London Airport Guide

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is London's main long-haul hub. It has four passenger terminals: 2, 3, 4, and 5. Confirm your terminal before travel, but pay even closer attention when connecting: a protected connection and a self-connection follow very different processes here.

If your flights are on one through-ticket, follow the purple Flight Connections signs and use the airport's connection route. If you booked separate tickets, you must enter the UK, collect your baggage, travel to the departure terminal if necessary, check in again, and clear security as a new passenger. That distinction matters more than the physical terminal distance.

London's Other Airports

London is served by six airports. Budget carriers often offer fares 50-70% cheaper than Heathrow—always compare all airports when booking.

Gatwick (LGW) — 41 km south

• Second busiest UK airport
• easyJet's largest base, plus British Airways, Norwegian
• Gatwick Express to Victoria (30 min, £20)
• Best for: Budget European travel, South London stays

London City (LCY) — 36 km east

• Closest to the City of London financial district
• Premium focus: BA CityFlyer, KLM, Swiss
• DLR direct to Bank/Canary Wharf (22 min, £5)
• Best for: Business travelers, East London/Docklands

Stansted (STN) — 67 km northeast

• Ryanair's main London base
• Stansted Express to Liverpool Street (47 min, £20)
• Best for: Budget European flights, Essex/East Anglia

Luton (LTN) — 45 km north

• easyJet and Wizz Air hub
• Thameslink to St Pancras (25-40 min, £18)
• Best for: Budget travel, North London

Comparison:

Airport	Main carriers	To Central London	Cost
Heathrow (LHR)	BA, Star Alliance	30-40 min (Elizabeth)	£12.80
Gatwick (LGW)	easyJet, BA	30 min (Express)	£20
Stansted (STN)	Ryanair	47 min (Express)	£20
Luton (LTN)	easyJet, Wizz	25-40 min	£18
City (LCY)	BA, KLM	22 min (DLR)	£5

Pro tip: For short-haul Europe, check Stansted/Luton first—fares can be £50-150 cheaper. For long-haul and connections, Heathrow's network is unmatched. Gatwick offers a middle ground with both budget and legacy carriers.

For a through-ticket, follow the purple Flight Connections signs as soon as you leave the aircraft. Screens in the connections area confirm the terminal for your onward flight.

• Different terminal on a protected connection: Use the free flight-connections bus; Heathrow says it operates about every 10 minutes.
• Same terminal: Follow the signed walking route or the connection transport provided for that terminal building.
• Security: Every connecting passenger goes through security again at Heathrow, even when remaining airside.
• Baggage: Bags are often checked through on a protected itinerary, but this is airline-specific. Confirm at your origin airport.
• Separate tickets: Follow yellow Arrivals signs, clear immigration, collect your bag, exit customs, transfer terminals if needed, check in, and pass security again. Allow substantially more time than you would for a protected connection.

The catch: A short terminal transfer does not remove the security step. Keep your onward boarding pass and cabin baggage ready, and use Heathrow's connection planner for your exact arriving and departing flights.

Heathrow gives you three direct rail choices to Central London. Pick the one that matches your destination rather than automatically paying for the fastest train:

• Heathrow Express: Fastest to Paddington—15 minutes from Terminals 2 and 3, with trains every 15 minutes. Terminal 5 takes about five minutes longer; Terminal 4 requires a free change at Terminals 2 and 3.
• Elizabeth line: Direct to Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, and Liverpool Street, with Central London journeys under 40 minutes.
• Piccadilly line: The budget rail option, serving all terminals and reaching Central London in about 50 minutes.
• National Express: Coaches to various UK destinations

The Elizabeth line is the practical default for many Central London destinations because it avoids a transfer at Paddington. Heathrow Express makes the most sense when Paddington is convenient or the shortest possible rail time matters.

Uber and other private-hire services are available at Heathrow. Follow the pickup instructions in your app carefully because collection areas vary by terminal.

Licensed black cabs queue outside every terminal and charge metered fares. For Central London, compare the live road estimate with rail before you leave arrivals; Heathrow advises allowing at least an hour by car, and traffic can add more.

The Elizabeth line is usually the strongest all-round option when your destination is near one of its Central London stations:

• It serves Terminals 2 and 3, Terminal 4, and Terminal 5.
• Central London journeys take under 40 minutes.
• Use Oyster or contactless, and check the TfL journey planner for the fare and service pattern at your travel time.

The Piccadilly line is the lower-cost option. Heathrow currently lists off-peak fares through Zone 1 from £5.90, with a journey of about 50 minutes to Central London. It is direct to stops including King's Cross St Pancras, Leicester Square, and Piccadilly Circus.

The Heathrow Express is fastest to Paddington. Trains run every 15 minutes, and advance single tickets start from £10 when booked at least 30 days ahead; flexible or last-minute tickets cost more.

Heathrow offers extensive parking options:

• Short Stay: From £5.50/hour, closest to terminals
• Long Stay: From £6.50/day, free shuttle to terminals
• Business Parking: Premium spots for frequent travelers

Pre-booking online typically saves 60% or more versus drive-up rates. Third-party services like Purple Parking offer competitive alternatives with shuttle service.

Heathrow's dining has improved significantly:

• Terminal 2: The Gorgeous Kitchen, Comptoir Libanais, Carluccio's
• Terminal 3: Wagamama, The Grain Store, Gordon Ramsay Plane Food
• Terminal 4: Yo! Sushi, Giraffe, Pret A Manger
• Terminal 5: Gordon Ramsay Plane Food, Fortnum & Mason, The Perfectionist's Café

Terminal 5's offerings are particularly impressive, with Gordon Ramsay's restaurant and the Fortnum & Mason bar being highlights.

Free WiFi is available throughout Heathrow. Connect to "Heathrow Wi-Fi" and register with an email address. Speed is reasonable for general browsing.

For faster, ad-free connections, purchase Boingo access or use airline lounge WiFi. Most British Airways and oneworld lounges offer excellent connectivity.

SIM cards are available at:

• WHSmith stores (all terminals)
• Vodafone and EE stores (Terminal 5, Arrivals)
• Carphone Warehouse (Terminal 3)

UK pay-as-you-go SIMs from GiffGaff, Three, or Vodafone offer good value with EU roaming included. Order online before travel for best rates.

ATMs are located throughout all terminals, operated by major UK banks including Barclays, HSBC, and NatWest. Foreign transaction fees vary by your card.

Currency exchange at Travelex and Moneycorp is available but rates are poor. Use your bank card at ATMs or exchange currency before arrival for better rates.

Heathrow offers world-class duty-free shopping:

• World Duty Free: Main duty-free retailer with shops in all terminals
• Harrods: Mini-version in Terminal 3 and 5
• Fortnum & Mason: British luxury goods in Terminal 5
• Burberry, Mulberry: British fashion (Terminal 5)

For British souvenirs, Harrods and Fortnum & Mason offer quality options, though at premium prices.

Hotels near Heathrow cater to all budgets:

• Sofitel London Heathrow: Connected to Terminal 5
• Hilton Garden Inn: Connected to Terminal 2
• Premier Inn Heathrow: Budget-friendly with Bath Road options
• YOTEL: Capsule-style rooms inside Terminals 4 and 5

The YOTEL concept is perfect for short layovers, with rooms bookable by the hour starting around £40 for 4 hours.

From Heathrow, London's attractions are easily accessible:

• Central London (West End, Oxford Street): 30-45 minutes via Elizabeth Line
• Windsor Castle: 30 minutes by bus or taxi
• Stonehenge: Day trips available via National Express
• Oxford or Cambridge: 90-120 minutes by coach

Get an Oyster card or use contactless payment for the best fares on London transport. Daily price caps mean you'll never overpay for tube and bus travel.