London Airport Smoking Areas: Where To Light Up?

London is home to several airports, including Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick, and Luton. While smoking is prohibited within the terminals of these airports, they do offer designated smoking areas outside the terminal buildings. Heathrow Airport, for example, has smoking areas in Terminals 2, 4, and 5, while Gatwick and Luton also provide outdoor smoking areas near their terminals. London Stansted Airport also has designated smoking areas, but the exact locations are not specified. It is important to note that smoking is only permitted in these designated areas, and passengers must follow the relevant signage to locate them.

London Heathrow Airport smoking areas

London Heathrow Airport has designated smoking areas outside the terminal buildings. These are located in Terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5. If you are connecting flights at Heathrow, you will need to go through passport control to visit the smoking areas and then through security control again to return to the departure lounge.

Terminal 2 has a smoking area in the A Gate area near Gate A1. To get there, follow the signs past security, go downstairs, and turn right once you reach the ground floor. The smoking area is inside a caged-off area. Terminal 4 also has a similar smoking lounge. To get there, follow the smoking signs after passing security, walk towards the end of the terminal, go downstairs via two sets of escalators, exit through double doors, and you will find yourself in an enclosed outdoor cage.

Some sources suggest that there are no smoking areas in Terminal 3. However, others mention that smokers can go to Terminal 4 from Terminal 3 using the Heathrow Express for free. Terminal 5 also has a smoking area outside the terminal building on the ground floor of the arrivals area. To get there, turn right after exiting the terminal and walk for about a minute.

London Stansted Airport smoking rules

Smoking is prohibited inside London Stansted Airport. In 2007, British legislation banned smoking in public spaces, including airports. The airport swiftly implemented this law, prohibiting smoking in all public and open areas within its premises. However, designated smoking areas are available outside the main terminal near the bus stop. These areas are conveniently located, offering easy access and a comfortable environment for smokers.

London Stansted Airport is committed to ensuring the comfort and well-being of all passengers. Therefore, smoking, whether traditional cigarettes, vapes, or e-cigarettes, is strictly prohibited inside the airport. The airport administration ensures that smokers are directed to designated smoking areas to prevent disruption or issues for airport authorities.

It is important to note that London Stansted Airport initially banned smoking entirely. However, due to requests from passengers, they had to create designated smoking areas. These areas are typically found near parking lots or outside terminals, accommodating smokers before or after their flights.

Passengers are strongly encouraged to use these designated smoking areas to ensure a smooth journey without encountering any issues. Smoking is not permitted within the terminal building or any enclosed public spaces at London Stansted Airport. Additionally, the use of e-cigarettes is forbidden at the airport.

In summary, London Stansted Airport adheres to British law and its smoking-free policy, allowing smoking only in designated outdoor areas. Passengers are expected to use these areas and comply with the airport's commitment to health and passenger satisfaction.

London Gatwick smoking rules

London Gatwick Airport, located in West Sussex, is one of the major international airports serving London, United Kingdom. The airport consists of two terminals, the North Terminal and the South Terminal, which are connected by a free shuttle train service.

London Gatwick has designated smoking areas outside of the terminal for passengers who wish to smoke. Smoking is only permitted in these designated outdoor areas. At the South Terminal, the My Lounge airport lounge features an outdoor terrace where passengers can smoke.

E-cigarette users must follow the same rules as traditional smokers and can only use their devices in the designated smoking areas outside the terminal buildings.

There is a £1 charge to use the smoking areas at London Gatwick Airport.

Smoking during airport connections

If you are a smoker, connecting flights can be a stressful experience. London's airports do have smoking areas, but they are located outside the terminal buildings, beyond security, which means you will need to go through passport control to access them. This can be a time-consuming process, so plan ahead and be mindful of your connection time.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Heathrow Airport has designated smoking areas outside each terminal building. These areas are located before security and can be found outside the main entry and exit points. There is no smoking permitted beyond security, including in the departure lounge, so smokers are advised to use these areas before passing through.

Heathrow has two officially designated smoking areas, one in Terminal 2 (near Gate A1) and the other in Terminal 4 (near Gate 5). Both are intended for departing passengers. To access them, follow the smoking signs, head downstairs, and exit via double doors to an enclosed outdoor cage.

There are also secret" smoking locations in Terminals 2 and 5, but these are not officially sanctioned.

If you are connecting through Heathrow, you will not be permitted to smoke during the connection process. The only way to access the smoking areas is to go through passport control, which may not be feasible during a short layover.

London Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport has designated smoking areas outside the terminal building. Smoking is not permitted inside the terminal, either before or after security. The exact locations of these outdoor smoking areas are not specified, but they are likely to be clearly signposted.

London Stansted Airport

London Stansted Airport does have smoking areas, but their location within the terminal or outside is unclear.

Other London Airports

London Luton Airport does not have any smoking areas after security. Smokers will need to use the designated areas before entering the terminal building. There is an outdoor smoking area near the food court in Terminal 1.

Information about smoking areas at other London airports, such as London City Airport, is not readily available. However, it is safe to assume that, like other airports, they will have designated smoking areas outside the terminal building.

E-cigarettes

The use of e-cigarettes is banned within Heathrow and Gatwick terminal buildings. At Heathrow, e-cigarette users must follow the same rules as traditional smokers and use the designated outdoor smoking areas. At Gatwick, e-cigarettes can be used in the official outdoor smoking area, which is located next to Gate 2.

Planning for a Smoke-Free Connection

If you are a smoker with a long layover, consider spending some time in a terminal with a smoking area, even if it is not your designated terminal. For example, if you are flying into and out of Terminal 5 at Heathrow, you can use the smoking area in Terminal 2. Just be sure to allow enough time to clear security again when you return to your original terminal.

Alternatively, if you have a very long layover, you may be able to leave the airport and smoke outside. However, this will require going through passport control and may not be a feasible option, especially for shorter connections.

Remember, smoking areas in airports are often busy, so plan to arrive early to secure a spot.

E-cigarette rules at London airports

If you're travelling through London airports and want to use your e-cigarette, it's important to know the rules to avoid any problems. Here is a guide to help you navigate the regulations at London's major airports:

Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Heathrow Airport has designated smoking areas outside the terminal building. These areas are located in Terminal 2, near Gate A1, and Terminal 4, which can be found by following the signs past security. Both are intended for departing passengers. However, once you have gone through security, you will not be able to smoke or vape anywhere on the premises, including during a connecting flight. If you plan to carry e-cigarettes in your hand luggage, it is recommended to check with your airline to ensure they are permitted on board.

Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport's website does not specifically mention e-cigarettes. However, some sources indicate that vaping is permitted in designated smoking areas outside the terminal. It is always a good idea to check with the airport and your airline before your travel date.

London Stansted, Luton, and Other UK Airports

London Stansted, Luton, and other UK airports generally follow similar guidelines. The use of e-cigarettes is banned within airport terminals, and passengers must use the designated smoking areas, typically located outside the terminal building. These areas are signposted and can usually be found near gates or the food court. Remember to check with the specific airport and your airline for the most up-to-date information.

Onboard Usage

It is important to note that vaping onboard any airline is prohibited. While e-cigarettes are typically allowed in carry-on baggage, they must remain unused during the flight. Each airline may have its own set of rules and regulations, so it is essential to contact them directly if you are unsure. Additionally, the rules and regulations of your destination country may differ significantly from those in the UK, so be sure to research them in advance to avoid any issues.

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