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), every figure cited to the airport's own data.

Quick answer

  • Terminals: 4 terminals, not airside-connected (re-security between some)
  • Minimum connection time: 1 hr domestic, 1 hr 15 min international to domestic
  • Arrive: 2 hr before domestic, 3 hr before international
  • To London: about 30 min one-way
  • Free WiFi: Yes · Showers: Yes · Sleep pods: Yes

Terminals & connections

London Heathrow Airport has 4 terminals. Not all terminals are airside-connected; transfers between some terminals require exiting security and re-clearing TSA. Terminals are not airside-connected. Budget 90+ minutes for inter-terminal transfers on different tickets.

Terminal 2 (Queen's Terminal)

9 airlines: Lufthansa, Air Canada, SWISS International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, United Airlines, and more

Star Alliance hub.

Terminal 3

8 airlines: American Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Emirates, and more

OneWorld and partners.

Terminal 4

5 airlines: Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways

SkyTeam and select intl.

Terminal 5

2 airlines: British Airways, Iberia

British Airways flagship terminal with 5B/5C satellites.

Minimum connection times

Domestic to domestic
1 hr
Domestic to international
1 hr 15 min
International to domestic
1 hr 15 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

Interactive tool

Enter your layover details and we will tell you whether you have a tight connection, a comfortable connection, or enough time to leave LHR.

Security & TSA

Typical TSA wait at LHR is 30 minutes at peak and 10 minutes off-peak. Arrive at least 2 hr before a domestic flight and 3 hr before international.

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 5

British Airways / OneWorld

Access: BA First Class, OneWorld Emerald on BA first

Amenities: Private dining, Showers, Cabanas

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

Terminal 3

Virgin 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 (from $55/hr)

Yotel (T4 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 30 min from downtown London by the fastest transit option.

Option Cost Time
Heathrow Express
Train
Nonstop to Paddington; £25 online advance.
 $30-$40 15 min
Elizabeth Line / Piccadilly Line
Subway
Elizabeth Line 30min (£12); Piccadilly 50-60min (£5.60).
 $8-$15 30-55 min
Uber/Bolt
Rideshare
Congestion charges and traffic make ride-hail expensive.
 $60-$120 45-120 min
Black cab
Taxi
Metered fare to central London.
 $80-$130 45-90 min

Parking

LHR parking ranges from $30/day economy to $90/day short-term. UK parking rates; prices shown in approximate USD.

Short-term
$90/day
Long-term
$40/day
Economy
$30/day
Valet
$100/day

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 1 hr plus re-screening on return.

Central London is 30 min on the Elizabeth Line. 6+ hour layovers can do the British Museum or a quick pub meal in Paddington.

Overnight layover hotels

  • Sofitel London Heathrow
    On-airport T5
    $$$
  • Yotel Heathrow T4
    On-airport T4 landside
    $$

Frequently asked questions

How early should I arrive at LHR?

Arrive at least 120 minutes before a domestic flight from LHR, and 180 minutes before an international flight. Peak-time TSA waits at LHR can hit 30+ minutes, so add buffer.

What is the minimum connection time at LHR?

LHR requires at least 60 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 75 minutes for international-to-domestic connections. LHR terminals are not all airside-connected; expect to re-clear security between some terminals. 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?

Budget 15 min for same-terminal transfers and 1 hr 30 min for different-terminal transfers at LHR via Heathrow Transit bus/train between terminals; Track Transit System between T5 satellites. Terminals are not airside-connected. Budget 90+ minutes for inter-terminal transfers on different tickets.

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 60 minutes plus re-screening. Central London is 30 min on the Elizabeth Line. 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. Yotel (T4 landside) offers private sleep rooms starting around $55/hour. Compact sleep cabins bookable by the hour.

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-$15, taking 30-55 minutes. Elizabeth Line 30min (£12); Piccadilly 50-60min (£5.60).

Is there TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at LHR?

LHR does not support TSA PreCheck and does not have CLEAR. Typical peak-hour wait is 30 minutes. 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 parking rates: $90/day short-term, $40/day long-term, $30/day economy, $100/day valet. UK parking rates; prices shown in approximate USD.

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 69 airports in our dataset.

Best for layovers LHR is workable for 6h+ layovers With sleep pods LHR has Yotel (T4 landside) from $55/hr Shortest MCT LHR dom-to-dom: 1 hr · intl-to-dom: 1 hr 15 min

Airlines operating at LHR

Look up baggage policies for any airline flying out of LHR.

Pack for your London trip

Destination packing lists for cities served by LHR.

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Sources & verification

Verified 2026-04-14. Airport operations, parking rates, and amenities change; always confirm with London Heathrow Airport before flying.