Heathrow Airport Guide

Heathrow airport is owned and run by Heathrow Airport Limited, a subsidiary company of BAA plc, the world's largest privatized airports company.

Heathrow is the busiest international airport in the world, handling 58 million passengers on more than 420,000 flights a year, with over 95 airlines flying to more than 185 destinations worldwide.

Heathrow airport is situated 15 miles west of central London. It has four terminals and two main runways.

London Heathrow Airport has four terminals Terminal 1 is for all domestic flights, most UK airline departures to Europe plus EL AL and South African Airways flights. Terminal 2 is for most non-UK carriers' flights to Europe and some long haul destinations. Terminal 3 is the long haul terminal for US, South American, Asian and Asia Pacific airlines plus most African carriers. Terminal 4 is for British Airways long haul and Concorde flights and BA flights to Amsterdam, Athens, Paris, Moscow and Tel Aviv. KLM and Qantas also use T4.

Heathrow airport is situated 15 miles west of central London. It has four terminals and two main runways.

There are many ways of reaching Heathrow including a wide network of coach services and local buses, London Underground and the new Heathrow Express.

Bus Most bus services arrive at the central Bus Station in the main airport area between Terminals 1, 2 & 3. Pedestrian access to the terminals is signposted. A limited number of services additionally stop at Terminal 4. National Express shuttle from London Victoria Coach Station to Heathrow runs every 30 minutes. First bus 07.30, last bus 23.30. Services operate seven days a week, all year round. Fare: £7 one way; £10 return/round trip. Children: £3.50 one way; £5 return/round trip. Journey time - around 40 minutes; 55 minutes at peak hours. The Airbus service links to Heathrow Terminals from many west London hotels and Kings Cross and Euston main line rail stations. Departures are every 20-30 minutes with a journey time around 60-75 minutes. These services drop off at Terminal forecourts. Fare: £7 one way, £10 return/round trip. The Airbus A2 service leaves King's Cross rail station every 30 minutes and calls at Euston station and some Underground rail stations. The service also picks up at various hotels on its journey to Terminals 1, 2 and 3. The first service leaves King's Cross at 07:00, the last at 20:30. The Airbus Direct service picks up from various central London hotels and drops off at Terminal 4. First bus is at 05:30, the last 15:50. Journey time: 1 hour 40 minutes. Airbus details are available by calling the Heathrow Travel line on 0990 747777. Details and tickets also available from the booths in terminal Arrivals areas. There is wheelchair access on all Airbus services. There are bus services to Heathrow terminals every 30 minutes from Reading station for rail services from the West. Fare: £8.50 one way. Buses also operate every 30 minutes from Woking station connecting with train services from the South-west. Fare: £8 one way. Scheduled bus and coach services run from major towns and cities throughout the UK and there are connections from London Gatwick, Luton and Stansted airports. There is an all night bus service from central London to Heathrow.

Getting to Heathrow by train: Train Heathrow has two rail services from central London. In addition to the London Underground ( "the tube" ) is the Heathrow Express train service from London Paddington station.

There are many ways of reaching Heathrow including a wide network of coach services and local buses, London Underground and the new Heathrow Express.

Heathrow's passenger terminals are grouped into two main areas. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are in the Central Terminal Area; Terminal 4 is located on the southside of the airport. A frequent courtesy bus runs between each of the central area terminals and Terminal 4. Pedestrian subways link the three central terminals.

TUBE:

Heathrow is served by the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground. There is one station for Terminals 1, 2 and 3 which is accessed from the terminal buildings via the pedestrian subway system, and a separate one for Terminal 4 which is accessed directly from within the building.

An average journey to central London takes approximately 50-60 minutes. Trains run every five minutes at peak times and every nine minutes at off-peak times and at weekends.

The first train to London leaves Heathrow Terminal 4 at 0508 (0558 on Sundays) and the last a 2349 (2257 on Sundays). The first train from central London arrives at Terminal 4 at 0600 (0747 Sundays) and the last at 0107 (0008 Sundays). It takes a further five minutes to reach the Terminals 1, 2 and 3 station. As these times are subject to change it is advisable to check with London Transport before travelling.

Tourists, travellers, if you have childs with you or if you want to be sure not missing a meeting because of daily dailays in the tube, you should take a cab.

AIRBUS:

Heathrow is served by Airbus Express and Airbus Direct, providing limited stop services via West End hotels into central London.

TAXI:

The famous London black cabs are licensed under, and regulated by the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act to operate within the Greater London Metropolitan Area. BAA Heathrow operates a computer system that controls the flow of cabs from a large holding area on the airport to the terminal forecourts to ensure that the supply of cabs meets customer demand.

Taxi ranks are located outside each terminal. Many taxis are accessible to wheelchairs; on arrival at the rank, contact the local traffic warden who will ensure that a suitable vehicle is available. However, black cabs are often twice expensive as Airports-taxis' cabs.There are taxi desks in each of the terminal arrivals halls.Please contact us for the latest rates or to arrange a drop off.