Heathrow Airport. Your Beautiful Gate to Britain
The famous Heathrow Airport in London is one of the largest in the world and the first busiest in Europe. Keep reading to find out more interesting details about and your best way to get from there to London city centre.
History of Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport is located 24 km from the capital of England in a westerly direction. During the First World War, a test airfield was located here. As a civil air harbor, it began to be used only in the late 40s. Initially, there were 3 runways, which were short – for piston aircraft – and corresponded to the wind directions.
The Heathrow terminal was fully operational already in 1977 when the London Underground was extended to the complex, and passengers from Heathrow could get to the city center via the Piccadilly line. In 1998, a connection to Paddington Station was opened.
Now it is the 7th busiest international airport in the world and the 1st in Europe. Designed to serve 45 million people, the airport periodically overflows. The most popular destination is New York.
Where is Heathrow located?
Heathrow International Airport is located west of London. Planes take off directly over the capital, which is a consequence of the orientation of the runways to the east.
Infrastructure
There are 17 hotels on the territory of the airport where passengers can stay during a transfer or when a flight is canceled. The Heathrow Hotel bus departs from the airport every 10-30 minutes from 06:00 to 23:00.
The airport itself has almost a hundred shops located in each of the terminals. These are both branded boutiques and mass markets. In addition, you can pass the waiting time in cozy station coffee shops or expensive restaurants. Souvenir wines and perfumes can be purchased in the duty-free zone.
Destinations and terminals
London Heathrow has 6 terminals (one of them is cargo). The international port serves 90 air carriers and is connected to 170 air terminals around the world. Here are the hubs of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways.
In each terminal, the traveler can use left-luggage offices, exchange offices, first-aid posts, catering points, and showers. The technological building looks modern and is equipped with all the necessary facilities for comfort.
From Heathrow charter and regular flights to European capitals, and Asian cities, seasonal flights to Sri Lanka, Palermo, Medina, Portland, Ibiza, Salzburg, and others are possible.
The best way to get from Heathrow to Central London
One of the best ways to get to the city from the airport is to use the Heathrow Express. A transfer is organized from the station building. The Heathrow Express train will take you to the center of the British capital in 30 minutes. Comfortable carriages are equipped for people with disabilities and luggage transportation. The city can be reached by train to Paddington Station. Express is also divided into first and second classes. In the interior of the second class, there are olive and shades of purple, and the seats are arranged according to the 2 + 2 scheme. For the first class, darker tones were chosen, and the 2 + 1 scheme was replaced by the 1 + 1 scheme.
Now you know why the Heathrow airport is popular and busy. We are sure that if you visit it you’ll be amazed. Plus, you know your best way from it to London. Get your train tickets by visiting the Heathrow Express website.
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