In this article, I present Heathrow airportLondon's largest airport!
Here you'll find
- Heathrow airport presentation
- The different ways to reach the city center easily
- Practical information: prices, opening hours, reservations
- Methods to suit your profile
- And much more!
If you're looking for information about Heathrow, you'll love this article.
Follow the guide!
Heathrow: article summary
Heathrow: London's largest airport Â
If you decide to travel to London by plane, you'll land in one of the following airports 6 airports around the capital. Heathrow is the n°1It is the UK's largest airport and the 2nd largest in Europe.e in Europe, behind Charles de Gaulle in Paris.
I'll introduce you to it, before explaining how to make the Heathrow - Central London journey as simply as possible.
Introducing Heathrow
Heathrow International Airport (LHRfor London Heathrow) was founded in 1929 as a small airfield. It takes its name from the nearby hamlet of Heathrow where it was established.
Its expansion began in 1944, and after the war it became a civilian airport with an official opening. March 25, 1946. Originally called London Airport, it was not renamed Heathrow Airport until 1966.
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Heathrow is a massive airport with four terminals (terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5, with terminal 1 included in the expansion plan for terminal 2), which handles international flights by the world's leading airlines: Air Canada, Air China, Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, TAP Portugal and many others, with 80 airlines who use our services.
It is in the top 10 of the world's busiest airports, with a record in 2019, a year in which it exceeded the 80 million passengers. For comparison, Gatwick (London's 2nd largest airport) does not exceed 19 million annual passengers!
Good to know In addition to Gatwick, you can land at Stansted, à Lutonor at London City and London Southend airports.
Airport facts and figures Â
- The most popular destinations from Heathrow are New York or Dubaiin competition in recent years
- Among local flights, it's Edinburgh in first place
- It is located in 26 km west of London
- In 2021, there will be an average of 536 daily flights at Heathrow
- Flights serve 89 countries and 214 destinations
London by private shuttle from Heathrow
For a smooth arrival in central London, you can book a shuttle with private driver. The driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel or Airbnb.
This is the most convenient solution, especially for those with luggage to move and for travelers in groups of 3, 4 or 5. The price is fixed, and when costs are shared, it doesn't cost much!
Heathrow Express
Since 1998, a train service has been operating between London Heathrow and London. Paddington station operates from terminals 2, 3 and 5. A shuttle bus runs between Terminal 4 and Heathrow Central station (Terminals 2 and 3) to make life easier for travelers.
This express train connects the city center in 15/20 minutes with departures every 15 minutes between 5 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. It's the quickest way to reach the capital, and you can take advantage of it all! from £28 for a one-way ticket.
You can buy your tickets online, so all you have to do is climb aboard the Heathrow Express on arrival. How convenient!
Heathrow Underground
The metro is an inexpensive option for getting to London from Heathrow. The airport, in zone 6, is served by the Piccadilly linewith stops at terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5.
It's a convenient way to get straight to the center of town. It takes about 45/50 minute journeywith frequent departures between 5am and 11:30pm.
Good to know It is possible to use the Oyster Card to make the trip from the airport at lower cost.
Using TFL trains Â
Company trains TFL (Transport For London, which also operates the subway and London bus) connect the airport to Paddington station, via the Elizabeth Line which passes through terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5.
It has been extended to reach Abbey Wood (via Canary Wharf) on one side, and connecting terminal 5 to Shenfield via Stratford on the other.
Tickets cost 12,80£ with regular departures between 4:30 a.m. and midnight, depending on the season.
By bus
Classic buses serve several parts of London from the airport bus stationwithin walking distance of the main terminals.
You'll find lines 105, 111, 278, 285, 350, 423, 482, 490, A10 and U3 during the day; and night lines N9 and N140. Convenient, but longer than the metro, which I'd rather recommend.
The companies National Express and Terravision also offer regular shuttle services from this station, with fares starting from £4 one way / £8 return. However, the journey time is a little long here too, up to 1h15/1h40 depending on traffic.
With a cab or an Uber?
From black cabs and mini-taxis await travelers arriving at Heathrow. Allow around an hour for the journey, and the fare is usually in the region of £70-£90.
The Uber option is available and slightly cheaper, with a bill of around £50.
Heathrow > city center: which method to choose?
As you can see, there are many ways to reach central London easily from Heathrow airport. The best choice for you will simply depend on your expectations and your budget:
- For a smooth arrival, the private shuttle with driver is the best choice. You won't have to carry your luggage and you'll be dropped off directly at your accommodation!
- The quickest solution is the Heathrow ExpressIt's an excellent choice if you're staying near Paddington Station, which it serves.
- The metro is the cheapest way to get to London, with excellent value for money that will delight even the smallest budgets.
Enjoy your stay in London!
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