Airport Overview

Originally called London Airport until 1966 and now known as London Heathrow, LHR airport is among the world's busiest airports. Owned and operated by Heathrow Airport Holdings, Heathrow lies 14 miles (23 km) west of Central London, and has two parallel east–west runways along with four operational terminals on a site that covers 12.27 square kilometres (4.74 sq mi).

LHR Airport Stats & Facts

• Heathrow is the second busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic.
• It is the busiest airport in Europe by passenger traffic
• LHR is one of six international airports serving the London region.
• In 2019, the airport handled a record 80.8 million passengers.

Airport Traveling Tips

• Passengers are recommended to arrive at least 2 hours before the scheduled flight departure.
• To make your journey hassle-free, make sure to carry all the required documents such as photo identification, etc.
• Before heading to the airport for a flight, please have a look at the LHR Airport Map here.

Passenger Pickup and Drop-off

• Passengers can be dropped-off at the terminal forecourt. Just remember that waiting isn’t permitted there for security reasons.
• For picking up passengers, drivers can wait in the Short Stay Car Parks that remain open for drive-up customers.

Flight Status

• For arriving flights: Arrival flight status provides the arrival times, gate information, delays, and time to land for the Heathrow Airport.
• For departing flights: Departing flight status lists scheduled vs actual departure, gate information, map tracking, and flight delays.
• To get the best fares, book a flight at LHR.

Airport Terminals

Heathrow Airport has four terminals - Terminal 2, Terminal 3, Terminal 4, and Terminal 5.

Terminal 2

Officially known as the Queen's Terminal, this is the newest terminal at Heathrow Airport. It is used by all Star Alliance members which fly from Heathrow, and includes a satellite pier (T2B), a 1,340-space car park, and a cooling station to generate chilled water. There are 52 shops and 17 bars and restaurants at this terminal.

Terminal 3

Terminal 3 opened as the Oceanic Terminal on 13 November 1961 to handle flight departures for long-haul routes for foreign carriers to the United States, Asia and other Far Eastern destinations.

Terminal 4

Opened in 1986, Terminal 4 is situated to the south of the southern runway next to the cargo terminal and is connected to Terminals 2 and 3 by the Heathrow Cargo Tunnel. The terminal is now home to the SkyTeam alliance, with the exception of Delta Air Lines and Middle East Airlines, which use Terminal 3.

Terminal 5

Terminal 5 lies between the northern and southern runways at the western end of the Heathrow site and was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 14 March 2008. The terminal consists of a four-story main terminal building (Concourse A) and two satellite buildings linked to the main terminal by an underground people mover transit system.

• Concourse A has a dedicated British Airways's narrow body fleet for flights around the UK and the rest of Europe.
• The first satellite (Concourse B) includes dedicated stands for BA and Iberia's wide body fleet except for the Airbus A380.
• The second satellite (Concourse C), includes dedicated aircraft stands for the A380.

For more information, please refer to the LHR Terminal Map here.

Airlines Served

A myriad of airlines serve at Heathrow airport including British Airways, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and many more.

View the full list of airlines served at LHR here.

Airport Parking

Short Stay Parking

The Short Stay parking is just 1-2 minutes walk from the terminal. It features 24/7 security monitoring, LED lighting to aid navigation & seamless payment/access, etc.

Rates:

0 - 29 minutes - £5.10

30 - 44 minutes - £8.20

45 - 59 minutes - £11

1 - 2 hours - £13.90

2 - 3 hours - £17.10

3 - 4 hours - £20.70

4 - 5 hours - £26.50

5 - 6 hours - £34.10

6 - 9 hours - £46.50

9 - 12 hours - £60.80

12 - 24 hours - £73.90

Each additional 24 hour period - £73.90

Long Stay Parking

Long Stay Parking is a convenient option for passengers that prefer to stay in control, simply drive-in, and park their car themselves.

Rates:

0 - 2 hours - Free

First day - £33.30

Additional 24 hour periods - £26.80

Ground Transport

From taxis to limos, rental cars to shuttles to buses, and more, passengers have plenty of options for ground transportation after arriving at the Heathrow airport.

Car Rentals

The car rentals operators have reception desks in arrivals. Passengers can book their rental car for pick-up at Heathrow with global car hire partners including Alamo, Avis, Hertz, etc.

Taxis

Passengers can book a fixed-price journey via taxi from the airport online or by telephone and the driver will meet in arrivals or drop outside departures.

Buses

Heathrow Airport is well connected to by local buses, and fares are great value compared and some services operate 24 hours a day.

Amenities & Services

For visitors to have a great stay, Heathrow Airport provides plenty of amenities and services including:

• Store, gift shops, and local souvenir shops.
• Restaurants, bars, and cafes.
• Shoeshine stations, and massage bars.
• Vending machines, currency exchanges, and banks/ATMs.

Contact Information

Address: 234 Bath Road, Harlington, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 5AP, GBR

Website: http://www.heathrowairport.com

Phone: +44 844 335 1801 or 0844 335 1801

Heathrow Airport: A Brief History Timeline

• Heathrow Airport originated in 1929 as a small airfield on land south-east of the hamlet of Heathrow from which the airport takes its name.
• In 1944, the development of the whole Heathrow area as a much larger airport began.
• The airport was opened on 25 March 1946 as London Airport and was renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966.
• The airport has its own resident press corps, consisting of six photographers and one TV crew.
• Until 2008, air traffic between Heathrow and the United States was strictly governed by the countries' bilateral Bermuda II treaty.
• Following the opening of Phase 1 of the new Terminal 2 in June 2014, all Star Alliance member airlines along with Aer Lingus and Germanwings relocated to Terminal 2.