Roberta Aguirre
Heathrow Airport is located 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London, covering an area of 4.74 square miles (12.3 square kilometres). It is one of the six international airports serving the London area and is the busiest airport in the UK. Heathrow Airport is easily accessible by train, Tube, taxi, coach, or local bus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London |
| Site area | 4.74 square miles (12.3 square kilometres) |
| Number of runways | 2 |
| Number of terminals | 5 (4 operational, 1 under refurbishment) |
| Cargo terminal | 1 |
| Primary hub for | British Airways |
| Base for | Virgin Atlantic |
| Distance from Central London by train | 15-20 minutes |
| Distance from Central London by Tube | 30-50 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Heathrow Airport's location
Heathrow Airport is located 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London, in the London Borough of Hillingdon, under the Twickenham postcode area, with the postcode TW6. It is surrounded by the villages of Sipson, Harlington, Harmondsworth, and Longford to the north and the neighbourhoods of Cranford and Hatton to the east. To the south lie Feltham, Bedfont, and Stanwell, while to the west, Heathrow is separated from Slough, Horton, and Windsor in Berkshire by the M25 motorway. Heathrow Airport is within the Hayes and Harlington parliamentary constituency.
Heathrow Airport is spread across four terminals (2, 3, 4, and 5), each with shops, restaurants, currency exchanges, information points, accommodation desks, and left luggage facilities. The airport also has three Tube stations, serving Terminals 2 and 3, Terminal 4, and Terminal 5.
The airport covers an area of 4.74 square miles (12.3 square kilometres). It has two parallel east-west runways, four operational passenger terminals, and one cargo terminal. Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the UK and one of the most visited airports in the world. It is the second busiest airport in Europe and the seventh busiest airport in the world.
Heathrow Airport began in 1929 as a small airfield (Great West Aerodrome) on land southeast of the hamlet of Heathrow, from which the airport takes its name. At that time, the land consisted of farms, market gardens, and orchards. The development of the entire Heathrow area as a much larger airport began in 1944 during World War II. It was intended for long-distance military aircraft bound for the Far East. The airport was opened on 25 March 1946 as London Airport and was renamed Heathrow Airport in September 1966 to avoid confusion with the other two airports serving London: Gatwick and Stansted.
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Transport links to Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport is located 14 miles (23 km) west of Central London, covering 4.74 square miles (12.3 square kilometres). The airport is easily accessible by road, rail, and air, offering a range of transport options for travellers and visitors.
Road Transport
For those travelling by road, Heathrow Airport is well-connected to the motorway network. The M25 motorway separates the airport from Slough, Horton, and Windsor in Berkshire to the west, while the M4 motorway provides a direct link to Central London and the west. The airport also has direct access to the M3, A4, and A30 motorways, making it convenient for travellers coming from various directions.
Heathrow Airport also offers a range of parking options, including short-stay, long-stay, and valet parking. The airport's website provides detailed information on parking rates and locations, allowing travellers to plan their parking in advance.
Rail Transport
Heathrow Airport is well-served by rail, with several train services connecting the airport to London and other parts of the UK. The Heathrow Express is a dedicated airport rail link that provides a fast and frequent service between Heathrow and London Paddington station. The journey takes approximately 15 minutes, making it a convenient option for travellers.
The Piccadilly line on the London Underground also serves Heathrow Airport, providing a more affordable option for travellers. This service connects the airport to Central London and other parts of the city, with a journey time of around one hour.
Air Transport
As one of the busiest airports in the world, Heathrow Airport is a major hub for air travel. It is served by over 89 airlines, offering flights to 214 destinations in 84 countries. The airport has four operational passenger terminals and one cargo terminal, with two parallel east-west runways.
Other Transport Options
In addition to road and rail transport, travellers can also opt for taxi or shuttle services, such as the HeathrowShuttle, which offers door-to-door transportation to and from the airport. National Express coaches are also available, providing a cost-effective option to and from the airport, with dedicated stops at each terminal.
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Terminals at Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport, located 14 miles (23 km) west of Central London, has four passenger terminals (numbered 2 to 5) and one cargo terminal. The airport is the primary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
Terminal 2, also known as "the Queen's Terminal", offers an award-winning passenger experience. It is home to the UK's first moving walkways, the Virgin Atlantic hub, and over 20 other airlines. Terminal 3 is the departure and arrival terminal for several British Airways flights, including destinations such as Vancouver, Bahrain, Rio de Janeiro, and Buenos Aires. Terminal 4 has been recently refurbished and offers a range of shops and services. Terminal 5, voted Skytrax World's Best Airport Terminal in 2014, boasts an area of 300,000 square meters (3,200,000 sq ft) with more than 100 shops and restaurants. It has a capacity of 30 million passengers annually and is home to British Airways' Flagship lounge, the Concorde Room.
Heathrow Airport began in 1929 as a small airfield, and the original terminals and central-area buildings were designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd. Over the years, the airport has expanded, and the number of runways has changed. In the 1950s, Heathrow had six runways arranged in a hexagram shape, but now it has two parallel east-west runways due to the increasing length required for runways. The airport is the largest of the six international airports in the London airport system and has been the busiest airport in Europe and the fourth busiest worldwide by passenger traffic.
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History of Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport, also known as London Heathrow Airport, is the primary and largest international airport serving London, England, UK. It is located 14 miles (23 km) west of Central London and covers 4.74 square miles (12.3 square km). The airport has been gradually expanded over 75 years and now has two parallel east-west runways, four operational passenger terminals, and one cargo terminal.
Heathrow Airport began in 1929 as a small airfield called the Great West Aerodrome on land southeast of the hamlet of Heathrow, from which the airport takes its name. The land at the time consisted of farms, market gardens, and orchards, with a ""Heathrow Farm" located approximately where the modern Terminal 2 is situated. In 1930, British aero engineer and aircraft builder Richard Fairey purchased a 150-acre plot to build a private airport for assembling and testing aircraft. This airfield, with a single grass runway and a few hastily erected buildings, was the precursor to Heathrow Airport.
During World War II, the government requisitioned land around Heathrow, including Fairey's airfield, to build RAF Heston, a base for long-range troop-carrying aircraft bound for the Far East. Construction of the new airport began in 1944, with the demolition of Heathrow domestic and farm buildings. By the time the war ended in May 1945, the new airfield was still under construction, and plans had shifted from military use to the development of an international airport.
On January 1, 1946, ownership of the site was transferred from the military Air Ministry to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the airport opened on March 25, 1946, as London Airport. The first aircraft to take off from Heathrow was a converted Lancaster bomber called Starlight, which flew to Buenos Aires. The early passenger terminals were ex-military marquees forming a tented village along the Bath Road. These terminals were basic but comfortable, featuring floral-patterned furniture and fresh flowers.
The airport was renamed Heathrow Airport in September 1966 to avoid confusion with London's other airports, Gatwick and Stansted. The design for the airport was by Sir Frederick Gibberd, who planned the original terminals and central area buildings, including the control tower and the multi-faith Chapel of St George's.
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Environmental impact of Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport, located 14 miles (23 km) west of Central London, has faced scrutiny for its environmental impact. Covering 4.74 square miles (12.3 square kilometres), the airport has gradually expanded over 75 years, now featuring two parallel east-west runways, four passenger terminals, and a cargo terminal. This expansion has come at an environmental cost, with concerns raised about the airport's impact on air quality and noise pollution.
Heathrow has received significant criticism for its contribution to air pollution. With over 89 airlines operating at the airport, serving 214 destinations in 84 countries, the high volume of aircraft movements has led to increased emissions and air quality issues. In 2016, Heathrow received more than 25,000 noise complaints in just three months, highlighting the airport's impact on the surrounding communities. To address these concerns, Heathrow introduced the "Fly Quiet & Green" initiative, which aims to incentivize airlines to improve their performance across various environmental benchmarks, including NOx emissions.
Despite these efforts, the airport's environmental strategy has faced skepticism. Cait Hewitt, deputy director of the Aviation Environment Federation, expressed doubt about the effectiveness of Heathrow's proposed measures, stating that the scale of the air quality problem may render them irrelevant. The government's Aviation 2050: Green Paper Strategy (AoS) acknowledges that while mitigation measures could reduce pollutant concentrations, their impact may be localized, with the primary air quality impact being worsened air quality in central London.
Heathrow 2.0, presented as a strategy for sustainable aviation, outlined the airport's commitment to reducing its environmental footprint. Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited (HAL), the airport's owner and operator, has direct control over airport energy use and has set a goal to reduce CO2 emissions from fixed assets by 34% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. However, their ability to curb emissions is limited, and the actions they can take fall into categories of control, guidance, and influence.
The expansion of Heathrow Airport has also faced opposition from local authorities and environmental organizations. Four local authorities impacted by the airport's expansion, along with Greenpeace and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, vowed to launch a judicial review against the plans, citing potential significant environmental effects. The airport's development and expansion continue to be a subject of debate, balancing economic growth and job creation with the need to minimize environmental harm.
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Frequently asked questions
Heathrow Airport is located about 23 kilometres or 14 miles west of Central London.
The Heathrow Express to London Paddington is the fastest way to travel between Heathrow Airport and Central London, taking 15 to 20 minutes. The Piccadilly line also connects Heathrow Airport to Central London and the rest of the London Underground network, although it takes about 50 minutes to get to Piccadilly Circus.
Heathrow Airport is located within the Hayes and Harlington parliamentary constituency. The villages of Harlington, Harmondsworth, Longford, and Sipson, as well as the neighbourhoods of Cranford and Hatton, surround the airport. To the south lie Feltham, Bedfont, and Stanwell, while to the west, Heathrow is separated from Slough, Horton, and Windsor in Berkshire by the M25 motorway.
