London Heathrow Airport: an Outline of the Leading London Airport
London Heathrow Airport is also known as LHR Airport or simply London Airport, as it is London’s main airport, serving the UK capital and the nearby regions. It is named after the ancient village located in the area where the airport was built. LHR Airport lies west of the city of London, within a 16-mile/26-km distance from the city center. London is served by six aviation hubs in total (Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Luton, Stansted, and Southend). Nevertheless, Heathrow Airport is the foremost airport in London and the leading hub in the UK.
London Heathrow Airport opened its doors in 1929 as a limited-dimension aerodrome. It really started becoming an important airport after World War II, under the name “London Airport”. However, it was renamed in 1966, taking its current name -London Heathrow Airport. Nowadays, it is the second-busiest airport in terms of international passenger traffic, not only in Europe but around the globe. It is also among the top 10 busiest air hubs when it comes to total passenger movement. Verily, in 2022 it welcomed more than 62 million passengers, overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic damage and becoming the airport with the most growth in passenger traffic. Still, it closed the year at a loss. However, it is expected to become fully profitable again during 2023.
LHR Airport constantly takes action toward becoming a passenger-friendly and sustainable aerodrome. Thus, it has, for example, implemented the world’s largest integrated luggage system while taking measures to reduce emissions, noise, and CO2. That’s the reason why it has won multiple awards for many years in a row, such as the Best Airport in Western Europe, Best Airport for Shopping, Best Airport Terminal (for T5), etc.
Interesting Facts: London Airport employs chaplains from every major religion. Verily, passengers can find Anglican, Catholic, Free Church, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh chaplains. What’s more, the streets forming the airport complex are named after their location. Thus, roads lying in the North part of LHR start with the letter “N” (ex. Newall Road), while those situated in the South with the letter “S” (ex. Scylla Road).
Airport Name: Heathrow Airport
IATA Code: LHR
ICAO: EGLL
Location: London Borough of Hillingdon, England, United Kingdom
Time Zone: Western European Time (UTC)
Airport Map: Heathrow Airport at Google Maps
Airlines Operating at Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport serves more than 82 airlines and 203 destinations all over the world. As a matter of fact, it handles flights departing or arriving from 84 countries. Housing international providers, domestic air carriers, low-cost airlines, and conventional agencies, London Airport is home to British Airways -the national flag air carrier- while being a major hub for Virgin Atlantic.
Heathrow Airport’s Layout
London Heathrow Airport consists of two parallel runways (east-west) and 116 gates. In fact, 24 out of them can handle flights operated by Airbus A380. Furthermore, four passenger terminals and one cargo terminal are to be found in LHR. The civil terminals are named 2,3,4, and 5, as terminal 1 was permanently closed in 2015.
Interesting Fact: Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. Still, it has only two runways. As a result, flight delays are a relatively common phenomenon in LHR.
Parking Facilities
A leading aviation hub such as London Heathrow Airport couldn’t but be equipped with all the necessary services and facilities to fully meet its passengers’ parking needs. Thus, LHR passengers looking for a short-stay parking option can use the Short-term Parking Lots, lying only 2 minutes from the airport terminals, whereas travelers planning on parking their car for a long period of time head to the more budget-friendly Long-term Parking. Moreover, Heathrow Airport Parking is tailored to travelers’ requirements. Hence, it offers Business, Meet & Greet, and Valet parking services and amenities.
Transit Options
London Airport is well-connected to London. Although it is mainly linked to the city center, plans are made to be further connected to other parts of London as well. For the time being, LHR passengers can travel from Heathrow Airport to city center via:
- An airport taxi or a minicab
- A train line or the subway
- A local bus
- A Heathrow airport transfer
- An airport car rental
Services and Amenities
London Heathrow Airport is a modern aerodrome, providing its passengers with an overall pleasant traveling experience. Thus, it offers all the anticipated services and amenities and even more. Explicitly, it offers:
- Countless cafes, restaurants, and bars
- A wide selection of retail stores, and Duty-free areas
- Baggage carts / Luggage wrapping / Luggage Storage
- Meet & Greet services
- Pharmacies /Medical services
- Postal services
- Banks / ATMs / Currency exchange areas
- Children’s playgrounds / Family-friendly amenities
- Lost & Found offices
- Multi-faith prayer rooms / St George’s Interdenominational Chapel
- Pet relief zones
- Smoking areas
- Meeting rooms
- Lounges / Spa facilities
- Inside-the-airport hotels
- Wi-Fi
- Charging stations
- Travel agencies and tour operators
- Information kiosks
- Special services and amenities for passengers with disabilities
Contact Info
Official Name: Heathrow Airport
Address: The Compass Centre, Nelson Road, Hounslow Middlesex, TW6 2GW
Phone Number: 0844 335 1801
The City of London
The main concern of travelers visiting London is this; what to do first out of the countless worthwhile city’ sights and attractions? Verily, London is among the top destinations in the world, attracting millions of visitors who get charmed by its history, its museums and art galleries, and also by its well-known pubs, its theatrical scene, and its wild nightlife. That being said, a journey to London is never enough. From the House of Parliament, Big Ben, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace, to Westminster Abbey, the British Museum, the National Gallery, and the famous Covent Garden and Kensington Gardens, when traveling to London, you’ll have some serious picking to do out the numerous city’s highlights.
FAQs
Is Heathrow the biggest airport in the world?
London Heathrow Airport is among the biggest and busiest aviation hubs in the world, but it is not the biggest one. As a matter of fact, it is the 7th biggest airport worldwide and the largest airport in Europe.
Which is the biggest airport in London?
The city of London is served by six air hubs. Verily, Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Luton, Stansted, and Southend handle flights from and to London. Still, the main airport in London (as well as the major UK aerodrome) is Heathrow Airport.
Is Heathrow Airport difficult?
Heathrow Airport is a huge air hub. As a matter of fact, it is listed among the biggest airports in the world. Nevertheless, it isn’t considered a particularly difficult aerodrome to navigate, as it is efficiently organized and equipped with more than enough signage.
Which London Airport is better?
Heathrow is the biggest and busiest airport in London. It is a modern, international aviation hub, offering a wide variety of services and comforts to its passengers. Still, waiting in line is always a possibility, whereas flights get delayed from time to time as the two LHR runways often fail to support all the airport’s air traffic.
Where is Heathrow Airport?
Heathrow Airport lies west of downtown London, within a 16-mile/26-km distance from the heart of the city. It is located in the borough of Hillingdon, close to the Simpson, Harlington, Harmondsworth, Longford, Cranford, and Hatton areas.
How far is Heathrow Airport from downtown London?
LHR Airport is only 16 miles/26km away from downtown London. Thus, a ride from Heathrow Airport to the city center should last around 35-45 minutes under normal traffic conditions but over 100 minutes if roads are congested.
How early should I get to Heathrow?
London Heathrow Airport is one of the biggest airports globally. Thus, you should arrive on time at LHR to enjoy a relaxed check-in process. In detail, if your onward flight is intercontinental, it is advisable to be at the airport three hours before the departure time, whereas if you are traveling to a domestic or European destination, you should be at the airport two hours before your flight.
How do I get from London Airport to the city?
You’ll find various options for your ride from Heathrow to London. Hence, you can opt for a taxi ride or a Heathrow airport transfer, rent a car from LHR to enjoy autonomous journeys, or settle on the budget trains, buses, and subway lines connecting the airport to London.