London Heathrow Airport

About London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow Airport (IATA: LHR, ICAO: EGLL) is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom. It sits in the London Borough of Hillingdon, about 14 miles (23 km) west of central London, between the M4 and M25 motorways. UK Civil Aviation Authority figures show that Heathrow handled 84,462,273 terminal passengers in 2025, or around 84.5 million, almost twice the total at Gatwick, the second busiest UK airport.

The airport is run by Heathrow Airport Limited. Its parent company, FGP Topco Limited, is owned by a group of international investors, with the investment firm Ardian as the largest shareholder. Heathrow is the main hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and handles a wide mix of long-haul and short-haul international flights.

Heathrow has two parallel runways, 09L/27R (3,902 metres) and 09R/27L (3,660 metres), and four passenger terminals in use: Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Plans for a third runway remain under consideration. In June 2026 the Department for Transport published a draft revised national policy statement for Heathrow expansion for public consultation, and no final planning decision has yet been made.

How to get to London Heathrow Airport

By train

Three rail services link Heathrow with London, and together they answer most questions about how to get to Heathrow Airport from the city:

• Heathrow Express: a non-stop service between London Paddington and Heathrow. The journey between Paddington and Terminals 2 and 3 takes about 15 minutes, with trains running every 15 minutes.
• Elizabeth line: calls at all three Heathrow rail stations (one for Terminals 2 and 3, one at Terminal 4 and one at Terminal 5). Direct trains serve Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Stratford, with journeys to central London taking under 40 minutes.
• Piccadilly line: the London Underground serves all Heathrow terminals. It is the lowest-cost rail option, with journeys to central London taking under an hour.

By road

Heathrow is reached from the M4 at Junction 4, where the M4 spur road leads to Terminals 2 and 3, and from the M25 at Junction 14, which has a slip road for Terminal 5. A Terminal Drop-Off Charge applies to vehicles dropping passengers at the terminal forecourts. Official parking is available on site, including short stay, long stay, park and ride and meet and greet options. Taxis and minicabs also serve the airport.

By bus and coach

Heathrow Central Bus Station is located between Terminals 2 and 3, directly above the London Underground station, and is reached by pedestrian subway. Most coach services for Terminals 2 and 3 depart from here, including National Express coaches to towns and cities across the UK. Coaches also link the airport with nearby railway stations, and local buses serve the surrounding area.

Terminal and facilities

Heathrow operates four terminals. Terminal 5 is the main base for British Airways, while the other terminals are shared by a large number of airlines. Passengers should check which terminal their airline uses before travelling, as the terminals are spread across the airport site. Services include:

• Fast Track security at all terminals, which can be booked by any passenger regardless of airline or cabin class.
• Assistance for passengers with reduced mobility or hidden disabilities, with assistance areas in departures and arrivals and dedicated assistance security lanes in Terminals 2, 3 and 5.
• Accessible toilets throughout the airport, including Changing Places facilities for departing passengers.
• Airport lounges that can be booked in advance, along with hotels close to the terminals.
• Online contact options, including the Heathrow contact centre on 0344 335 1801 and a web contact form.

Airlines and destinations

Heathrow serves destinations across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic both use the airport as their main hub, and Terminal 5 is the main base for British Airways. Many overseas airlines also operate scheduled services to Heathrow. Timetables change by season, so passengers should confirm current routes and terminals with their airline.

History

Heathrow opened as London Airport on 25 March 1946 and was renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966. The first permanent passenger buildings arrived in the 1950s, with the original Terminal 2 and the control tower opening in 1955. Terminal 3 opened on 13 November 1961, followed by Terminal 1 on 17 April 1968. Terminal 4 was opened on 1 April 1986 by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Terminal 5 opened on 14 March 2008 and became the home of British Airways. A rebuilt Terminal 2, known as the Queen's Terminal, opened in June 2014 on the site of the original building, and Terminal 1 closed on 30 June 2015, leaving the four terminals in use today.