Terminal 2
Lufthansa, United, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, Aer Lingus and others
The Queen's Terminal, with Heathrow Express, Elizabeth line and Piccadilly line at the Terminals 2 and 3 station, a few minutes' walk through a pedestrian subway.
London Heathrow: the guide we would give a friend
London Heathrow Airport
Heathrow handled 84.5 million passengers in 2025 and still moves most of them quickly: the airport says 97.3% waited under five minutes at security that year. Four terminals, three railways into town and a lounge in every terminal make it simple to get right, once you know which terminal you need and which train to take.
The 30-second version
Check your terminal first: British Airways is mainly Terminal 5, Virgin Atlantic Terminal 3, and the Heathrow Express does not stop at Terminal 4. On arrival, eligible passports use the eGates, then take the Elizabeth line to Bond Street in 31 minutes or the Heathrow Express for Paddington in 15. On the way home, arrive three hours before a long-haul flight, keep liquids up to 2 litres in your bag at security, and book Fast Track from £12.99 if you fly between 06:00 and 21:00.
- Passengers in 2025
- 84.5 million
- Terminals
- 4 (Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Fastest way into town
- Heathrow Express, 15 min to Paddington
- Elizabeth line to Bond Street
- 31 min, £15.50 contactless
- Drive to our ten hotels
- Typically 45–75 min
- Security queues in 2025
- 97.3% waited under 5 min
- Liquids at security
- Up to 2 litres, left in your bag
- Wi-Fi
- Free in every terminal
Book a private transfer
Booked with
A driver meets you in arrivals with your name on a sign, at a fixed price agreed when you book. Booked and paid with Welcome Pickups through our partner Travelpayouts; we may earn a commission.
Terminals
Terminal 3
Virgin Atlantic, Delta, American Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific and some British Airways flights
Shares the Terminals 2 and 3 station. Home to the most paid lounges at Heathrow and its only airside hotel rooms.
Terminal 4
Qatar Airways, Etihad, Air France, KLM and others
No Heathrow Express stop: use the Elizabeth line, the Piccadilly line or the free transfer train from Terminals 2 and 3.
Terminal 5
British Airways and Iberia
British Airways' main hub, with five BA lounges and a station in the basement for the Heathrow Express, Elizabeth line and Piccadilly line.
Landing to kerb
Every pick-up point, terminal by terminalPassport control: eGates or the desks
British, Irish, EU, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Japanese, Singaporean, South Korean, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein passport holders can use the eGates with a biometric passport, children from age 8 with an adult. Visitors who need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (£20) must have it before they fly. Fast Track Arrivals costs £25 per person off-peak and from £35 at peak times.
Baggage and customs
Follow the signs to baggage reclaim, collect your bags and walk through the green or red customs channel to arrivals.
A SIM and cash
Sim Local has 11 stores across the four terminals, mostly in arrivals, generally open 06:00–22:00. Cash machines are on both sides of security, but London's taxis, buses and trains all take contactless cards.
The trains
Heathrow Express stops at Terminals 2 and 3 and Terminal 5. The Elizabeth line and Piccadilly line serve all three stations: Terminals 2 and 3 (between the terminals, through a pedestrian subway), Terminal 4 (below arrivals) and Terminal 5 (in the basement). Contactless works on all three.
Black cabs
The taxi rank is outside each terminal. Fares are metered, journeys from a Heathrow rank carry a £1.60 extra, and Transport for London puts a trip to central London at £70–120, taking 30–60 minutes.
Pre-booked drivers
Drivers cannot wait on the forecourt, so a pre-booked driver meets you inside and walks you to the car park. Each terminal has a meeting point: Terminal 2 opposite the international arrivals exit, Terminal 3 in the ground-floor seating area, Terminal 4 next to WHSmith, Terminal 5 opposite Travelex or near Costa Coffee.
Coaches and buses
For Terminals 2 and 3, most coaches leave from Heathrow Central Bus Station between the two terminals. At Terminal 4 they leave from stops 12 to 17 outside arrivals, and at Terminal 5 from stops 9 to 15.
Kerb to gate
How early to arrive
Heathrow recommends three hours before an international flight and two hours for domestic flights and Europe. Check in online about 24 hours ahead; with no bag to drop, go straight to security.
Getting dropped off
Every car that enters a terminal drop-off area pays £7, and black cabs can add up to £6 to the fare. Pay online in advance, on the day or by midnight the following day; there is no machine at the kerb. Drop-off at the Park & Ride car parks is free, with a shuttle bus to the terminal.
Security
Heathrow's new scanners let you leave liquids in containers of up to 2 litres, laptops and tablets in your bag, in all four terminals. You can take two pieces of hand baggage, each no larger than 56 × 45 × 25cm. Empty metal or insulated bottles before the scanners and refill them after.
Fast Track
Fast Track Departures costs from £12.99 per person, booked online for a one-hour arrival window between 06:00 and 21:00, and can be cancelled up to two hours before. It is already included for premium cabins, many frequent flyers and Heathrow Express PREMIER+ tickets.
Find your gate
Gates are shown on the screens about 45 minutes before departure. Until then, wait in a lounge or one of the restaurants below, and leave time to reach your gate once it appears.
Lounges
Passes marked Book a pass are sold through GetYourGuide, which shows the price, hours and terms before you pay; we may earn a commission.
Every lounge in detail
Plaza Premium Lounge
- Where
- After security in departures
- Access
- Book ahead from £49; listed by Priority Pass
- Hours
- 05:00–21:30
The dependable choice in Terminal 2, with hot food and a full bar.
Book a passNo1 Lounge
- Where
- After security in departures
- Access
- Pre-book from £42, entry three hours before your flight; listed by Priority Pass
- Hours
- 05:00–21:00
The newer of the two Terminal 2 lounges, and worth booking ahead.
Book a passClubrooms
- Where
- After security in departures
- Access
- Pre-book from £48; ages 12 and over; maximum stay three hours before departure
- Hours
- 05:00–21:00
The one to book in Terminal 3: table service, cocktails and runway views.
No1 Lounge
- Where
- After security in departures
- Access
- Pre-book from £40; listed by Priority Pass
- Hours
- 05:00–22:00
A tended bar, hot dishes and runway views, with No1 Bedrooms for a sleep between flights.
Book a passMy Lounge
- Where
- After security in departures
- Access
- Pre-book from £38, under-2s free; Priority Pass and LoungeKey accepted
- Hours
- 05:00–22:00
The former Club Aspire, now run by No1 Lounges, and the best value in Terminal 3.
Plaza Premium Lounge (arrivals)
- Where
- In arrivals, after you land
- Access
- Pay or pre-book on the operator's site; listed by Priority Pass
- Hours
- 06:00–14:00
A shower and breakfast after an overnight flight, before a hotel room is ready.
Book a passPlaza Premium Lounge
- Where
- After security in departures
- Access
- Book ahead from £49; listed by Priority Pass
- Hours
- 05:00–22:00
The main paid lounge in Terminal 4, open later than most.
Book a passBlush Lounge by Plaza Premium Group
- Where
- After security, near Gate 2
- Access
- Pre-book from £30; walk-ins only at set times of the week
- Hours
- Priority Pass lists short hours on most days (e.g. 07:00–10:30 Monday to Thursday); check before you go
The cheapest seat in a Heathrow lounge, if your departure time fits its short hours.
Club Aspire
- Where
- After security, in Terminal 5A
- Access
- Pre-book from £40, up to three hours before departure; listed by Priority Pass. Closes on 16 November 2026 and reopens as a No1 Lounge.
- Hours
- 05:00–21:00
The value pick for non-BA travellers in Terminal 5, until it closes for its rebuild.
Plaza Premium Lounge
- Where
- After security in departures
- Access
- Pre-book at least an hour ahead or walk in, from £49; listed by Priority Pass
- Hours
- 04:45–21:30
Open from 04:45 by the operator's own hours, which helps before a first-wave flight.
Book a passBritish Airways Galleries lounges
- Where
- After security: five lounges, including Galleries Club South, Galleries Club North, Galleries Club by Gate B36 and Galleries First
- Access
- Invitation only, by ticket class or frequent-flyer status, under the airline's rules
Five BA lounges in one terminal, for those whose ticket or status gets them in.
Eat and drink
Fortnum and Mason BarTerminal 5, after security by Gate A17
Champagne, cocktails and proper plates from 05:30 to 22:00.
Gordon Ramsay Plane Food MarketTerminal 5, after security, upstairs
Breakfast, sushi and burgers from across the chef's restaurants, to eat in or take on board; open from 05:00.
Shan ShuiTerminal 2, after security
Chinese and South-East Asian cooking and Old Shanghai cocktails, overlooking the runway.
The VineryTerminal 2, after security
A wine bar and restaurant with English sparkling wine from Gusbourne, caviar and a solid breakfast.
The Queen's ArmsTerminal 2, before security
A Fuller's pub over two floors at the end of the departure hall, with cask beer and a view across the airfield.
The CuratorTerminal 3, after security
Small-batch cocktails, craft beer and seasonal British plates, with a kids' menu.
The Evergreen Bar & RestaurantTerminal 3, after security by Gates 23–42
British cheeses and Paul Rhodes Bakery bread, from 05:30 to 21:30.
Wild OliveTerminal 4, after security near Gate 7
Mezze, flatbreads and grilled halloumi, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern, from 05:30.
The hotel at London Heathrow
Sofitel London Heathrow
For an early flight, a late landing or a long wait: the one we would book.
The only hotel with its own covered walkway into Terminal 5, and the best night's sleep at Heathrow. Proper restaurants, a spa with a pool and day-use rooms make it as good for a long layover as for a 6am departure.
The walkway serves Terminal 5 only; for Terminals 2, 3 and 4 you take the free inter-terminal train or bus first.
Getting to the terminal
Linked to Terminal 5 by a covered walkway, under 5 minutes on foot
- Soundproof windows and Sofitel MyBed in every room
- Spa with a vitality pool, sauna and steam room
- Day-use rooms for layovers
- Heathrow Express to Paddington from the Terminal 5 station next door
The catch
The Heathrow Express stops only at Terminals 2 and 3 and Terminal 5. For Terminal 4, change at Terminals 2 and 3 to the free transfer train (every 15 minutes, four minutes), or take the Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line, which both stop under Terminal 4 arrivals.
Heathrow's 2-litre liquids allowance is Heathrow's alone: the airport itself warns that many airports still apply a 100ml limit, so pack for the strictest airport on your trip.
- Heathrow Express stops
- Terminals 2 and 3, Terminal 5, Paddington
- Transfer train to Terminal 4
- Free, every 15 min, 4 min
Insider notes
Book the Heathrow Express at least 30 days ahead and a single costs from £10 instead of £26; children aged 15 and under travel free with a paying adult.
For Mayfair, Soho and the City, the Elizabeth line is the better train: Bond Street in 31 minutes, Tottenham Court Road in 33 and Farringdon in 36, with no change. Moving between terminals on it is free; tap your card and you will not be charged.
The Piccadilly line is the cheapest way in, £5.90 with contactless, and on Friday and Saturday nights the Night Tube runs six trains an hour from Terminals 2, 3 and 5.
Travelling with children
Every terminal has a free Stay & Play area after security, open 06:00–21:00, with soft play for different ages. During school holidays, selected restaurants run Kids Eat Free with an adult main course. Baby food, formula, sterilised water and expressed breast milk for the journey go through security in your hand baggage, and pushchairs can usually go to the gate.
Children aged 8 and 9 can now use the eGates with an adult if they are at least 120cm tall and hold a biometric passport, which keeps a family together in the faster queue.
Step-free and assistance
Heathrow's assistance service is free; ask your airline, tour operator or travel agent at least 48 hours before you fly. All terminals have step-free routes, and all Heathrow stations are step-free from train to street. Paid porters can carry bags from the forecourt to check-in and from reclaim.
Left luggage
Excess Baggage Company runs left luggage at Heathrow, charged per item. It suits a day in London between a morning arrival and an evening connection.
- Up to 3 hours
- £10 per item
- 3–24 hours
- £15 per item
- 24–48 hours
- £27.50 per item
- 48–72 hours
- £40 per item
Delays and your rights
Flights from Heathrow are covered by UK261. Arrive three hours or more late for a reason within the airline's control and you can claim £220 for flights of 1,500 km or less, £350 for 1,500–3,500 km and £520 for longer flights (£260 if three to four hours late). Claim from the airline. It also owes you food and drink while you wait, and a hotel if the delay runs overnight.
A long wait or an early flight
Three hotels are joined to the terminals: Aerotel in Terminal 3 arrivals, a short walk from Terminal 2; the Hilton, by covered walkway from Terminal 4; and the Sofitel, by covered walkway from Terminal 5. Connecting through Terminal 3, No1 Bedrooms in the No1 Lounge is the only airside option, with rooms from 06:00 to 22:30. There are no sleeping pods.
From Paddington, the first Heathrow Express leaves at 04:34 from Monday to Saturday and the first Elizabeth line train at 04:36 on weekdays.
Getting to our ten hotels
Heathrow is the right airport for half our London edit. The Pilgrm is a short walk from Paddington, 15 minutes on the Heathrow Express; Claridge's, Hazlitt's and The Zetter Marylebone are each a short walk from an Elizabeth line station. For the rest, the drive is typically 45–75 minutes. Our transfers page gives the drive from all five London airports to every hotel and the way we would travel.
Questions people ask
Good questions about London Heathrow
How early should I get to Heathrow?
Heathrow recommends three hours before an international flight and two hours for domestic and European flights. Gates are announced about 45 minutes before departure.
What is the fastest way from Heathrow to central London?
The Heathrow Express: 15 minutes from Terminals 2 and 3 to Paddington, every 15 minutes, £26 walk-up or from £10 booked 30 days ahead. For Mayfair, Soho and the City, the Elizabeth line is often quicker door to door: 31 minutes to Bond Street for £15.50.
How much is a taxi from Heathrow to central London?
Transport for London puts a black cab from Heathrow to central London at £70–120 on the meter, taking 30–60 minutes. A journey from a Heathrow rank adds £1.60.
What is the cheapest way from Heathrow to London?
The Piccadilly line: £5.90 with a contactless card to central London, about 50 minutes, with a train at least every ten minutes.
Can I take liquids over 100ml through Heathrow security?
Yes. Heathrow's scanners allow containers of up to 2 litres, left in your bag, in all four terminals. Other airports may still apply 100ml on your way home.
How much is Fast Track at Heathrow?
From £12.99 per person for departures, booked online for a one-hour slot between 06:00 and 21:00. Fast Track Arrivals at passport control costs £25 off-peak and from £35 at peak times.
Which Heathrow lounges can I pay to use?
There is at least one in every terminal: Plaza Premium in Terminals 2, 4 and 5, No1 Lounge in Terminals 2 and 3, Clubrooms and My Lounge in Terminal 3, Club Aspire in Terminal 5 and Blush in Terminal 4. Prices start at £30 to £49 booked ahead.
Image credits: Warren Rohner (CC BY-SA 2.0) · CedarGlen86 (CC0) · Au Morandarte from London, Middlesex, England (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Sunil060902 (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Mertbiol (CC0) · M J Richardson (CC BY-SA 2.0)