HeathrowKey takeaways
- Heathrow has four terminals: T2 (Star Alliance), T3 (Oneworld and long-haul including Virgin Atlantic), T4 (SkyTeam and others) and T5 (British Airways, Iberia, Vueling). There is no Terminal 1; it closed in 2015.
- Sat-nav postcodes: T2 TW6 1EW, T3 TW6 1QG, T4 TW6 3XA, T5 TW6 2GA.
- T4 sits on the south side of the airport, about 3 miles and 5 to 10 minutes further than the northern terminals.
- Arriving at the wrong terminal means a free inter-terminal transfer taking 20 to 30 minutes.
- The fixed fare from Aylesbury is £78 whichever terminal you need.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the UK's largest and one of the world's busiest international airports, handling around 80 million passengers a year across four passenger terminals: Terminal 2 (the Queen's Terminal), Terminal 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. Each terminal handles specific airlines and alliances and has its own check-in area, security, departure gates, arrivals hall, drop-off zone and postcode. Arriving at the wrong terminal means using Heathrow's free inter-terminal transfer, which takes 20 to 30 minutes and adds stress before a flight.
There is no Terminal 1 — it closed in 2015 (more on that below). Checking your terminal before you travel takes less than a minute and prevents one of the most common mistakes UK passengers make at Heathrow.
London Heathrow terminals at a glance
| Terminal | Alliance / main carrier | Key airlines | Sat-nav postcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal 2 (Queen's Terminal) | Star Alliance | United, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, ANA | TW6 1EW |
| Terminal 3 | oneworld + long-haul | American Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic | TW6 1QG |
| Terminal 4 | SkyTeam + others | Air France, KLM, Gulf Air, plus some BA routes | TW6 3XA |
| Terminal 5 | British Airways | British Airways, Iberia, Vueling | TW6 2GA |
Terminal 2 — The Queen's Terminal
Terminal 2, known as the Queen's Terminal, opened in 2014 as a purpose-built home for Star Alliance member airlines. It is the newest terminal building at Heathrow and handles a high volume of international long-haul departures from the alliance.
Airlines using Terminal 2:
- United Airlines — all transatlantic services to the United States
- Lufthansa — Frankfurt and Munich services
- Air Canada — Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver routes
- Singapore Airlines — Singapore and onward connections
- ANA (All Nippon Airways) — Tokyo Haneda and Narita
- SWISS — Zurich services
- TAP Air Portugal — Lisbon routes
- Aer Lingus — Dublin and Cork services
- Air China — Beijing Capital routes
Terminal 2 sits in the Central Terminal Area next to Terminal 3 and shares the same forecourt. The sat-nav postcode is TW6 1EW, reached from the Northern Perimeter Road. If you are travelling from Buckinghamshire, book your fixed-price Aylesbury to Heathrow Terminal 2 taxi to be dropped directly at the T2 forecourt.
Terminal 3 — oneworld and long-haul carriers
Terminal 3 handles oneworld alliance airlines and a number of independent long-haul carriers. It processes a high volume of transatlantic and intercontinental flights and is also the Heathrow home of Virgin Atlantic.
Airlines using Terminal 3:
- American Airlines — all US gateway services
- Emirates — Dubai routes and onward connections
- Cathay Pacific — Hong Kong routes
- Qantas — Sydney and Melbourne services
- Malaysia Airlines — Kuala Lumpur routes
- Finnair — Helsinki services
- Japan Airlines — Tokyo Narita services
- Virgin Atlantic — most long-haul routes
Terminal 3 shares the forecourt with Terminal 2 — both are within walking distance in the Central Terminal Area. The sat-nav postcode is TW6 1QG (Nelson Road, Longford). For door-to-forecourt travel from Buckinghamshire, book your fixed-price Aylesbury to Heathrow Terminal 3 taxi.
Terminal 4 — the separate southern terminal
Terminal 4 is located on the south side of Heathrow, separated from Terminals 2, 3 and 5 by the runways. It is home to a number of SkyTeam carriers and independent airlines, and requires a dedicated approach road via the Southern Perimeter Road with its own drop-off zone.
This separation adds a little to the drive — roughly 3 miles and 5 to 10 minutes compared with the northern terminals — though the fixed price from Aylesbury is the same £78 whichever terminal you need.
Airlines using Terminal 4:
- Air France — Paris Charles de Gaulle routes
- KLM — Amsterdam services
- Gulf Air — Bahrain services
- Some British Airways flights — on certain routes; always confirm on your boarding pass
Terminal 4 has fewer retail and dining options than the larger terminals, and security queues can build quickly at peak times. The sat-nav postcode is TW6 3XA. Book your Aylesbury to Heathrow Terminal 4 taxi and your driver takes the Southern Perimeter approach to drop you at the correct forecourt.
Terminal 5 — British Airways and Iberia
Terminal 5 is the largest single-terminal building in the United Kingdom and handles the majority of British Airways flights. It opened in 2008 and has since been expanded with the satellite buildings T5B and T5C, connected by an automated transit system.
Airlines using Terminal 5:
- British Airways — most short-haul European, long-haul intercontinental and Club World services
- Iberia — Madrid and Spanish domestic connections
- Vueling — Barcelona and Spanish city routes
Terminal 5 is directly accessible from the M25 via the Heathrow Southern Perimeter Road, and the sat-nav postcode is TW6 2GA. For passengers from Aylesbury, the T5 approach is via Junction 14 of the M25 and the A3113. Book your fixed-price Aylesbury to Heathrow Terminal 5 taxi for a fixed price to the T5 forecourt.
Why is there no Terminal 1 at Heathrow?
Heathrow Terminal 1 closed in June 2015 after almost 50 years of service. Its airlines were relocated mainly into the newly opened Terminal 2, and the building has since been demolished to make way for an expansion of Terminal 2. This is why Heathrow's terminals are numbered 2, 3, 4 and 5 with no Terminal 1 — a frequent source of confusion for passengers who remember the old layout.
Getting to each Heathrow terminal from Aylesbury
Every Heathrow terminal has its own postcode for sat-nav, so the right destination depends on your airline. From Aylesbury the journey is typically 50 to 70 minutes by road depending on terminal and traffic, using the A413, M40 and M25.
- Terminal 2 (Queen's Terminal): TW6 1EW — Central Terminal Area
- Terminal 3: TW6 1QG — Central Terminal Area
- Terminal 4: TW6 3XA — Southern Perimeter Road
- Terminal 5: TW6 2GA — M25 Junction 14
A pre-booked transfer removes the guesswork — your driver confirms the terminal at booking and drops you at the right forecourt. Arrange your fixed-fare Aylesbury to Heathrow taxi for full pricing and route options.
Public transport to Heathrow terminals
If you are not travelling by car, three rail options serve the terminals:
- London Underground (Piccadilly line) — serves three stations in Zone 6: Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, Heathrow Terminal 4, and Heathrow Terminal 5.
- Elizabeth line — runs from central London to Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5.
- Heathrow Express — the fast service from London Paddington to Terminals 2 & 3 and Terminal 5; Terminal 4 is reached with a free transfer.
For passengers from Aylesbury and the surrounding Buckinghamshire towns, none of these connect directly — they require a drive or train to London first — which is why a direct door-to-terminal taxi is usually faster overall. Book your Aylesbury airport transfer and it runs door-to-terminal to all four Heathrow terminals at a single fixed price.
Inter-terminal transfers at Heathrow
Terminals 2 and 3 are within walking distance — allow 10 to 15 minutes on foot via the pedestrian walkway in the Central Terminal Area.
Terminal 4 is reached by the free inter-terminal Heathrow Express or the Underground. Total transfer time including walking is typically 20 to 25 minutes.
Terminal 5 is connected to Terminals 2 and 3 by the free inter-terminal Heathrow Express, Piccadilly line and Elizabeth line. Total transfer time is typically 25 to 30 minutes — you cannot walk between T3 and T5.
Do not assume you have time for an inter-terminal transfer if your check-in closes within 90 minutes.
Heathrow drop-off charges — what you need to know
Heathrow Airport charges £7 per vehicle for terminal forecourt drop-offs from January 2026. This applies to all private vehicles, including private hire taxis.
When booking an airport transfer from Aylesbury, the £7 drop-off charge is included in your fixed price. You will not be asked to pay any additional fee at the terminal.
Reserve a taxi from Aylesbury to Heathrow →
How to find out which terminal you need
Method 1 — Check your boarding pass. Your boarding pass or e-ticket shows the terminal clearly.
Method 2 — Check the Heathrow website. The "Which terminal" tool at heathrow.com confirms your terminal by airline and route.
Method 3 — Check your airline app. Most airline apps display the terminal next to your flight number on the flight information screen after online check-in.
Method 4 — Ask when booking your transfer. When you book with Aylesbury Airport Transfers, confirm your terminal at booking time and your driver will drop you at the correct forecourt.
Terminal facilities: lounges, shops and dining
All four Heathrow terminals have a full range of facilities once you are through security: airline and pay-per-use lounges, duty-free and high-street shopping, restaurants, bars and cafes, pharmacies, currency exchange and free airport Wi-Fi. Terminal 5 and Terminal 2 (the Queen's Terminal) are the newest buildings and offer the widest selection of shops and dining, while Terminal 4 is more compact with fewer outlets.
If you are flying business or first class, lounge access is tied to the terminal your flight departs from, so confirm your terminal before planning how much time to allow. Whichever terminal you need, book your Heathrow airport transfer and it drops you at the correct forecourt with time to spare for security and the lounges.