no logo on Wikidata:  | ||
_AN1572653.jpg/300px-London_-_Heathrow_(LHR_-_EGLL)_AN1572653.jpg) | ||
| London Heathrow Airport | ||
| height | 80 feet | |
|---|---|---|
| IATA code | LHR | |
| ICAO code | EGLL | |
| Number of passengers | 78.014.598 (2017) | |
| ||
The London Heathrow Airport, English: London Heathrow Airport, is the largest airport in the United Kingdom and the third largest in the world. It is on the western edge London, about 25 kilometers from the city center.
background
Heathrow opened in 1946. The airport is the hub of several major airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Today's Terminals 2 and 3 were opened in the 1950s, and Terminal 1, which closed again in 2015, at the end of the 1960s. Terminal 4 followed in 1987. Due to the aging infrastructure, which was not designed for today's high passenger numbers, there are often delays. With the opening of the new Terminal 5 in March 2008 and the renovation of the old terminals, the operator promises to improve the situation.
As there is almost always a westerly wind, the approach to Heathrow leads directly over the city. If you sit on the right side of the plane, you can enjoy a great view of attractions such as the Tower, London Eye, Parliament and Hyde Park (weather permitting). With a bit of luck you can still see The O2 (formerly Millenium Dome) and the Docklands on the left.
getting there
By train
There are three train stations at Heathrow Airport, the common train station 1 Heathrow Central for terminals 2 and 3 as well as a separate one for each terminal 2 Terminal 4 train station or. 3 Terminal 5 train station.
- The Heathrow Express (purple in the picture) connects the airport non-stop with the train station every 15 minutes Paddington in central London. The journey time from Paddington to Heathrow Central (for Terminals 2 and 3) is 15 minutes and to Terminal 5 railway station is around 20 minutes. London Oystercards are valid, but the train has its own tariff. A single ticket costs £ 22, a return ticket £ 35. Those who book in advance on the Internet receive a small discount. Passengers who want to go to Terminal 4 get off at the stop Heathrow Central to the free transfer service to Terminal 4.
- TfL Rail (purple in the picture) is an inexpensive alternative to the Heathrow Express. Trains run between the station every 30 minutes Paddington, Heathrow Central and Terminal 4 train station, with further stops in Hayes & Harlington, Southall, Hanwell (not so), West Ealing (not like this) and Ealing Broadway (
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). You need just under 30 minutes for the entire route. A single ticket to Paddington costs £ 10.30. Oystercards are valid on the entire route. The continuation of the line in an east-west running tunnel under central London is planned for 2021 ("Elizabeth Line").
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). You need just under 30 minutes for the entire route. A single ticket to Paddington costs £ 10.30. Oystercards are valid on the entire route. The continuation of the line in an east-west running tunnel under central London is planned for 2021 (- The Piccadilly Line (blue in the picture) is a line of London Subway, which serves all terminals, as well as at 4 Hatton Cross stops, a subway station in front of the airport. From Hatton Cross some of the trains go to 5 Tube Terminal 4 and then in a loop to the 6 Tube terminals 2 and 3 and back to town. The other half of the trains go directly to the Terminal 2/3 station and then to the 7 Tube Terminal 5 (Terminus) and turns there. The travel time between the city center and the airport is around 40 - 50 minutes. A single ticket costs £ 5.10. Oystercards (zone 6) are valid on the entire route.
Passengers traveling to Heathrow from southern boroughs can take Southwestern Railway Drive to Feltham via Clapham Junction. At this station there is a bus service to London Heathrow Airport. Bus 285 goes to Heathrow Central Bus Station and bus 490 goes to Heathrow Terminal 5. Travel time between Clapham Junction and Feltham is approximately 18 minutes and the bus journey from Feltham to the airport takes approximately 35 minutes. A single ticket costs £ 5 on the train and a bus ticket costs £ 1.50. Oystercards (zone 6) are also valid on the train and bus.
By bus
- Buses from National Express run regularly from the bus station Victoria Station in central London. Depending on the traffic situation, you will need around 40 - 60 minutes from the city center. A return ticket costs £ 15. Also offers National Express Intercity buses to many major cities across the UK.
- First traveler and Reading RailAir offer bus connections to the train station of Reading at. There is, among other things, a direct connection to intercity and express trains Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol and Plymouth.
- Woking RailAir offers a bus service to Woking south of London. From there there are good train connections to South London.
- Since most trains only run until midnight, the night bus route runs from midnight to 5:00 a.m. N9 to Aldwych in central London. The buses run from Terminals 2 and 3, as well as Terminal 5, every 30 minutes and take about an hour for the journey. A single ticket costs £ 2.
With the taxi
There are taxi stands in front of all terminals, so you never have to wait long for a taxi. The travel time to London is very dependent on the traffic and can take between 50 and 120 minutes. The price also varies accordingly. The average estimate is around £ 55. A slightly cheaper alternative are those Minicabswhich, although not so numerous, are usually much cheaper.
In the street
The airport is about 25 kilometers west of central London, which can be reached directly from the M4 motorway. Heathrow is also right on the M25 ring road in London, from which motorways to all parts of England originate. There is a high risk of congestion on both motorways due to the high volume of traffic.
Airlines and destinations
Heathrow as one of the largest passenger airports in the world is served by numerous airlines with connections all over the world. However, you will miss low-cost airlines that avoid the airport with high landing fees.
The following airlines offer flights from D / A / CH to Heathrow (as of Sept 2020):
- British Airways: from / to Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Geneva, Hamburg, Hanover, Innsbruck, Munich, Salzburg (not all year round), Stuttgart, Vienna, Zurich.
- Lufthansa: Frankfurt am Main, Munich.
- Eurowings: Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne-Bonn, Stuttgart.
- Austrian Airlines: Vienna
- Swiss: Geneva, Zurich.
Terminals
Herathrow has four passenger terminals: 8 Terminal 2 (also Queens Terminal), 9 Terminal 3, 10 Terminal 4 and 11 Terminal 5. Terminal 1 was closed in 2015 and is to give way to a future expansion of Terminal 2.
The ticket states from which terminal the flight leaves. In any case, you should be aware of the terminal from which the flight leaves. Getting out of the wrong terminal can quickly cost an extra half an hour. The Piccadilly Line alternates between Terminals 2/3 and 5 or 4 and 2/3, so it can be worth waiting for the right train when boarding in the city center. The last common stop is Hatton Cross.
Terminal 2 is used by Star Alliance airlines (including Lufthansa, Austrian and Swiss) for both domestic and international flights. Air Lingus and some independent airlines also use this terminal
Terminal 3 is used in a first approximation by airlines of the OneWorld alliance, including some British Airways flights. There are mostly long-haul connections. Some alliance-independent airlines also use the terminal.
Terminal 4 is the basis of the Skyteam alliance. But some independent carriers also start here (attention: Terminal 4 was and will be shut down during the corona crisis and the (remaining) flights are distributed to other terminals [outdated] .
Terminal 5 is ultimately largely used by British Airways. But Iberia also starts here.
Terminals 2 and 3 in the center of the airport are right next to each other and can be reached on foot through a (weather-independent) tunnel. Terminal 4, however, is in the south of Heathrow. The new Terminal 5 is located in the northwest area of the airport. In order to commute between the individual terminal complexes, one can free with the Heathrow Express (Terminal 2/3 and Terminal 5) and the TfL (Terminals 2/3 and Terminal 4). There is no direct train connection between Terminals 4 and 5, so you always have to go via the stop of Terminals 2 and 3.
Arrivals
departure
Change
There are special facilities and shuttle buses for passengers who switch from one flight to another at Heathrow and can stay airside in the transit area. Precise instructions for the fastest connections between two flights can be found on the Airport website. The airport operator recommends that you plan at least 2 hours for transfer connections. For smokers, please note that smoking is prohibited in all airport buildings. Smoking is only allowed in front of the terminals, which means that if you have a transfer connection, you first have to enter the United Kingdom (visa may be required) and then leave and check-in again, including all security checks.
Transferring to other London airports is a complex operation that takes several hours to complete. Train goes via London and requires a change of station in any case, including several changes to the underground. There are direct buses between the airports, but they are dependent on the London ring road (M 25), which is extremely prone to congestion. The most expensive is taxi and that is also not calculable.
security
mobility
Trains, the underground and buses run between the terminals, to parking lots and hotels. Use in the airport area is free of charge (in the subway this only applies to Oystercard holders, as the entrances and exits are secured with turnstiles.
There is an overview of the means of transport the airport website (pdf).
activities
Lounges
Around 30 airlines maintain lounges for their good customers at this hub, some of them several, which are then accessible according to booking class and mileage status. In addition, there are airline-independent lounges in each terminal, which are open to all travelers for a fee.
Planespotting
shop
As befits an international airport, the departure gates are also interspersed between shopping arcades at Heathrow. There is a wide selection of shops, landside and airside, ranging from newspaper kiosks to souvenirs, books, travel items of all kinds, wristwatches and chains of national and international brands such as Burberry, Gucci, Cartier. The London department stores Harrods and Fortnum & Mason also have branches in Terminals 2 and 5. In general, the selection of shops in these terminals is wider than in Terminals 3 and 5. In addition to the classic duty-free shops, Airside also has specialized ones Supplier of high quality whiskeys. When doing duty-free shopping, travelers should also keep the prices in their home country in mind, as the (comparatively expensive) British prices are the benchmark.
kitchen
In all terminals there is a wide range of restaurants from international fast food chains, cafes, self-service counters and pubs to fine dining. In Terminal 5, the operator attaches great importance to a more individual gastronomy and has kept the chains away. Anyone who feels hungry or thirsty at Heathrow should be somewhat insensitive to the due outflow of funds.
accommodation
- 1 Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3, Heathrow Airport, Terminal 2, Longford, Hounslow TW6 1AH,. Tel.: 442039729700. in Terminal 2.Price: from 130 GBP.
- 2 Aerotel London Heathrow, Heathrow Airport, Terminal 3 Arrivals Hall, East Wing, Middlesex TW6 1AA,. Tel.: 442087459805. in Terminal 3.Price: from 50 GBP.
- 3 Crowne Plaza London Heathrow T4, Heathrow Airport, Terminal 4, Swindon Rd, Hounslow TW6 3FJ. Tel.: 442039714411. in Terminal 4.
- 4 Hilton London Heathrow Airport, Terminal 4, Hounslow TW6 3AF. Tel.: 442087597755. Pedestrian distance to Terminal 4.
- 5 Premier Inn London Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 hotel, Sheffield Rd, Heathrow, Hounslow TW6 3AF. Tel.: 443332346600. Pedestrian distance to Terminal 4.
- 6 Holiday Inn Express London Heathrow T4, Heathrow Airport, Terminal 4, 1 Swindon Rd, Hounslow TW6 3FJ. Tel.: 442039714433. Pedestrian distance to Terminal 4.
- 7 Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel, Terminal 5 london heathrow airport, London TW6 2GD. Tel.: 442087577777. Pedestrian distance to Terminal 5.Price: from £ 200.
- 8 Airpets, Spout Ln N, Heathrow, Longford, Staines TW19 6BW. Appropriate accommodation for the four-legged friends within walking distance of Terminal 5.
health
Practical advice
Those who want to take advantage of a longer stay for a trip into the city (or to nearby Windsor) will find luggage storage in each terminal for a whopping £ 12.50 each from 3 to 24 hours. It is a little cheaper for less than 3 hours, but that hardly helps anyone.
Web links
- https://www.heathrow.com/ (en) - Official website of London Heathrow Airport
