London Heathrow Airport has 4 terminals. These are referred to as Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Terminal 1 ceased to exist with its demolition in 2015 and the significant expansion of Terminal 2.

Terminal 5 has an additional 2 satellite buildings in the middle of the airport area, which can be reached from the main building by an automated underground train running approximately every 4 minutes.

Cheap hotels near Heathrow Airport

Which terminal?

Which Heathrow Airport terminal will your flight arrive at? For a clear breakdown of all airlines and specific flights, visit: heathrow.com/which-terminal.

• Terminal 2: Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, ANA, Brussels Airlines, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, EVA Air, Icelandair, Loganair, LOT, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, TAP, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, United
• Terminal 3: British Airways (selected European flights), AeroMexico, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Delta, Emirates, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LATAM, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Vistara, Westjet
• Terminal 4: Air France, Air Mauritius, China Eastern, China Southern, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Tarom, Vietnam Airlines
• Terminal 5: British Airways (most flights)

Terminal 5 and its two satellite buildings are the largest, but it is also the most uncluttered.

If you're leaving the airport, arrive ideally 2.5 to 3 hours before departure, as long queues can form at times for security checks.

Passport control is only ever done on arrival. There is no passport control at any airport prior to departure from the UK.

Map of Heathrow Airport

For an interactive map of all terminals and the immediate area, visit the official Heathrow website at heathrow.com/airport-maps

Transfer between flights

Connecting flights are clearly signposted and you can also search for specific connections directly at heathrow.com/connecting-flights

Follow the purple "Flight Connections" signs during your transfer

Connections between terminals

• Terminal 2 <-> Terminal 3: use the pedestrian underpass outside the transit zone, total time: 15-20 minutes, or the Flight Connection Bus within the transit zone, total time: 20-30 minutes,
• Terminals 2, 3, 4 <-> Terminal 5: follow the "Flight Connections" signage which will lead you to the Flight Connection Buses. These buses run within the transit zone on the airport surface, so you do not have to go through passport control. The buses run every 6-10 minutes. Total transfer time including waiting for the bus: 20-30 minutes.
  • An alternative option is to use the Piccadily Line metro outside the transit zone, which runs free between airport stations. You must swipe your credit card at the turnstiles to enter the station, but no money will be taken from it.
• Terminals 2, 3 <-> Terminal 4: Follow the "Flight Connections" signs to Flight Connection Buses. These buses run within the transit zone on the tarmac, so you don't have to go through passport control. The buses run every 6-10 minutes. Total transfer time including waiting for the bus: 25-35 minutes.
  • An alternative option is to use the Heathrow Express train outside the transit zone, which runs between the airport stations free of charge. You must swipe your credit card at the turnstiles to enter the station, but no money will be taken from it.

Airport transit bus stops:

• Terminal 2: at Gate A5
• Terminal 3: on Level 0 by the Connections check-in counters.
• Terminal 4: temporarily closed
• Terminal 5: on level 0 at gate A10e

Transfer within Terminal 5

Terminal 5 is the only one that has two additional satellite buildings that are not connected to the main part. To get to gates B and C you always have to use the automatic underground train (floor -2), which runs every 3 to 6 minutes for 24 hours a day.

The journey from the main terminal to the B gates takes about 3 minutes, while the journey to the C gates takes 6-7 minutes.

Transfer within terminals 2, 3 or 4

These terminals are smaller than Terminal 5 and have no separate buildings.

The transfer is therefore shorter and always takes place only in the main buildings.

Security check at transfer

At all terminals and on departure to all destinations, you will always go through security during your transfer.

Heathrow transfer baggage

If you are connecting at Heathrow with an airline guaranteed transfer (i.e. connecting flights bought together as one booking), you don't need to worry about luggage. There may be exceptions if you have a long overnight connection.

If you combine your flights on your own as two different tickets, you will always have to collect your luggage, move it to a new terminal and then check it in again.