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London Heathrow Airport
London, United Kingdom
London Heathrow Airport
Britain's busiest hub, connecting the world to London.
- ›Heathrow handled approximately 79.2 million passengers in 2019, making it one of the world's busiest airports that year.
- ›The airport has operated with only two runways despite decades of debate over adding a third.
- ›Terminal 5, opened in 2008, is dedicated almost entirely to British Airways operations.
- ›Heathrow is the UK's largest port by value of goods traded.
- ›The Heathrow Express rail service connects the airport to London Paddington in approximately 15 minutes.
London Heathrow Airport, opened in 1946, is the United Kingdom's largest and busiest airport and one of the highest-traffic aviation hubs in the world. Serving over 80 million passengers annually before the pandemic, it functions as a primary intercontinental gateway connecting the British capital to more than 180 destinations across six continents. Its layered history, continuous expansion, and status as a British Airways home base give it an outsized role in global aviation.
- Terminal 2 (The Queen's Terminal) — Home to Star Alliance carriers and select others, opened in its current form in 2014 with modern architecture and extensive retail.
- Terminal 3 — Handles long-haul flights for oneworld and SkyTeam partners including American Airlines, Emirates, and Virgin Atlantic.
- Terminal 4 — Serves a mix of SkyTeam carriers and independent airlines, connected to the main campus via the free Heathrow Express Pod.
- Terminal 5 — Exclusive to British Airways and Iberia, this is Heathrow's largest and most modern terminal, opened in 2008.
- Heathrow Express train to London Paddington in approximately 15 minutes
- Elizabeth line (Crossrail) connecting to central London and beyond
- London Underground Piccadilly line serving the city centre in around 45–60 minutes
- National Express and other coach services to Victoria Coach Station and regional cities
- Licensed black cabs and pre-booked minicabs available at all terminals
- Car rental desks located in the Terminal 1–3 area and Terminal 5
- Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5
- Sofitel London Heathrow (Terminal 5, on-site)
- Radisson Blu Edwardian Heathrow
- Marriott London Heathrow
- IBIS London Heathrow Airport
Heathrow offers an extensive range of dining across all terminals, from Gordon Ramsay's Plane Food in Terminal 5 to familiar high-street brands such as Wagamama, Pret a Manger, and Wetherspoon pubs. Terminal 2 and Terminal 5 in particular feature sit-down restaurants alongside quick-service options catering to early departures and long layovers. Outside the airport, the nearby towns of Hounslow and Hayes offer affordable South Asian cuisine and local British pubs within a short taxi or bus ride.
- Check which terminal your airline uses before travel — terminals are not all directly connected on foot.
- The Elizabeth line offers the best value rail connection into central London compared to the premium-priced Heathrow Express.
- Allow extra time during peak morning hours (6–9am) as security queues at all terminals can be lengthy.
- If transiting between terminals, use the free inter-terminal bus or the Heathrow Pod (for Terminal 4) rather than exiting the airport.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
Route map (168 destinations)
Airlines serving this airport
Routes
Stay, Eat & Explore: London
History and modernity on the Thames
- •Tower of London — A 950-year-old fortress guarding the Crown Jewels.
- •British Museum — Human history under one roof — from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures.
- •Buckingham Palace — The monarch's official residence; catch the Changing of the Guard.
- •Westminster & Big Ben — Parliament, the Abbey and the world's most famous clock tower.
- •South Bank & London Eye — Riverside culture mile from Tate Modern to Borough Market.
Getting around: The Underground, Overground, Elizabeth line and iconic red buses cover the city; Heathrow/Gatwick/Stansted link by express trains. Contactless payment works everywhere.
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London Heathrow Airport – named London Airport until 1966 – is the primary and largest international airport serving London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It is the largest of the six international airports in the London airport system.
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