London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

The largest and busiest airport in the UK, London Heathrow Airport (IATA code LHR), is located 14 miles (23km) west of Central London. Based in the borough of Hillingdon, Heathrow is considered to be the gateway to many cities across the globe, acting as a base to numerous international travel connections and facilitating over 80 million journeys per year to over 200 destinations on six continents. LHR has five terminals in operation: Terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5 (Terminal 1 has closed down), which facilitate travel for business and pleasure visitors to the UK.

Contact Details Of Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Whether you are traveling from, to, or through Heathrow, this extensive guide will be useful, covering airline terminals, baggage claim, lounges, maps, parking, shops, smoking areas, as well as security wait times.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) Airlines

Heathrow Airport is home to some 90 different airlines that fly from and to numerous global destinations. Due to its slot-constrained position as a key aviation hub, the airlines that prefer LHR tend to be those that have a full-service model, as well as being part of the large international alliances.

Key airlines flying from LHR by terminal:

Terminal 2:The Queen’s Terminal: This is predominantly served by United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Swiss International Air Lines, Croatia Airlines, and other members of the Star Alliance and SkyTeam alliances.

Terminal 3: This terminal predominantly serves American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Hainan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and several carriers from the Middle East and Africa.

Terminal 4: KLM, Air France, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Etihad Airways, and various oneworld and SkyTeam carriers fly from here.

Terminal 5: British Airways Hub: Terminal 5 exclusively hosts British Airways operations, which makes up British Airways’ global home. This terminal also hosts some flights from Iberia.

Please ensure you confirm which terminal you need to travel from, as airlines may switch terminals. Use the official Heathrow terminal checker, which you can find on heathrow.com.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) Baggage Claim

Baggage claim at London Heathrow Airport can be found on the arrivals level of all terminals. After completing your Immigration and Customs, follow the well-signposted signs to the baggage reclaim hall and find your allocated carousel. The carousel number is indicated by flight number displayed on screens overhead.

Baggage Claim by Terminal:

• Terminal 2: Baggage carousels are located on Level 0 (Ground Floor) within the arrivals section. Updated information regarding carousel destinations is shown on screens located throughout the terminal.
• Terminal 3: Reclaim belts are located directly after Immigration, on the lower ground floor arrivals section.
• Terminal 4: Has a spacious baggage hall with a selection of carousels on the ground level, well signposted from the Immigration hall.
• Terminal 5: Terminal 5 has 2 sub-terminals, T5A, T5B and T5C. Baggage is retrieved from carousels situated in the main T5 building. Arriving via T5B or T5C, passengers are taken to T5A on the transit system before proceeding to collect their baggage.

Delayed or Missing Luggage: If you baggage fails to arrive, contact your airline’s baggage services desk situated within the arrivals hall, prior to leaving the airport. For British Airways the WorldTracer system can be found online as well as in Terminal 5. Most airlines have baggage desks open when flights are expected to arrive.

Left Luggage: Luggage storage services at Heathrow are provided by Excess Baggage Company throughout all terminals for both long- and short-term periods. It is recommended to book your baggage storage online in advance during busy periods.

London Heathrow (LHR) Lounges

London Heathrow (LHR) boasts an incredible selection of premier and pay-as-you-go airport lounges catering to everyone, from business travelers and elite frequent flyers to anyone who simply wants to relax and upgrade their airport experience.

Airline-specific lounges:

• British Airways lounges (Terminal 5): BA have a vast array of lounges in T5, including the First Class lounge & Spa, the exclusive Concorde room for First class and Gold card holders, Club lounges for business class travelers and the Gallery Club & Arrivals lounges. These are some of the best airline lounges in the world.
• Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse (Terminal 3): One of the most talked about lounges in the world offering spa treatment rooms, a restaurant and bar. This is available for all Upper Class passengers & eligible Flying Club members.
• American Airlines Admirals Club (Terminal 3): This is accessible for all AAdvantage premier members and qualifying passengers.
• United Club (Terminal 2): United Polaris Business Class passengers and all eligible MileagePlus Premier members are welcome in the United Club at LHR.
• Lufthansa Business Lounge (Terminal 2): for all Lufthansa and Miles & More card members.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) Terminal Maps

To get around Heathrow Airport, you can find terminal maps, guides to inter-terminal transport, and digital information points located around the airport.

Heathrow Terminal Maps:

• Terminal 2 (T2): A terminal with two piers, called Pier A and B gates, which spans several floors. The main shopping and eating facilities are on level two, the departures level is three, and the arrivals level is zero.
• Terminal 3 (T3): A single-terminal airport building with gates 1 to 35. There are many airside shops and restaurants between the security area and the gates.
• Terminal 4 (T4): This is a stand-alone terminal in the south of the Heathrow Airport campus, connected to the main airport area by the Heathrow Express and the free inter-terminal bus services. It has gates 10-22 and several satellites accessible by the airside transit system.
• Terminal 5 (T5): This is the largest Heathrow terminal with T5A (main building), T5B, and T5C (satellite gates). Internal transit trains will connect T5A with T5B and T5C airside.

London Heathrow (LHR) Car Parking 

Heathrow offers a great selection of car parking to suit any budget or needs, from brief pick-up or drop-off situations to long-stay facilities all across its four operational terminals.

Parking Types:

Short Stay: The closest car park to each terminal entrance, perfect for quick pick-ups/drop-offs and journeys up to 12 hours. Heathrow’s short-stay car parks are individually designated for each terminal and come with higher per-hour costs but supreme convenience.

Long Stay: Situated away from terminals but linked by an ever-present 24-hour shuttle bus service, Heathrow’s long stay car parks (Business Long Stay and Economy Long Stay) are the most cost-effective option for multi-day journeys and the most popular choice among holiday travellers.

Terminal Dedicated Car Parks:

• T5 Short Stay & Long Stay: Right next to or underneath T5.
• T2 & T3 Car Parks: Central Terminal Area provides shared parking.
• T4 Car Parks: Separate short-stay & long-stay parking options around T4’s perimeter.

Valet Parking: Premium Valet parking is available at T2, T3, and T5 to enable drivers to leave their cars right outside terminal entrances and benefit from extra services, including Chauffeur Drive (standard) and Premium Chauffeur Drive services.

Meet & Greet Parking: An incredibly popular service with those requiring door-to-door service, you hand the car keys to a member of staff at the terminal and leave the vehicle. While Heathrow offer their own official Meet and Greet service, there is a host of 3rd party providers operating at the airport offering a wealth of competitive deals.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) Shop

Considered by many to be among the world’s best airports to shop, LHR features an enticing blend of luxury brands, high street retailers, duty-free stores, and shops dedicated to British goods.

Shopping within each Terminal:

Terminal 2: Combines luxury travel retail shops with an array of brands including Harrods, WHSmith, Boots, and designer fashion and accessory stores. World Duty Free and other duty-free and tax-free goods can be found airside after passing through security.

Terminal 3: Contains an extensive airside shopping district offering products from top names such as Burberry, Harrods, Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, TAG Heuer, and Tiffany & Co. Along with a World Duty Free with a wide selection of duty-free alcohol, tobacco, perfumes, and cosmetics.

Terminal 4: Boasts a carefully selected range of fashion, beauty, and food retail opportunities. Post-security, travelers will find a large World Duty Free store alongside WHSmith, Dixons and Boots.

Terminal 5: The home of British Airways is the location of Heathrow’s highest-end shopping experience. Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Bulgari, Cartier, Dior, Mulberry and Selfridges are among the impressive retailers found at Terminal 5, making this shopping area a world-class destination for premium brands.

Main Categories of Shops at LHR:

• Duty Free & Travel Retail: Purchase perfumes, cosmetics, alcohol, tobacco and confectionery tax-free as you depart internationally.
• Luxury & Fashion: Browse designer boutiques in all of the top-brand fashions and accessories available throughout the airport, notably in Terminals 3 and 5.
• British Specialties: Find uniquely British items with stores such as Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, Penhaligon’s, and Jo Malone London.
• Tech & Electronics: Purchase the latest in electronic gadgets and travel items at Dixons Travel and similar outlets.
• Books & Convenience: Several WHSmith stores offer travelers the latest reads, snacks, and convenient travel needs throughout the airport.

Pre-order & reserve: Via Heathrow’s Reserve & Collect system, passengers may pre-order duty-free and retail goods up to 90 days in advance of their travel date, allowing for convenient in-store pick-up.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) Smoking Areas

It is illegal to smoke in all the enclosed public areas of Heathrow, as in all enclosed public areas in the UK. Heathrow does, however, offer designated smoking areas for travellers in all its landside areas (which are pre-security areas). These smoking areas are located outside the terminal buildings.

• Terminal 2: The smoking areas are located on the ground floor outside the departures entrance of T2.
• Terminal 3: A smoking zone has been created just outside the entrance of the airport terminal.
• Terminal 4: The outside area of the terminal entrance is permitted to be used as a smoking area.
• Terminal 5: Smoking is permitted in areas outside of the drop-off level in the T5 entrance area.

London Heathrow (LHR) Security Wait Times

The average security wait times at London Heathrow airport (LHR) can differ significantly by terminal, time of day, time of year, and events elsewhere in the world. An understanding of the best times to travel and how best to prepare can make all the difference to your experience of travelling through LHR.

Average security wait times: Off-peak waits (early mornings on weekdays, and during mid-week afternoons, especially away from summer or holidays) at most LHR terminals are around 10-20 minutes. During peak periods – morning rush hours (5-9 am), school holidays, and in summer (June-August) and bank holidays – queues can easily become 30-60 minutes, and sometimes longer.

Real-time security wait times tools:

• Heathrow Airport app: The official Heathrow Airport app gives estimated real-time queue information for each of Heathrow’s terminals.
• heathrow.com: This page also offers real-time queue information by terminal.
• Third party apps: Some apps like LoungeBuddy and FlightAware, which offer crowd-sourced travel data including wait times, will sometimes provide real-time queuing estimates for the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)