London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Terminal 2 is also known as The Queen's Terminal and handles domestic and international passenger services.

Terminal 2 is located close to Terminal 3 and the Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 rail and Underground stations.

Terminal 3 handles international and selected domestic passenger services.

It shares convenient ground transport access with Terminal 2 through the Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 station complex.

Terminal 4 is a separate passenger terminal served by the Elizabeth line and London Underground Piccadilly line, together with road and bus connections.

Terminal 5 is another major Heathrow passenger terminal and has its own rail and Underground connections.

The Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express and Piccadilly line provide passenger transport connections from Terminal 5.

Passengers who have booked their arriving and departing flights separately are treated differently from normal connecting passengers.

They may need to:

Heathrow specifically recommends allowing additional time for self-connections.

Importantly, passengers who need to pass through UK border control must ensure they have the appropriate permission to enter or transit through the United Kingdom.

Passengers connecting through Heathrow may be subject to UK transit visa requirements depending on:

The UK distinguishes between passengers who remain airside and passengers who pass through UK border control.

Passengers who remain airside may require a Direct Airside Transit visa, depending on their nationality and exemptions.

Passengers who need to pass through border control may require a Visitor in Transit visa or another appropriate UK immigration permission.

Because these requirements are highly traveller-specific, passengers should use the official UK Government visa checker before travelling.

Heathrow's four passenger terminals are connected by airport transfer and public transport services.

Passengers making an airside flight connection should follow the purple Flight Connections signs.

When the onward flight departs from another terminal, Heathrow provides free transfer buses for connecting passengers. Heathrow currently states that these buses operate approximately every 10 minutes.

Passengers who have entered the UK or who are making a self-connection can travel between terminals using transport options including:

Rail and Underground travel between Heathrow terminals is currently free, although passengers may need an appropriate ticket, Oyster card or contactless payment method depending on the service.

Passengers should check Heathrow's current terminal transfer instructions before travelling.

The Heathrow Express provides a fast direct rail connection between Heathrow and London Paddington.

Heathrow currently states that the journey between Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 and Paddington takes approximately 15 minutes.

Passengers travelling to or from other terminals can use the appropriate Heathrow rail connections.

The Elizabeth line provides direct rail connections between Heathrow and many major areas of London.

Destinations accessible directly include:

The Elizabeth line serves Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5.

Heathrow currently describes journeys into central London as taking under 40 minutes, depending on the destination.

Paddington

Bond Street

Tottenham Court Road

Farringdon

Liverpool Street

Canary Wharf

Stratford

The Piccadilly line provides London Underground services between Heathrow and central London.

It serves all Heathrow passenger terminals and provides direct connections towards destinations including:

Heathrow describes the Piccadilly line as its most budget-friendly direct rail option to central London, with journeys generally taking under an hour depending on destination.

South Kensington

Knightsbridge

Green Park

Piccadilly Circus

Leicester Square

Covent Garden area

King's Cross St. Pancras

Licensed London taxis are available from designated taxi ranks at Heathrow.

A taxi provides direct transportation to hotels, residences, railway stations and destinations throughout London.

Road journey times vary considerably depending on:

Traffic

Time of day

Terminal

Exact destination

App-based and pre-booked private-hire services operate at Heathrow.

Passengers should follow the instructions provided by their transport provider and use the designated pickup location for their terminal.

Pickup arrangements may differ by terminal and can change, so travellers should check the current instructions in their booking or app.

Heathrow is connected with London and other UK destinations by local buses and long-distance coaches.

Coach services can provide connections to destinations including:

Routes, operators and schedules can change, so passengers should check current information before travelling.

Other London airports

Major UK cities

Regional transport hubs

Private airport transfers can be booked in advance for direct travel between Heathrow and a hotel, residence or other destination.

Private transfers can be useful for:

Families

Groups

Travellers with significant luggage

First-time visitors

Business travellers

Passengers requiring direct transportation

Car rental services are available at Heathrow.

Hiring a vehicle may be useful for travellers continuing beyond London or exploring other parts of England and the United Kingdom.

Travellers should understand UK driving requirements, parking restrictions, congestion-related charges and local road regulations before renting a vehicle.

For visitors staying mainly in central London, public transportation is often more practical than driving.