Heathrow: A Guide To London's Busiest Airport

Flights to London can originate anywhere, but must terminate at one of three major airports: the ever-busy Heathrow, Gatwick, or Stansted. This guide will cover the most popular of these, London's Heathrow.

Flights At Heathrow

London Heathrow airport is one of the busiest in the world. There are hundreds of flights through there every day, and thousands incorporate it into their travel plans. There are many different airlines offering airfare through Heathrow, from staples like British Airways to less well-known carriers from other countries.

Getting around Heathrow is relatively easy, particularly if it is your destination and you don't have to worry about finding a transfer gate location. However, arriving at Heathrow for travel back home can be more difficult to navigate. Heathrow uses the satellite system of airport organization, with one central terminal and several others connected by a bus system. The first thing to do is determine which terminal you will need to find. Luckily, Heathrow is fairly well marked with maps and signs in various languages, so finding your way is easy.

Getting To The Airport

One of the most difficult parts of your travel planning may be the route between Heathrow and London proper. There are two main ways to arrive: either by road or via rail. Many travelers coming through Heathrow choose to rent a car, which can make airport arrival easier. However, traffic is often bad, so be certain that you leave enough time.

Alternatively, you can use the Heathrow Express train, which runs nonstop between Heathrow's terminals 1 & 2 and 5 and the Paddington Station in central London. The trip from Paddington to Heathrow takes some 15 minutes, with some time added if you are traveling to terminals 4 or 5. The only drawback is that the Heathrow Express stops only at London's Paddington Station. Paddington can be found near Hyde Park and Oxford Street. It connects to the Underground District, Circle, Bakerloo, and Hammersmith & City line trains, and also has connections to trains leading south and west within England.