Owais Crawford
London is served by six international airports, with Heathrow being the largest and busiest airport in the United Kingdom and Europe. Heathrow Airport, located 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London, first opened in 1946 as London Airport and was renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966. Heathrow is the primary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and serves as a gateway to six continents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Heathrow Airport (LHR) |
| Location | 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London |
| Area | 4.74 square miles (12.3 square kilometres) |
| Terminals | 4 (numbered 2 to 5) |
| Runway(s) | 2 (parallel east-west runways) |
| Cargo Terminal(s) | 1 |
| Primary Airlines | British Airways, Virgin Atlantic |
| Number of Airlines | 86-89 |
| Destinations | 171-214 in 84 countries |
| Passenger Traffic | 80.1 million (2018) |
| Cargo Volume | 1.67 million metric tons (2021) |
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What You'll Learn
Heathrow is the largest London airport
Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the largest airport in London. Located in the London Borough of Hillingdon, Heathrow is the largest of London's airports and is considered the main gateway to the United Kingdom for non-European visitors. Heathrow has four terminals and two parallel runways. The airport is 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London, and it takes around 15 minutes to reach Paddington Station via the Heathrow Express. The Tube is a cheaper option, but the journey takes about an hour on the Piccadilly Line.
Heathrow is the primary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. In 2018, 80.1 million passengers used Heathrow as their London gateway, almost double the number of passengers that visited the closest London rival, Gatwick, in the same year. Heathrow is also the busiest airport in Europe by the number of seats available. 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.
Development of the whole 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 1966 to avoid confusion with Gatwick and Stansted airports. Heathrow Airport is used by over 89 airlines flying to 214 destinations in 84 countries.
Inbound aircraft to Heathrow typically follow one of several Standard Arrival Routes (STARs). Heathrow is the second-closest of London's six airports to the centre of the city. The airport has several retail initiatives to make shopping more convenient for flyers, including a "collect on return" option for inbound passengers.
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Heathrow's history and development
Heathrow Airport is the largest airport in London, handling over 83 million passengers annually. It is located 14 miles (23 km) west of Central London and covers 4.74 square miles (12.3 square km). The airport has two parallel east-west runways, four operational passenger terminals, and one cargo terminal. Heathrow is the primary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
Heathrow Airport began in 1929 as a small airfield called Great West Aerodrome on land southeast of the hamlet of Heathrow, from which the airport takes its name. The land consisted of farms, market gardens, and orchards, including a "Heathrow Farm," "Heathrow Hall," and "Heathrow House." In 1930, British aero engineer Richard Fairey purchased a 150-acre plot to build a private airport to assemble and test aircraft. This became known as Fairey's Great West Aerodrome. During World War II, the government requisitioned the land to build RAF Heston, a base for long-range troop-carrying aircraft bound for the Far East. An RAF-style control tower was constructed, and a 'Star of David' pattern of runways was laid.
In 1944, development began to transform the Heathrow area into a much larger airport, initially intended for long-distance military aircraft. However, by the time the runways were usable, World War II had ended, and the UK Government continued the development as a civil airport. The airport opened on 25 March 1946 as London Airport, and it was renamed Heathrow Airport in September 1966 to avoid confusion with other London airports, Gatwick and Stansted. The airport was designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd, who designed the original terminals and central area buildings, including the control tower and the multi-faith Chapel of St George's.
Heathrow Airport has undergone gradual expansion over 75 years. Terminal 3, which opened in 1961, was the first of the current terminals to welcome passengers. Terminal 1 closed in 2015 after 47 years of service, and Terminal 2 opened in 2014 as a £1 billion replacement. Terminal 5, the largest and most modern terminal, opened in 2008 and serves as the base for most British Airways flights. In 2018, Heathrow served as the London gateway for 80.1 million passengers, making it one of the top ten airports worldwide in terms of passenger traffic.
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Heathrow's location and transport links
Heathrow Airport is the largest airport in London, handling over 80 million passengers annually. It is located 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London, covering 4.74 square miles (12.3 square kilometres). The airport falls entirely within the boundaries of the London Borough of Hillingdon, with the postcode TW6. Heathrow is surrounded by several villages and neighbourhoods, including Sipson, Harlington, Harmondsworth, Longford, Cranford, Hatton, Feltham, Bedfont, and Stanwell. To the west, Heathrow is separated from Slough, Horton, and Windsor in Berkshire by the M25 motorway.
Heathrow has four operational passenger terminals (Terminals 2 to 5) and one cargo terminal. The airport is easily accessible by various transport options, including rail, road, and bus services. The Heathrow Express to Paddington Station is the quickest route, taking only 15 minutes but also the most expensive option. A more affordable alternative is the stopping trains to Paddington, now operated by Transportation for London (TfL) but sometimes referred to as Heathrow Connect. These trains offer a significantly shorter journey time than the Underground at a more reasonable price.
For those travelling by road, London's famous black taxis are available at ranks outside each terminal. However, due to London's congested roads, getting to the West End by taxi or bus can be time-consuming. Cycling is also an option, with dedicated routes and the ability to take your bike on public transport. Heathrow also offers a chauffeur service, providing a fixed-price transfer to or from any UK destination.
In addition to these options, Heathrow provides convenient connections to other London airports. Transferring between Heathrow's four terminals is straightforward, and passengers can take advantage of retail initiatives like the "reserve and collect" and "collect on return" services while waiting for their flights.
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Heathrow's busiest competitors
Heathrow Airport is the largest airport in London, handling over 80 million passengers annually. Heathrow is 14 miles (23 km) west of Central London and is the primary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
Heathrow's closest London rival is Gatwick Airport, which is located further away from Central London. In 2018, Gatwick served almost half the number of passengers that passed through Heathrow.
Heathrow also faces competition from Birmingham International Airport, which is located north of London in the Midlands. A proposed high-speed rail link would put travellers within a 50-minute train journey of Birmingham International Airport from London's Euston station. This development has been criticised by Birmingham International's chief executive, Paul Kehoe, who argued that further expansion of Heathrow is "preposterous".
In addition to domestic competitors, Heathrow's principal international rivals include airports in Amsterdam, Dubai, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Madrid. Heathrow's airport boss, Colin Matthews, warned that these emerging hub airports will "over time" divert traffic from Europe, intensifying competition with Heathrow.
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Heathrow's future expansion plans
Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the largest airport in London, handling over 83 million passengers annually. It is located 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London and has two parallel east-west runways, four operational passenger terminals, and one cargo terminal. Heathrow is the primary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
The planning process for the third runway has faced some delays and challenges. Initially, the plan stalled in 2023 due to post-COVID pandemic falling passenger numbers and concerns about investment costs. However, as of June 2024, the third runway is still planned, with a projected completion date around 2040. The financing of the expansion has yet to be arranged, and Heathrow Airport Holdings' finances are already highly leveraged.
In addition to the runway, Heathrow has also proposed the development of a Heathrow Hub railway station, which would provide the first extra-London rail link using the Great Western Main Line. This proposal, known as High Speed 2, was announced in March 2010 but did not include a direct connection to Heathrow. Despite facing some opposition and delays, the expansion plans for Heathrow Airport continue to move forward, with government support and the recognition of the airport's potential to drive economic growth in the UK.
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Frequently asked questions
Heathrow Airport is the largest airport in London and the UK. It is located 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London.
Heathrow Airport has four terminals, numbered 2 to 5. Terminal 1 closed in 2015.
You can get to Heathrow Airport via train, tube, or bus. The Heathrow Express to Paddington Station is the quickest route, taking only 15 minutes. However, it is also the most expensive option. The Piccadilly Line is slower but more affordable.
