By far the UK's busiest airport, Heathrow is also the busiest in the whole of Europe, with some 67.7 million
passengers passing through London every year. In 2010, 35% of these were business travellers, many of whom based
themselves in the selection of Heathrow Airport hotels.
The rise of Heathrow Airport
Heathrow really began to thrive following the end of World War II, and in 1955 the Queen opened the brand new
Central Terminal Area. These days, the airport boasts five terminals, the fifth opening in 2008. Despite the
initial problems which marred its opening, today Terminal 5 is one of the finest airport facilities in the world. Around 180,000 passengers come through the airport in a single day, and are served by over 76,000 staff. If you want even more information about the airport, have a look at their
Youtube channel.
Getting to and from Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport has provided a
London Underground link since 1977, which serves all five terminals and runs along the Piccadilly Line through Hounslow and into exciting destinations such as Knightsbridge, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden.
The
Heathrow Express rail service to and from Paddington has operated since 1998. These trains run to and from Paddington every 15 minutes, with adult single tickets starting at £16.50 and child single tickets from £8.20. Journeys with Heathrow Express take just 15 minutes. Alternatively, the
Heathrow Connect service takes 25 minutes, but the same journey will cost from just £8.50 for adults.
Heathrow Airport Destinations
89 airlines operate out of Heathrow, serving
176 destinations in 90 countries. Among Heathrow's most popular destinations are New York, Amsterdam and Paris. It serves no fewer than 27 European capital cities, from domestic flights to Edinburgh to further afield such as Tblisi, the capital of Georgia.
Checking in at Heathrow Airport
As we have already established, Heathrow Airport is big. Very big. This means that it is a bad idea to arrive
unprepared for the check in process. This will add unnecessary stress to your journey, but this is easily avoidable
with a bit of forward planning.
There are many
ways to check in at Heathrow Airport. Many airlines offer an online check in service, and this is by far the easiest option so it is worth checking if you can do it. Failing that, there are many easy-to-use self-service check in stations at the airport, where you simply enter your details and print out your boarding pass yourself. A small handful of the larger airlines allow you to check in using your mobile phone. If using the check in desks, having your tickets and passports ready will help speed the process along and avoid waiting.
Things to do in Heathrow Airport
For many, the most difficult aspect of airport travel is sitting around with lots of time to kill. This can happen
if you have arrived early, or if your flight has been delayed. Fortunately, as we continue to note, Heathrow Airport
is massive. In this case, this means that there are plenty of ways to occupy yourself while you wait for your flight
to be called.
Bars and Restaurants in Heathrow Airport
Such is the size of Heathrow Airport, it would take an age to list all the
bars and restaurants available, but you
can rest assured that there are many. From stylish coffee bars to cosy pubs, there are plenty of places for a quick
beverage, while there are a wide range of options available for sit-down meals and snacks. Your options are different in each terminal, so again it is worth checking to make sure your chosen eatery corresponds to your
terminal to avoid disappointment.
Shopping at Heathrow Airport
There are
86 shops in Heathrow Airport, so it is almost like being in a city as you wander around indulging in some duty free items or selecting a book for your flight. Everything is here, from fashion and gifts to more practical things such as postal services and currency changing. Passing the time until your flight is called will not be a problem here.