10 Important Things to Know About London Heathrow Airport 

Hey, I'm proud to work at Heathrow, and watching this independent video brings that home for me. The amount of time and money that is put into making Heathrow a better place every day, and making every journey better for everyone is phenomenal. Obviously, sometimes things go wrong, but we seriously listen to our passengers and we are getting better at what we do.

Just flew into Heathrow from Chicago. The most intuitive and well layed out airport I have seen. Signage requires no real thought. Piece of cake.

Also Heathrow has the nicest bathrooms, no joke. Stalls are super private and were all kept clean.

Great information, thank you for sharing your wisdom. I've really enjoyed the videos of yours that I've seen thus far.

As far as pricing goes, I found the beer prices to be identical to central London. A pint of Fuller's ESB was £5.05 at the pub next to my hotel and £5.00 at the airport Fuller's pub.

I remember when I flew in and out heathrow. This guy from UK I meet in the plane helped me with directions when I landed but by the most part it's pretty easy. It's a huge airport and security and getting your luggage is pretty fast. The bathrooms are so private too.

Agree, gates are far away, last two trips of mine I arrived an hour before the flight (no luggage to check in), both times I walked though the bookshop, one time also though boots, haven't had time for more since it's about 20-30 walk to the gate. Delays at security don't help (got to a gate at boarding thanks to security wanting to look at my backpack). Then there is always the hour trainride to the airport to count as well.

Super helpful tips Jess! Great job! Loved it! Thanks! Love and cheers! 👍💗😘🇬🇧

My carry on bag was randomly selected for secondary screening at Heathrow. It was pushed over and added to a line that had three people in front of me. One of them was a woman who had numerous bags with liquids and it was such a scene as she decided what she could keep and what she was going to throw away. When she was finally finished, the next bag had a drone in it! When they finally got to my bag, it took less than two minutes. But the overall time was almost 45 minutes and we had to run to our gate.

Thanks for your video! Very articulate and well laid out! You definitely covered the most important and main points! Cheers! ❤️

From experience if you're using Heathrow to connect to another flight, when scheduling your flights and calculating layover times, think about how much time you'll need and double it. I can't believe when I see flights published that connect in Heathrow (and other places too) that connecting times of less than an hour are shown. A total impossibility that you'll make your connection. If you're lucky and make your connection, your luggage will probably not. In addition to going through passport control and another possible security screening, your connecting flight in all probability will be in another terminal. There are terminal connecting buses. I've been on them. You might think they're driving you to central London, but they're only taking you to another terminal. Allow four hours, and maybe more, in case you're concerned your inbound flight will be delayed (that they often are). Flights can often circle Heathrow in a holding pattern, so being on time doesn't even mean your flight will immediately land. Good video.

I'm fully convinced that an international transfer through Heathrow is really just an excuse to force the visitor to get a cram course in British queuing.

Jess you have been so helpful in planning our trip to London! Thank you so very much! We did buy our London Pass from your site, not much of a payment for you, but something! Thanks again and we look so forward to our trip!

Very helpful hints; thanks!

I’m making my first trip to London in October I’m so excited thanks for all the information 💝

Thanks for the guide. It is quite helpful, Cheers.

All useful stuff to keep in mind - I've forgotten the "take a pen on the flight with you" more than once over the years! One day it'll sink in... Probably the day it all goes electronic/paperless.

Leaving Denver next Wednesday for a solo week in London!! Thanks for the helpful videos. :)

Update to this video. As from June 2019 you no longer need to fill in a landing card :-)

I’ve had a few travel here and there and Heathrow is the most efficient airport I’ve been to! We were so impressed!

I’m really odd because my favorite part about any trip I’ve been on is the airport...I know. I’m very strange but it’s all really civilized and fun because you’ve got something to look forward to! Either going home or going on holiday!

I arrived at Terminal 5 a few months ago and having an Australian passport, went through the automatic border control gates, no queue, collected my bag, nobody there, went through the nothing to declare door, nobody there,then hopped on the Heathrow Express to London, so quick.

Hi Jess! thanks for the lovely tips! I will be traveling solo 1st time to London or Europe countries and these tips are definitely come handy! Thanks! - From Singapore!

Another option to get from Terminal 5 A to B or C - or reverse - is to use the transit (moving) walkway. This is located underneath the train. Hardly anyone uses it, everybody takes a train. To get there, take the lift to to lowest floor. Note that the escalator will only bring you to the train level. A walk will take about 4 - 7 minutes to get from A to B, same from B to C. Probably the cheapest (and fastest) way to get into central London is the tube. Takes about one hour to get to Westminster. Heathrow Express is fast to get to Paddington (25 minutes from T5) but expensive if you buy a ticket right before you want to travel. When the Crossrail Elizabeth line will be ready, that will be the fastest and cheapest option.

Thank you for this video. Very helpful.

thankyouuuu , really help

I watch your videos often and just realized I’ve never hit subscribe. I am now going back to re-watch and make sure I give a thumbs up for all your hard work. Love from 🇨🇦❤️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I just saw that you had answered the question that I asked for someone else. I got the answer. Thank you :)

Really helpful video. Subscribed your channel after watching this video

Thanks for telling me i really appreciate it cause my family alaways travel heathrow maybe you could make more

London Heathrow is a amazing!!!! ✈ 🌍

Super useful vedio, thanks jess! 👍🏻

I am flying into Heathrow today for my first ever trip to London! Thought I’d do some research before I depart!

I have been to Terminals 2 and 4. It really takes a long time to walk from Airport Entrance to the Flight Gate in Terminal 2. Very less options for Vegan food though.

I'm flying today ! Thanks for the tips :)

Thank you so much for this info. Although I have been to London multiple times it has been quite a few years and since we will only have 2 days to tour prior to a cruise we don't want to waste time or money.

Excellent Timing. Have a trip to London planned for next week. Great information. Thanks creating this video.

Made a mistake by booking a flight from doha-lhr-belfast george best with 4 and 2 hours layover. We almost miss our flight to belfast. Transfering from terminal 4 to 2 was a pain and a marathon run.

While at Heathrow, my carry-on bag was chosen for a random secondary screening. It was directed to a separate area, where there were three individuals ahead of me in line. One of them was a woman who had multiple bags containing liquids, and there was quite a spectacle as she determined what to keep and what to discard. After she was done, the next bag in line turned out to contain a drone! Fortunately, when they finally reached my bag, the process took less than ten minutes. However, due to the overall screening time, which was nearly 65 minutes, we had to rush to our gate, making it quite a challenge, especially if you were aiming for Express Parking.

Also if u wait about 10 minutes after the WiFi is up just log in again !!

Hi! I'm visiting London for the first time in August! I'm so excited!

Buy your souvenirs at the duty free shops... no VAT tax. And leave lots of time to get to your gate. We almost missed our flight. They were about to close the gate even though we though we arrived 30 minutes before departure. Only thing that saved us was our daughter was chosen for extra security checks. They will hold the plane if you are flagged for this.

Do Gatwick airport next please! I'm visiting in may and i'd love some advice about it. Love your videos, keep it up x

Hi Jess!! When you are shopping in London and get to LHR there is a place to claim your VAT. I was only able to claim 2 of my purchases, while I had many more than that...lol. Any tips for when your shopping in London? Do you have to ask for a VAT form? Or is it based on how much you actually paid for a purchase (is there a minimum?). This was confusing for us and I know I was probably due a lot more back in VAT but did not know how to do that.

Thanks a lot Jess! I'm travelling to London real soon and your tips were really very helpful! Keep up the good work! 👍

Thanks a lot Jess@everyone

Excellent!

How we can commute from arrival terminal 4 to departure terminal 2?

Hi, we just returned from a visit to London from Canada, we did not have to fill anything out just put the passport through a scanner. We loved the city and will be back for sure.

I'm going from DFW (US) straight to Heathrow, but then have a connecting flight to Newcastle. What if border control takes too long, and I miss my connection?

Hello Jess. Thank you again for all of your informative and helpful videos. I have one question. In regards to the Landing Card, will I get one when I board the plane from the US to the UK? Or will I receive the Landing Card when I get off of the plane in the UK? Thank you, Don

in may I (16M) will be going from Heathrow to Marseille alone, it’ll be my second time at heathrow and it’ll also be my first ever time taking a flight alone so I am pretty stressed haha

The most efficient airport in Europe...

Hello, I'm arriving in Christmas day, December 25. Can I expect shops and restaurants to be open at Heathrow? Thanks!

Thanks for the infos, Jess! When we traveled to London,I choose Stansted because it is smaller so easier to navigate and closer to our host's house. Heathrow have the reputation of a busy airport.The only problem we had after we land was that we did not find the exit terminal to the coaches station so we walked around for 10-15 minutes until we found it. Please do a video about Stansted airport. All the best!

am from glasgow i plan to fly to london heathrow via glasgow airport by plane then london to astana direct i only wait 1 hour in london

Always show up at least 4-5 hrs early. Especially for busy airports. You can see a lot in 4 hrs of an airport like Heathrow.

I recently went on Heathrow and the security check was about 2/3hours maybe almost missed flight we couldn't even get early because we had multiple flights and the second flight went on Heathrow

Heathrow also has "purple jackets". These are multilingual people and you can ask them for help and directions.

Never used Uber. Do they have Lyft in UK?

I just flew into London from Phoenix, didn't need to fill out the landing card. First ever time in Europe!

The only time I've ever spent any amount of time waiting was at JFK New York it was 3 hours .the staff didn't know what they were all doing lol

Your videos are pretty much cool, can you please let me know how much amount one carry if someone travelling from non EU country to UK

Are fish and chips available in terminal 5?

I have to admit i am so crapping myself as i shall be flying to India next year from Heathrow. It's my first time travelling alone, anywhere, the sheer number of people and how to find check in where, what, how, causes my anxiety, which i suffer. But the trip is so important, but when its ones first time its so frightening.

Anyone know if it’s faster or better to get to Central London from Terminal 4 via the Tube or Heathrow Express via another Terminal?

one way to move through the immigration line quickly is come in on a late flight, last time I went to London I arrived at 11 at night and breezed through immigration, don't get me wrong, there was still a long line, but not as long as you would find on say, a saturday morning

Awesome thank you!!! Do one got Gatwick???

My flight gets in (from the U.S.) to Heathrow at 2pm on a Tuesday, how long should I expect to wait in line at border control?

Great tips! Could you do something like that about Stansted airport please?

Is true that u can pre book cabbies before u reach Heathrow. I dont want take train. Is crowded and heavy to carry luggages. Any advise?

Thanks a lot for this information! I wonder if is posible reservación tickets to take Elizabeth line ? I will arrive at Heathrow al 17:00 and then my reservation is near Paddington Station

Hi love I will be coming to London in October from USA 🇺🇸 flying into T3 . I planned to purchase a bag from Gucci what would be the better deal on bond street or at the airport duty free?

Very helpful tips ☺️ Where can I get the landing card?

I would love to go to London

We will be flying from Rome to London then connecting to Lo s Angeles. Do you know if we just go into the next flight or do you have to go through passport check before flying into LA? This is the first time flying like this. Thanks in advance for any help

Do you have any tips for terminal 5?

Can you do one for the Stansted airport? please!!! I am planning on visiting London in June and would appreciate your advises over this airport.

Hi, are there currency exchange spots in Terminal 5? I'm flying into Heathrow in a couple of days

After you pass security there are no smoking lounges inside and you won’t be able to get out unless you pass through security all over again. I found that so annoying

Two quick questions: I assume there are bathrooms between deboarding area and border control, right? And two, are there places to eat at the airport once you make it through customs? Some airports only have dining options for once you’ve made it through security (when you’re on the way out) Thanks for anyone’s help!

Arriving at Gatwick

Will you be doing a video on Gatwick??

Do U.S. Airports have the landing cards available so they can be filled out on the plane and save yourself that time? Such a helpful video, thank you!

I’ve just subscribed.

Don’t know why I’m even watching airport videos when I’ve never even been on an airplane 😂

What does "if the bag drop line " means ?

Hi, honest opinion please, do u think we’ll be able to go into London for quick sightseeing from terminal 5 in about 5hrs? We have a 8hr layover in Heathrow 😬

2:41 I just flew into LHR and going through customs was easy. Scan passport take photo and go

We will arrive at Heathrow in July an hour after our son does. Our carrier takes us to Terminal 3. His carrier takes him to Terminal 2. Is there a central place we can find to meet each other before we take the Underground into Central London?

Love your videos! Planning to go back to the US coming from Portugal with a 2.5hr stopover at LHR.. wondering if we’ll have to go through immigration? I checked online at it say we only need 75mins, no check in bags.. is that enough time?

Where do we receive those landing cards?.. I’m going this week and not sure where to go...

Can't. Wait. To. Go. To. London. England

Hello mam My flight will reach at night 9pm , so any rest place is available at Heathrow t4... ???

Nice video mam nice explanation

Just wanted to state how much my husband and I apperciate all your videos. We are leaving for London soon and have your channel to be the most helpful. Is there any chance you have a more updated guide about the airport? I notice this was posted before Covid. And do you have a video if its worth renting a car? London was a spur of the momment desicion when he saw a Star Wars convention is taking place... not sure how it works with convention centers. Or the Harry Potter Tours. I was able to schedule a Harry Potter tour one of the days he's at the convention but have no idea about the transportation to Warner Bros. (especially on Easter). Side note, you seem look amazing and as if you don't age in all your videos. Just an idea, I deal with ashtma and I'm not sure on Londons smoking laws. Can you reccomend anything for non smokers or should that be an issue? Sorry so many questions. Love your attitude btw :)

I have a question about planning my trip for sometime next year when this whole thing is hopefully resolved. I want to fly into Heathrow visit London for about 4 days then take the Eurostar to Paris. Can I fly out of Paris? How does this work? I am flying from Boston.

What about layovers? I have a layover in Spain for 45 minutes. Is that too short of a time?

The questionnaire you need to fill out for Heathrow Airport you mentioned it could be done on the plane. Is that something the plane has on board or is it a form you have to get some where else?

A few things have changed now: Americans can go through the e-gates as long as everyone in the group is 10 or older. The Elizabeth line has opened, and there’s no longer a restriction on wifi.