London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) has four terminals, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and the trains run to all of them: the Elizabeth line reaches central London in under 40 minutes and the Piccadilly line is the cheapest way in. Each terminal has a free Stay & Play area for children after security.
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Updated 21 October 2026
The terminals at London Heathrow Airport
Heathrow has four passenger terminals, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and the airport publishes a map of each one. The terminals are far apart, so when you land at one and take off from another the trains and the shuttle bus decide how long the change takes.
Terminal 4 is being redeveloped: its multi-storey car park closed on 23 June 2026, all the passenger parking for Terminal 4 moved to Zone A of Terminal 4 Park & Ride, and free shuttle buses run every five minutes from there to the terminal.
Getting to and from London Heathrow Airport
Three train lines serve the airport. The Elizabeth line reaches central London in under 40 minutes and calls at Bond Street, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Paddington, Stratford and Tottenham Court Road.
The Heathrow Express is the fastest way in, with journeys from London Paddington to Terminals 2 and 3 in 15 minutes. The Piccadilly line of the Underground is the most affordable one, it runs between London and all the terminals in under an hour, and it also calls at King's Cross St. Pancras, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
What happens when you arrive at LHR
Keep your passport and any form you filled in on the plane with you the whole way, from the aircraft door to the exit.
After passport control, follow the signs to the baggage reclaim area in Arrivals, where the baggage trolleys are free. If a bag is delayed, damaged or missing, the desks of the airlines in that hall take the delivery enquiries and the items left on the plane.
London Heathrow Airport with children
Every terminal has a free Stay & Play area after security, with soft play areas for different ages. The areas are not supervised, so a parent or a carer stays with the children at all times. There are baby changing areas in every terminal, before and after security, and family toilets in some parts of the airport.
You can take enough baby food, prepared baby milk, sterilised water and expressed breast milk through security in your hand baggage, and the pushchairs, the car seats and the baby carriers go through the security check too. A child who can walk on their own may go through the scanner alone, and if the child cannot, you carry them through with you. The Assistance service is free for anyone with a disability, reduced mobility or a condition that is not visible.
Plan your stop at London Heathrow Airport
Terminals, airlines and arrival procedures change, so check with the airline and the airport's own site before you travel. And check with the embassy or consulate about the documents your family needs for the entry rules of every country on your route.
Sources
- Official page of Heathrow on the airport maps: the airport publishes a map of each of its four passenger terminals, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. — heathrow.com (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of Heathrow on the trains: the Elizabeth line reaches central London in under 40 minutes and calls at Bond Street, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Paddington, Stratford and Tottenham Court Road, the Heathrow Express is the fastest way with journeys from London Paddington to Terminals 2 and 3 in 15 minutes, and the Piccadilly line of the Underground runs between London and all the terminals in under an hour. — heathrow.com (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of Heathrow on the works at Terminal 4: the multi-storey car park of Terminal 4 closed on 23 June 2026 as part of a redevelopment, all the passenger parking for Terminal 4 moved to Zone A of Terminal 4 Park & Ride, and free shuttle buses run every five minutes between that zone and the terminal. — heathrow.com (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of Heathrow on the baggage reclaim: after passport control you follow the signs to the baggage reclaim area in Arrivals, the free baggage trolleys are available throughout the baggage reclaim hall, and the airline desks in that hall handle the delayed or damaged baggage and the items left on board. — heathrow.com (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of Heathrow on travelling with children: every terminal has a free Stay & Play area after security with soft play areas for different ages that are not supervised, there are baby changing areas in every terminal before and after security, you can take enough baby food, prepared baby milk, sterilised water and expressed breast milk through security in your hand baggage, pushchairs, car seats and baby carriers go through the security check, a child who can walk on their own can go through the scanner alone, and the Assistance service is free for passengers with a disability, reduced mobility or a condition that is not visible. — heathrow.com (checked 21 October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How many terminals does London Heathrow Airport have?
Four passenger terminals, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and the airport publishes a map of each one.
Which train should I take to London Heathrow Airport?
The Elizabeth line reaches central London in under 40 minutes, the Heathrow Express is the fastest with journeys from London Paddington to Terminals 2 and 3 in 15 minutes, and the Piccadilly line of the Underground is the most affordable and runs to all the terminals.
Is there anything for the children at London Heathrow Airport?
Every terminal has a free Stay & Play area after security, with soft play areas for different ages that are not supervised, and there are baby changing areas in every terminal, before and after security.
What can I take through security with a baby?
You can take enough baby food, prepared baby milk, sterilised water and expressed breast milk in your hand baggage. Pushchairs, car seats and baby carriers also go through the security check, and a child who can walk on their own may go through the scanner alone.
What do I do first when I land at LHR?
Keep your passport and any form you filled in on the plane with you the whole way. After passport control, follow the signs to the baggage reclaim area, where the free baggage trolleys are, and the airline desks there take the cases of the delayed or damaged luggage.