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Airportist Scores and guides are editorial content. Always verify live rules, terminals, and operational alerts with official airport and airline sources.

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LHREGLL

Heathrow Airport

London, GB

Airportist Score

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Security

Fastest

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On time

LHRGuide

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LHREGLLNormal

London Heathrow Airport

London, United Kingdom · Europe

Heathrow is a four-terminal hub with official 2025 traffic of 84.5 million. CT scanners from 23 January 2026 let 2-litre liquids and laptops stay in the bag. Live Priority Pass is not No.1 in every terminal — T5 is Club Aspire, and T3 Plaza Premium on PP is arrivals only. There is no Chase Sapphire Lounge.

Airportist Score

7.3/ 10

Solid

Ease of use7.0
Comfort & amenities7.2
Food & retail7.5
Ground access8.0
Reliability7.0
Lounges7.4

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare LHR with another airport

Arrive

Security

Fastest

Cheapest

Lounges

On time

LHRGuide

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All airports Official site

LHREGLLNormal

London Heathrow Airport

London, United Kingdom · Europe

Heathrow is a four-terminal hub with official 2025 traffic of 84.5 million. CT scanners from 23 January 2026 let 2-litre liquids and laptops stay in the bag. Live Priority Pass is not No.1 in every terminal — T5 is Club Aspire, and T3 Plaza Premium on PP is arrivals only. There is no Chase Sapphire Lounge.

Airportist Score

7.3/ 10

Solid

Ease of use7.0
Comfort & amenities7.2
Food & retail7.5
Ground access8.0
Reliability7.0
Lounges7.4

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare LHR with another airport

Arrive
15 min
before departure
Typical security
23 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
15 min
Heathrow Express
Cheapest to city
Piccadilly line
$ · 50-60 min
Lounges
31
18 rated worth it
On time
70%
of departures

12 photos

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

NHTRoyal Air Forces Northolt Airport
Northolt
10 km
HYCWycombe Air Park
High Wycombe
29 km
FABFarnborough Airport
Farnborough
31 km
BBSBlackbushe Airport
Blackbushe
31 km
LCYLondon City Airport
London
36 km
BQHLondon Biggin Hill Airport
London
37 km

Compare LHR vs LCY

NHTRoyal Air Forces Northolt Airport
Northolt
10 km
HYCWycombe Air Park
High Wycombe
29 km
FABFarnborough Airport
Farnborough
31 km
BBSBlackbushe Airport
Blackbushe
31 km
LCYLondon City Airport
London
7.536 km
BQHLondon Biggin Hill Airport
London
37 km

LHRGuide

LHRGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 3 hours early for long-haul

New scanners reduce liquid hassle; queues still form at peak.

Security and immigration still peak 06:00–10:00 and 16:00–20:00 even with CT scanners. Book Fast Track (£12.99+, 06:00–21:00) if your flight sits in those windows.

Terminal

Confirm the terminal before you book a lounge

BA uses T5 and T3; Star Alliance mostly T2; T4 is its own bus/rail hop.

BA uses T5 and T3. Star Alliance is mostly T2. T4 handles a mixed long-haul set. Official transfers are a free shuttle every 10 minutes — not a promised T2–T3 airside walk. T4 parking is Park & Ride only.

Food

Reserve & Collect skips the airside queue

Reserve & Collect skips queues at popular airside outlets.

Heathrow’s app lets you reserve shopping and some food for pickup after security. Useful at The Crown, Giraffe, and the duty-free spine.

Status

Live Priority Pass is not “No1 in every terminal”

Open the Priority Pass app — T5 No.1 and T3 Club Aspire are not listed.

T5 PP is Club Aspire plus Plaza Premium Departures — not No.1. T3 Plaza Premium on PP is the arrivals room (06:00–14:00), not a departures fallback. Clubrooms T3 charges an extra fee. There is no Chase Sapphire Lounge at Heathrow.

Live conditions

Right now at LHR

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Fast rail to central London
New liquid-friendly security
Extensive free water access
BA long-haul hub

Watch out for

Promising a T2–T3 airside walkway — official transfers are a free shuttle
T4 multi-storey parking closed 23 June 2026 (Park & Ride Zone A only)
T5 Priority Pass is Club Aspire, not No.1
T3 Plaza Premium on Priority Pass is the arrivals room (06:00–14:00)
Australia-bound flights still use the 100 ml liquids rule

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

7.0

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.2

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

8.0

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.0

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

7.4

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

84.5 million / 84,463,000 (Heathrow ARA / Dec 2025 table)

Terminals

4 active terminals (2, 3, 4, 5); T1 closed

On-time departures

70%

Typical security

23 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for LHR.

Updated Sep 18, 2026

London Heathrow Airport (IATA LHR / ICAO EGLL). Official site heathrow.com. Four active terminals (2, 3, 4, 5); Terminal 1 is closed.
Official Heathrow Airport Holdings 2025 ARA: 84.5 million passengers in 2025 and 83.9 million in 2024 (+0.7%). December 2025 traffic table: 84,463,000 for the calendar year. Do not keep “80 million+.”
CT scanners: official press date is 23 January 2026 (not 24 January). Live heathrow.com: liquids in containers up to 2 litres stay in the cabin bag at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5; laptops and large electronics stay in the bag. Australia-bound flights still apply a 100 ml rule. Empty metal or insulated bottles before security.
Heathrow Express: 15 minutes to Paddington from T2/T3; walk-up Standard £26; from £10 when booked at least 30 days ahead. Elizabeth line adult pay- as-you-go Heathrow↔Zone 1 is £15.50 from 1 March 2026. Piccadilly line Zone 1–Heathrow is £5.90 (Mayor / TfL 2026 package). Fast Track Departures from £12.99, 06:00–21:00.
Official connections use a free inter-terminal shuttle every 10 minutes. heathrow.com does not publish an airside T2–T3 walkway — do not promise one.
Terminal 4 multi-storey car park closed 23 June 2026. All T4 passenger parking is Zone A Park & Ride.

8 official sources

https://www.heathrow.com/
https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/security-and-baggage/hand-baggage-and-liquids
https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/by-rail-or-train/heathrow-express
https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/airport-services/fast-track
https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/terminal-guides/terminal-4-guide
https://www.heathrow.com/content/dam/heathrow/web/common/documents/company/investor/reports-and-presentations/annual-accounts/airport-holdings/HAHL_ARA_2025.pdf
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares
https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-kingdom/heathrow

Full guide

Explore the LHR guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Map
Heathrow Airport, the London city center, and 6 other airports in the city
City center6 other airports
View Map
Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Heathrow ExpressCheapest: Piccadilly line
View Getting There
Lounges
31 lounges with access rules, hours, and verdicts. 18 rated worth it.
Air Canada Maple Leaf LoungeLufthansa Business LoungeLufthansa Senator Lounge
View Lounges
Traveler Tips
Contactless / Oyster on Elizabeth line and Underground is the simple fare path. Elizabeth line Heathrow↔Zone 1 is £15.50 from 1 March 2026.
10 tips & hacks
View Traveler Tips
Amenities
4 rated amenities — food, Wi-Fi, quiet spots, family, and sleep.
Heathrow ExpressFree Water FountainsNo1 Lounges
View Amenities
Water
Where to refill for free, and where a bottle costs the least airside.
3 spots2 free or refill
View Water
Reviews
Editorial and traveler reviews — what people actually complain about.
2 published
View Reviews

🌙9°C / 48°F

Security wait times

Current security wait information is not available for this airport. Check the airport's official website or app before travel.

Official airport site

Operational status

Delays reported

Departure delays

Flights are taking off 23m late on average.

Delay range: 23m avg

Arrival delays

Flights are landing 12m late on average.

Delay range: 12m avg

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Oct 21, 20:39 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.