Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport is known as the most important airport in the UK and indeed the world. Together with Gatwick it flies millions of passengers into and out of the UK every year. But there is no doubt that while the two airports aren’t that far apart in terms of geography, Heathrow is definitely the busiest and the is revered as the one to go to no matter where in the world you are headed.
Heathrow Airport Map
Where in the world can you go when you fly out of Heathrow Airport?
Heathrow Airport – otherwise known simply as London Heathrow – is often referred to as a “gateway to the world”. It is not surprising then to learn that you can get to many different destinations all around the world when you catch a flight from Heathrow.
You can get to many different destinations dotted all over Europe, but there is plenty more to tempt you beyond that. From Bangkok to Bahrain and Miami to Moscow, there are hundreds of destinations to choose from. This is just one reason why Heathrow Airport appeals to so many people for their flight needs – you can get to virtually every place you can think of.
What are some of the main features of Heathrow Airport?
When you consider that some airports only have one terminal, you get a real idea of just how big Heathrow Airport is when you realise it now has five terminals.
Terminal Five opened its doors for the first time in March 2008, and it has already handled many hundreds of thousands of passengers. But while the facilities in the new terminal have that 21st century feel, the previous four terminals also provide plenty of features and facilities to make your time in the airport as pleasant as possible.
For example, every type of traveller is catered for in one way or another. Since many families travel through the airport each year on their holidays, there are lots of play areas and kid friendly restaurants and eateries that they can make use of. It can be hard travelling with kids in tow, and Heathrow Airport does all it can to make it as easy as possible.
Of course, there are also plenty of business travellers passing through the airport each day. If you are travelling on business you will appreciate the various lounges that are on offer.
And if you feel hungry before your flight – or perhaps even when you land at Heathrow – you’ll be spoilt for choice at the many food places on offer in each of the five terminals. From a full blown restaurant to a snack bar, you’ll certainly be able to find just what you need.
A look at the history of Heathrow Airport
The history of flights going in and out of the area where the airport now stands goes right back to the First World War. It didn’t become a proper commercial airport until 1946, when the fledgling Heathrow Airport was finally opened to the public.
Over the years more terminal buildings were added, along with more runways to allow the airport to cope with the increasing number of passengers using it every year. The Silver Jubilee year of 1977 saw Heathrow becoming a stop on the Piccadilly Line on the London Underground. This was a major success, since it meant people could get a mainline train into London and then catch a tube train directly to the airport itself.
Terminal Five, the latest addition to Heathrow, is certainly not going to be the last. Further plans are in place to modernise the airport, and while other expansion plans are not popular with local residents, it seems almost certain that it will continue to develop and expand long into the future.
In conclusion
It’s hard to appreciate the sheer size of Heathrow Airport, even if you actually visit it in person. The fact that anyone travelling in or out of it will only visit one of the five terminals makes it very hard to grasp the size.
But if you look at it on a map and compare it to the size of London, you will be able to get a much better impression of just how big and imposing this airport really is.
No matter where in the world you might be going or what your reason is for going there, you will find the experience of flying in and out of Heathrow Airport a real eye opening one. Enjoy your flight!