Located 23km west of central London in Harmondsworth, Middlesex, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the busiest in the UK and one of the largest in the world, processing almost 81 million passengers annually at the latest count.
If you’re travelling to or from Heathrow for the first time, its size can be a little intimidating, but with a little planning, you can navigate this gargantuan air hub with ease.
With that in mind, here are five hassle-free tips for Heathrow travellers.
Family-friendly areas
Travelling can feel even trickier when you’ve got kids in tow, especially if it’s your first journey together. However, there are excellent family facilities at Heathrow airport, so you’re in good hands.
There are several free Mr Adventure Stay & Play areas throughout the airport with soft play sections, slides and separate sectors for babies and toddlers and they’re open from 6am to 9pm daily. Furthermore, there are baby changing facilities in each terminal and plenty of kid-friendly shops and restaurants too (more of which below!).
Shops
Because of its size, there are more shops in Heathrow than you’ll find in some small towns ̶ you’ll never be stuck for some retail therapy!
There’s everything from haute couture at Armani and Boss to essential health products at Boots and fine food at Fortnum & Mason, so you can pick up a couple of essentials or shop til you drop.
Restaurants
Flying is always more pleasant on a full stomach, so if you’ve got a while to wait before your flight, maintain peace and harmony in your travel group by making a beeline for a restaurant that suits everyone.
There are many gastronomical delights to choose from, but for something fun, fast and unfussy, try Giraffe at Heathrow ̶ main meals like teriyaki chicken salad and loaded nachos keep adults happy, while kids love lip-smacking dishes like hidden veggie pasta and cheese and tomato quesadilla.
Hotels
Need to stay the night at Heathrow? There’s a great choice of clean, comfy and welcoming hotels where you’ll feel cosy and pampered.
Popular choices include the Aerotel London Heathrow at Terminal 3, the Hilton Garden Inn at Terminals 2 and 3 and the Novotel serving Terminals 1, 2 and 3 ̶ compare the facilities online and see what suits your taste and budget.
Car hire
Heathrow is your gateway to London and beyond and one of the best ways of discovering Britain is by car ̶ main roads are generally in good condition and there’s an efficient network of motorways all the way up to Scotland.
Book Heathrow car hire from Enjoy Travel online and you can choose your ideal vehicle from a range of trusted car rental firms and pick it up once you’ve landed and cleared passport control and customs ̶ remember to drive on the left side of the road!
Follow these five tips and your Heathrow travel experience will be completely chilled-out.
