cost or “no-frills” air travel and is located just 56km (35 miles) north-west of Central London. To see LTN’s exact location.
The Luton Airport Arrivals lounge is home to shops, bars, restaurants, a currency exchange and an onward travel centre where you can arrange car hire or book bus and coach tickets. The Luton Airport Departures lounge has a babycare room, shops, restaurants, bars and a currency exchange.
If you are going to be in London for more than a day, it’s worth booking a Visitor Oyster Card in advance. The Visitor Oyster Card is sent to your home before you arrive in London. It is one of the easiest ways to get around London.
If you do not have a Visitor Oyster Card, but still plan to travel around London for more than a day, buy an Oyster card from National Express at the airport and in the Onward Travel Centre. You cannot use your Visitor Oyster Card or Oyster Card until you reach either St Pancras International, Farringdon, London Bridge or Blackfriars in London.
Travelling from Luton Airport to London by Train. There are frequent trains to London from Luton Airport Parkway train station. A regular shuttle bus links the airport to Luton Airport Parkway train station in around 10 minutes.
From there, rail services travel to Central London in as little as 21 minutes with East Midlands Trains. Thameslink also operate direct trains to Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras International.
There are six trains leaving every hour and trains once an hour through the night. The journey to London from Luton Airport, including the bus transfer, is roughly 40 minutes.
National Express services depart from bays 4, 5, 6 and 10 outside the airport terminal. There are 75 services between Luton Airport and Central London every day. The journey time is roughly one hour and 15 minutes. Pick up and drop off points in Central London are: Finchley Road, St John’s Wood, Marylebone, Portman Square, Golders Green, Victoria Rail Station and Victoria Coach Station.
easy Bus offers a high-frequency, low-cost express bus service between Central London and Luton Airport. There are stops at Brent Cross, Finchley Road, Baker Street, Oxford Street/Marble Arch and London Victoria.
Terravision offer a low-cost coach service into Central London from Luton Airport. At peak times buses depart every 20 minutes and stop at Brent Cross, Baker Street and Marble Arch on their way to Victoria Coach Station. You can also travel between London Luton Airport and London Victoria with GreenLine 757. Located at Bay 7 outside the terminal building.
There are usually taxis queuing for customers at Luton Airport. Enquire with the driver or mini-cab company beforehand to find out how much your journey will cost. Only use a reputable mini-cab and never use unauthorised drivers.
Luton Airport Parking. If you wish to drive to Luton Airport, there are a range of short-term and long-term car parks. Find out more on the NCP (National Car Parks) website.
