London Heathrow Airport is located approximately 15 miles from central London. This airport is located in the Hounslow area. More than 80 million passengers use this massive airport every year. There are many options for transportation from the airport to the city center. You can reach Paddington in just 15-20 minutes with the Heathrow Express train. The Elizabeth Line is my favorite! With this line, which began service in 2022, you can reach central locations such as Bond Street and Liverpool Street in 35-45 minutes. The Piccadilly Line is London’s famous underground. The journey takes 50-60 minutes.
You can see the iconic Black Cabs at the exit of each terminal at the airport. There are also bus stops in front of the terminals.
There are 4 terminals at Heathrow Airport: Terminal 2, Terminal 3, Terminal 4, and Terminal 5. There is a free shuttle between terminals.
Interactive London Heathrow Airport Map
London Heathrow Airport Terminals
Heathrow’s terminals are like small, independent cities. There are four terminals at Heathrow Airport: Terminal 2, Terminal 3, Terminal 4, and Terminal 5.
London Heathrow Airport Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal
Terminal 2 is located in the eastern part of Heathrow. Terminal 2 is connected to Terminal 3 via an underground walkway. These two terminals are only a 10-minute walk apart. United Airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Swiss, Singapore Airlines, Aer Lingus, and other airlines use this terminal. This terminal is used more for flights to Northern Europe or Western Europe. The terminal has restaurants, shops, duty-free shops, and cafes.
London Heathrow Airport Terminal 3
Located in the center of Heathrow Airport, Terminal 3 is used more for long-haul flights. Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Delta, and other long-haul airlines use this terminal. The gates are divided into three sections: 1-11, 13-22, and 23-42. Gate 22, the furthest gate, is a 10-minute walk from the departures hall. The terminal has various restaurants, cafes, and shops.
London Heathrow Airport Terminal 4
Terminal 4 is located under the south runway and is a separate terminal. Terminal 4 has its own access road, parking lot, and train station. Airlines such as Air France, KLM, Delta, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, and Gulf Air use this terminal. This terminal is mainly used for long-haul and European flights. Virgin Atlantic’s famous Clubhouse is also located in this terminal.
You can reach this terminal from Terminals 2 and 3 by shuttle bus and train.
London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5
Terminal 5 is British Airways’ main hub. It is the terminal with the most passenger comfort and lounge options. Terminal 5 is a shopping paradise. There are numerous restaurants, cafes, and shops inside the terminal. There is also an underground train within the terminal.
London Heathrow Airport Car Rental
There are car rental offices in all terminals at Heathrow Airport. Major car rental companies such as Sixt, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, Europcar, Dollar, Arnold Clark, and Drivalia are available at Heathrow Airport. Driving in London traffic takes a bit of courage. But if you want to visit England’s unique villages, the Cotswolds, or Stonehenge, you should rent a car at the airport.
The car rental companies’ offices in the terminals are located on the Arrivals level. Rental cars are located in the parking lot on Northern Perimeter Road. There is a shuttle from the terminals to this parking lot. The shuttle runs every 10 minutes. You can pick up your car with your credit card, passport, and credit card. I recommend making an online reservation. This is because procedures at this huge airport can sometimes take a very long time. If you have an online reservation, you can complete your car rental procedures at the terminal in a short time.
London Heathrow Airport VIP Lounge
The VIP Lounge options at Heathrow Airport are truly extensive. There are multiple lounges in each terminal.
Terminal 2 VIP Lounge
There are No.1 Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounge, Lufthansa Senator Business Lounge, Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge, Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, United Club, and United Airlines Arrivals Lounge. VIP Lounges are open from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Terminal 3 VIP Lounge
Clubrooms, No.1 Lounges, My Lounge, Plaza Premium, American Admirals Club, American Arrivals Lounge, American Express Centurion Lounge, British Airways Galleries Club Lounge, Cathay Pacific Lounge, Emirates Lounge, Qantas London Lounge, Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge, and Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wing are available in Terminal 3.
Terminal 4 VIP Lounge
Plaza Premium, Etihad Lounge, Gulf Air Falcon Gold Lounge, Qatar Airways Premium Lounge, and Saudia Lounge are available in Terminal 4.
Terminal 5 VIP Lounge
Club Aspire, Plaza Premium, British Airways First Class Club, British Airways First Class Lounge, British Airways Galleries Arrivals Lounge, British Airways Galleries Club Lounge North, and British Airways – The Concorde Room are located in Terminal 5.
VIP Lounges are open from 05:00 to 21:00. Some lounges may have different opening hours.
VIP Lounges offer complimentary snacks, unlimited drinks, free WiFi, shower cubicles, a business center, and comfortable seating areas. Some lounge areas also offer hot meal service and shower facilities. British Airways lounges even offer spa services.
Hotels in London Heathrow Airport
There are many hotels both inside Heathrow Airport and near the terminals.
Hilton Garden Inn London is connected to Terminal 2 via a covered walkway. It is the only hotel inside the terminal. You can reach this hotel on foot from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.
Aerotel London Heathrow is located on the arrivals level of Terminal 3. Aerotel London Heathrow is a 10-minute walk from Terminal 2. Hilton Terminal 4 is within walking distance of Terminal 4.
DoubleTree by Hilton is only ten minutes away from the airport. Premier Inn, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, Renaissance, Hyatt Place, Radisson Blu, Marriott, Sheraton, Leonardo, Courtyard, ibis, and Novotel are very close to Heathrow Airport.
London Heathrow Airport location
London Heathrow Airport address: Hounslow, United Kingdom.
Heathrow Airport IATA: LHR.
Heathrow Airport ICAO: EGLL
Satellite view of London Heathrow Airport. Click to enlarge
London Heathrow Airport destination map (February 2026). Click to enlarge