LHR · London, England, United Kingdom · International Hub
London Heathrow Airport Guide
Terminals, minimum connection times, ground transport, parking, lounges, and layover advice for London Heathrow Airport (LHR), sourced from the airport or the operator that runs each service, with minimums from OAG data.
Quick answer
- Terminals: 4 terminals, not all airside-connected
- Minimum connection time: 30 min domestic, 1 hr 30 min international to domestic
- Arrive: Follow your airline's check-in deadline
- To London: about 15 min one-way
- Free WiFi: Yes · Showers: Yes · Sleep pods: Yes
Map
Terminals & connections
London Heathrow Airport has 4 terminals. Not all terminals are airside-connected, so changing terminals can mean clearing security again. All connecting passengers go through security again at Heathrow, and a terminal change uses the free transfer bus. Budget 90+ minutes for inter-terminal transfers on different tickets.
Terminal 2 (Queen's Terminal)
12 airlines: Lufthansa, Air Canada, SWISS International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, United Airlines, and more
Star Alliance hub, plus SAS (SkyTeam) and Eurowings.
Terminal 3
9 airlines: American Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Emirates, and more
oneworld carriers and partners, plus Virgin Atlantic and Delta (both SkyTeam).
Terminal 4
6 airlines: Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Saudia
SkyTeam carriers plus Qatar Airways (oneworld), Etihad and other international airlines.
Terminal 5
2 airlines: British Airways, Iberia
British Airways flagship terminal with 5B/5C satellites.
Minimum connection times
- Domestic to domestic
- 30 min
- Domestic to international
- 1 hr
- International to domestic
- 1 hr 30 min
- International to international
- 1 hr 30 min
- Transfer system
- Heathrow Transit bus/train between terminals; Track Transit System between T5 satellites
- Airside connected
- No
Layover helper
Find how long to plan for a connection at LHR: the official minimum connection time, plus a comfortable time of 30 minutes more, or 60 more when you clear customs or go through security again after a terminal change. Adjust trip type, terminal change, and checked-bag assumptions to match your itinerary.
Writing about LHR? Embed this connection time calculator on your site
Security & TSA
Security waits at LHR vary by time of day and checkpoint. We have not confirmed a standard arrival time published by LHR, so follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.
- TSA PreCheck
- Not available
- CLEAR
- Not available
- Global Entry
- Not available
UK Border Force e-gates accept US, EU, Canadian passports. Fast Track lanes available with premium tickets.
Lounges
2 notable lounges at LHR, including airline-branded clubs and third-party options accessible via Priority Pass or day-pass. Check your credit card benefits (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) before paying a day-pass fee.
British Airways Concorde Room
Terminal 5British Airways / OneWorld
Access: BA First Class, OneWorld Emerald on BA first
Amenities: Private dining, Showers, Cabanas
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse
Terminal 3Virgin Atlantic
Access: Upper Class, Gold members
Amenities: Cocktail bar, Showers, Spa
Amenities
7 of 7 core amenities available at LHR: showers, sleep pods, free WiFi, nursing rooms, chapel, pharmacy, pet relief. Free WiFi quality is rated good. Dining options span 2 terminals.
Showers
Available
Premium lounges (BA, Virgin, Centurion)
Sleep pods
Available
Aerotel (Terminal 3 arrivals, landside)
WiFi
Free (good)
Free WiFi for up to 4 hours.
Nursing rooms
Available
All terminals
Chapel
Available
Multi-faith prayer rooms in every terminal
Pet relief areas
Available
Animal Reception Centre (cargo)
Dining highlights
Terminal 5: Gordon Ramsay Plane Food, The Tin Goose
Terminal 2: The Gorgeous Kitchen, Leon
Ground transport to London
LHR is about 15 min from downtown London by the fastest transit option.
| Option | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
Heathrow Express Train Nonstop to Paddington; £26 standard single, advance fares from £10. | $35 | about 15 min |
Elizabeth Line / Piccadilly Line Subway Elizabeth line to central London in under 40 minutes (£14.60 to Paddington, £15.50 to Tottenham Court Road); Piccadilly line in under an hour (£5.90 to Piccadilly Circus). Contactless or Oyster adult singles. | $8-$21 | Varies |
Uber/Bolt Rideshare | Varies | Varies |
Black cab Taxi Metered fare to central London. | Varies | Varies |
Parking
LHR does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; on-airport parking is priced dynamically by date and lot. Heathrow prices parking in pounds, and the rate depends on the car park and how far ahead you book. Booking ahead at heathrow.com is cheaper than paying on the day, and Park & Ride is the budget option.
- Short-term
- Varies
- Long-term
- Varies
- Economy
- Not published
- Valet
- Not published
Can I leave LHR during a layover?
With a 3-hour layover, stay inside LHR. With 6+ hours, you have time to see part of London. Round-trip to the city center is about 30 min plus re-screening on return.
Heathrow Express reaches Paddington in 15 minutes, and the Elizabeth line reaches central London in under 40 minutes. 6+ hour layovers can do the British Museum or a quick pub meal in Paddington.
Overnight layover hotels
- $$$Sofitel London HeathrowOn-airport T5
Frequently asked questions
How early should I arrive at LHR?
We have not confirmed a standard arrival time published by London Heathrow Airport, so follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint, so add buffer at busy times.
What is the minimum connection time at LHR?
LHR requires at least 30 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 90 minutes for international-to-domestic connections. LHR terminals are not all airside-connected, so changing terminals can mean re-clearing security. Transfer system: Heathrow Transit bus/train between terminals; Track Transit System between T5 satellites.
How long does it take to get between terminals at LHR?
We have no officially published terminal-to-terminal transfer time for LHR, so plan around the minimum connection time and add time for the terminal change.
Can I leave LHR during a 6-hour layover?
With 3 hours you should stay inside LHR. A 6-hour layover is enough to leave the airport briefly. Round-trip to the city center is about 30 minutes plus re-screening. Heathrow Express reaches Paddington in 15 minutes, and the Elizabeth line reaches central London in under 40 minutes. 6+ hour layovers can do the British Museum or a quick pub meal in Paddington.
Does LHR have showers?
Yes, LHR has showers at Premium lounges (BA, Virgin, Centurion).
Does LHR have sleep pods?
Yes. Aerotel (Terminal 3 arrivals, landside) offers private sleep rooms.
Is WiFi free at LHR?
Yes. LHR offers free WiFi throughout the airport. Free WiFi for up to 4 hours.
What is the cheapest way to get from LHR to London?
The cheapest option is typically Elizabeth Line / Piccadilly Line at $8-$21, taking a variable amount of time. Elizabeth line to central London in under 40 minutes (£14.60 to Paddington, £15.50 to Tottenham Court Road); Piccadilly line in under an hour (£5.90 to Piccadilly Circus). Contactless or Oyster adult singles.
Is there TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at LHR?
LHR does not support TSA PreCheck and does not have CLEAR. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint. UK Border Force e-gates accept US, EU, Canadian passports. Fast Track lanes available with premium tickets.
Where should I eat at LHR during a layover?
Notable dining at LHR includes Gordon Ramsay Plane Food (Terminal 5), The Tin Goose (Terminal 5), The Gorgeous Kitchen (Terminal 2), Leon (Terminal 2). Dining is spread across 2 terminals or concourses, so check your departure gate before committing to a sit-down meal.
How much does parking cost at LHR?
LHR does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; rates are set dynamically by date and lot. Heathrow prices parking in pounds, and the rate depends on the car park and how far ahead you book. Booking ahead at heathrow.com is cheaper than paying on the day, and Park & Ride is the budget option.
Is there a hotel at LHR for overnight layovers?
Yes. Sofitel London Heathrow is on-airport (On-airport T5) in the $$$ price band. This is the easiest option for overnight layovers or early-morning departures since you can reach the terminal on foot without a shuttle or rideshare.
Which terminal does my airline use at LHR?
LHR has 4 terminals. Major airline assignments: Terminal 2 (Queen's Terminal): Lufthansa, Air Canada, SWISS International Air Lines; Terminal 3: American Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic; Terminal 4: Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air; Terminal 5: British Airways, Iberia. Confirm with your boarding pass before arrival since a few airlines operate from multiple terminals depending on route.
Are there pet relief areas at LHR?
Yes. Animal Reception Centre (cargo). UK has strict pet import rules.
Is there a chapel or prayer room at LHR?
Yes. Multi-faith prayer rooms in every terminal.
Compare LHR to other airports
See how LHR ranks against the other 111 airports in our dataset.
More on London and LHR
Go deeper on connecting through LHR and on visiting London.
Airlines operating at LHR
Look up baggage policies for any airline flying out of LHR.
- BABritish Airways
- AAAmerican Airlines
- UAUnited Airlines
- DLDelta Air Lines
- VSVirgin Atlantic
- AFAir France
- KLKLM Royal Dutch Airlines
- LHLufthansa
- LXSWISS International Air Lines
- OSAustrian Airlines
- SKSAS Scandinavian Airlines
- AYFinnair
- IBIberia
- TKTurkish Airlines
- EKEmirates
- QRQatar Airways
- EYEtihad Airways
- SQSingapore Airlines
- CXCathay Pacific
- KEKorean Air
- JLJapan Airlines
- NHANA All Nippon Airways
- QFQantas
- ACAir Canada
- AZITA Airways
- EWEurowings
- AIAir India
- SVSaudia
Pack for your London trip
Destination packing lists for cities served by LHR.
Compare other airports
Sources & verification
- Overview: https://www.heathrow.com
- Ground transport: https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/by-rail-or-train/heathrow-express https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/single-fare-finder?From=Heathrow+Terminals+2+%26+3+Rail+Station&FromId=910GHTRWAPT&To=Tottenham+Court+Road&ToId=910GTOTCTRD&PassengerType=Adult&GetFutureFares=False
- Terminals: https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/terminal-guides
- Terminals: https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/terminal-guides/which-terminal
- Airlines operating: https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/terminal-guides/which-terminal
- Connection times: https://www.expertflyer.com/air/travel-information https://www.heathrow.com/connecting-flights
- Security: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/airports-with-global-entry
- Parking: https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/heathrow-parking
- Sleep pods: https://www.myaerotel.com/en-uk/find/americas-europe/united-kingdom/london/aerotel-london
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathrow_Airport
Connection times, security, ground transport, parking and sleep pods verified Oct 2026 against the sources above. Amenities, lounges and nearby hotels without a listed source are not yet verified. Always confirm with London Heathrow Airport before flying.
If a figure looks wrong, email hello@vient.org, see how we handle corrections, or browse past fixes in our public changelog.