London Heathrow Airport Reviews

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London Heathrow Airport Reviews

London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow (IATA: LHR, ICAO: EGLL) is a major international airport serving London, England, known as London Airport from 1946 until 1965.

Located in the London Borough of Hillingdon, in West London, London Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world (as of 2012) in total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe. It is also the busiest airport in Europe by passenger traffic and the third busiest by traffic movements, with a figure surpassed only by Charles de Gaulle Airport and Frankfurt Airport. Heathrow is London’s main airport, having replaced RAF Northolt and the earlier Croydon Airport. The airport sustains 76,600 jobs directly and around 116,000 indirectly in the immediate area, and this, together with the large number of global corporations with offices close to the airport, makes Heathrow a modern aerotropolis which contributes an estimated 2.7% to London’s total GVA.

The London Heathrow Airport is owned and operated by Heathrow Airport Holdings, which also owns and operates three other UK airports, and is itself owned by FGP TopCo Limited, an international consortium led by the Spanish Ferrovial Group that includes Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Government of Singapore Investment Corporation. Heathrow is the primary hub for British Airways and the primary operating base for Virgin Atlantic.

London Heathrow Airport lies 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) west of Central London, and has two parallel east–west runways along with four operational terminals on a site that covers 3,000 acres (1,200 ha). A consultation process for the building of a third runway and a sixth terminal began in November 2007, and the project was controversially approved on 15 January 2009 by Labour government ministers. It was subsequently cancelled on 12 May 2010 by the Cameron Government. The first phase of a new Terminal 2 complex which replaces the old terminal and adjacent Queen’s Building is due to open in June 2014.

The London Heathrow Airport holds a Civil Aviation Authority Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P527), which allows flights for public transportation of passengers or for flying instruction.

Services:

Art Gallery – Location: Terminal 5, Landside, near Premium Check-in counters
ATMs / Cash Machines – Cash machines are located landside and airside in all terminals.
Baggage Trolleys – Available for Free.
Car Rentals – Alamo • Avis • Budget • Enterprise • Europcar • Hertz • National
Children’s Play Areas – In addition to the family lounge in Terminal 3, families with small children can use the Stay & Play areas in Terminal 1 (Airside, near Caffè Nero and Dixons), Terminal 4 (Airside, on the way to Gates 1-6) and Terminal 5A (Airside, near Gate A7).
Family Lounge – The family lounge has play areas for children aged 0-2 and 3-9, game zone for for the 10-15 year olds, as well as a children’s quiet room. Location: Terminal 3, Airside, near the Ted Baker Store. Hours: 6am – 9pm. There may be a time limit during busy times. Rate: Free.
Food / Dining – There are many food concessions throughout the terminals. HBelow you will find the 24 hour food options at Heathrow airport.
Terminal 1 – Landside: Costa Coffee (Arrivals and Before Security)
Terminal 1 – Airside: 24 hour food options are not available
Terminal 3 – Landside: AMT Coffee • Costa Coffee
Terminal 3 – Airside: 24 hour food options are not available
Terminal 4 – Landside: Caffe Nero
Terminal 4 – Airside: Costa Coffee
Terminal 5 – Landside: Costa Coffee (Arrivals)
Terminal 5 – Airside: 24 hour food options are not available
Information Desks – Locations: Terminal 1 (Landside, Arrivals, near car rentals / Hours: 6am-11pm) • Terminal 3 (Landside, Check-in Area, Zone D / Hours: 7am-930pm) • Terminal 4 (Landside, Arrivals, near taxi desk / Hours: 5:30am-10:30pm) • Terminal 5 (Landside, Arrivals). During off hours, use the courtesy phones to ask for help.
Luggage storage / Lockers – Rates per item: £5 (up to 4 hours) • £9 (4-24 hours) • £18 (24-48 hours) • £27 (48-72 hours). Maximum storage time is 90 days. There are no lockers.
Terminal 1 – Arrivals, next to lifts for Heathrow Express. Hours: 6:00am – 11:00pm.
Terminal 3 – Arrivals. Hours: 5.30am – 11:00 pm.
Terminal 4 – Arrivals and Mezzanine levels. Hours: 5.30am – 11:00 pm.
Terminal 5 – Arrivals near UK arrivals. Hours: 5.30am – 11:00 pm.
Mobile Charging – Free Power Pole charging stations are available before and after security in all Heathrow terminals. Use them to charge up to eight electronic devices. They are compatible with UK and European plugs as well as USB cables.
Prayer Rooms – St. George’s Chapel – There is a chapel located between Terminals 1 and 3. It is underground, so you need you descend the stairs. Hours: 07:30-20:00 The prayer room is located street level. There are other prayer rooms located in the terminals, but you have to stumble upon them or ask the Information Desk where they are located.
Observation Areas – The best spots to watch the action on the runway are the following:
Terminal 1 – The Tin Goose, Caffè Nero and Costa Coffee
Terminal 4 – The AMT, Costa Coffee and many of the gate seating areas.
Terminal 5 – Almost everywhere. The Gordon Ramsay Plane Food and wagamama offer particularly good vantage points.
Pharmacy – Boots has locations in all terminals, before and after security. Ther locations in Terminals 1 and 5 dispense medications.
Showers – Location: Terminal 3 (Airside, No. 1 Traveller’s Lounge) • Terminal 4 (Landside, near the Heathrow Express Station) • Terminal 4 (Airside). Rate: Showers in Terminal 4 are free. A towel pack (including shower cap, shampoo and shower gel) is available for a small charge.
Smoking Areas – There are no designated smoking areas once you get past security. if you are in transit, smoking is not permitted during the connection process. You will have to exit the terminal and pass through security control to return to the departure lounge.
Internet: Free WiFi is available at London Heathrow Airport for 45 minutes. As of Jan 2014, if you register for the airport’s free Heathrow Rewards program, your WiFi time will be doubled to 90 minutes. Internet Terminals can be found in all terminal.You can pay using pre-paid vouchers, coins, or credit cards.