GENERAL INFORMATION
Also see the
general Heathrow advice page for more general UK visitor information
SMOKING
There is no smoking permitted at any area inside the airport. To smoke
you must use an external designated area.
AIRSIDE AND LANDSIDE
Throughout this website we refer to airside and landside facilities.
Landside means facilities that are located before the security checks
that allow you to enter the departures lounge. Airside means facilities
located after you have passed through the security checks and have
entered the section of the website only available to travelling
passengers.
INTERNET
WI-FI internet access hot spots are available throughout all terminals and provided by
multiple suppliers. In addition you will also find fixed computer
consoles with internet access.
HELP POINTS (and mobility impaired
passengers)
Passenger help points can be found at key locations around the airport
such as terminal forecourts, car parks, stations and baggage reclaim halls. Each
help point has a map and an internal telephone which can be used to call
a porter. This is also the point to call a Heathrow Help Bus. This is a
free service for passengers with disabilities which operates between
06.00 till 23.00. This service can also be called direct on 020 8745
6261.
PORTER FACILITIES
Until the early 90's Heathrow airport provided a team of porters to assist you with
your luggage free of charge. However in these privatised modern times
this service is now provided by a private company, maclellan, and
assistance will cost you from £10. You can pre-book the service on 020 8745 6011.
Skycaps service both the drop-off points and arrivals baggage reclaim
areas.
There also plenty of trolleys outside the terminal to handle your own
luggage.
DROP-OFF AND PICKUPS
If you are taking passengers to Heathrow you can drop them off outside
each terminal in the designated drop-off points. However please note
that you cannot leave your car unattended for any amount of time. The
police are very hot on this and you could well come back to find your
car has a parking ticket or has even been towed away. If you wish to
leave your car you must use the short term car park. Each terminal has
its own car park which is just a short walk from the main terminal
areas. For pickups you must use the short term car park. If you stop at
the pickup points the police will move you on.
Heathrow Health Centre
If you need medical attention the airport has a health centre that is
based on the ground floor of the Queens Building. The building clearly
has the name QUEENS BUILDING at the front. Its located between
terminals 1 and 2. You will need leave your terminal and walk outside to
the ground level to make your way over to it. The medical centre is open
06:00-22:00. Please note this is staffed by nurses and offers only basic
medical help.
MEETING AREA
Each terminal has a clearly signed meeting area. This makes arranging
with other parties a common place to meet up is much easier. You will
find these meeting areas in the arrivals section of each terminal.
SMOKING
Smoking is not permitted in most public areas of the airport. However
each terminal has designated smoking areas for those passengers with a
need for a smoking area.
St GEORGES CHAPEL
Open from early till late is the airport Chapel. This is a multi-faith
place of worship. Its located opposite the terminal 2 car park and
adjacent to the control tower. A prayer room for all religious faiths
can be found at ground level above Chapel of St George. Opened in 1968
the Heathrow chapel is actually built underground with a tall cross
marking the spot above ground. Access is via a spiral staircase.
SHOPS
All terminals have an excellent range of shops and food outlets. Opening
times vary but generally they open from about 6.00 am and close about
21.30.
VIEWING
You can view the airport runways and aircraft from
the The Tin Goose and Cafe Nero at Terminal 1. The viewing area
on the top of terminal is closed for the foreseeable future due to
security concerns. You can get
some decent views from the top of the short term car parks at terminals
2, and 3 although this is not actually allowed unfortunately. A popular
viewing point is the car park at the
Heathrow Academy which
overlooks the northern runway. Also some enthusiasts book
appropriate rooms at the
Renaissance Hotel
for runway views and photo opportunities.
SELF SERVICE CHECK-IN
All terminals have self service check-in facilities. These are used by
selected airlines. Please see terminal information for more details. The
facilities look like rows of computer access consoles which in affect
they are. They are clearly marked as self service with the name of the
appropriate airline.
LUGGAGE PACKING
There are a list of prohibited items. Some can be packed in your hold
luggage but not your hand luggage. Others cannot be taken at all.
Read more about luggage packing here.
VAT RECLAIM
HMCE have VAT desks for handling refund claims in each of the
international landside departure areas. Of course this only applies to
good being taken outside of the EU (European Union). To claim back VAT
you must buy your goods from a retailer who advertises that they are
part of retail export scheme.
Some requirements for using this scheme:
You must make the purchase in person and complete the VAT 407 form at the
place of purchase
the items you buy must be exported from the EC by the last day of the third
month following that in which the goods were purchased
You must get the VAT 407 form stamped by Her majesty's Custom and Excise
and send evidence of this to the place of purchase of the goods or the
company handling the refund
read more about VAT exports and refunds
PETS
No animals or pets are allowed into the terminals apart from Guide dogs
and hearing dogs. If you are travelling with your pet you must make sure
they are in an
IATA approved pet carrier. Check to make sure
your airline accepts pets and if they do how much they charge. How
pets are handled for travel depends on the airline. For example since 11th October 2006
British Airways only book pets through their own BA World Cargo and not
via the standard passenger reservation system.
VISA AND PASSPORT INFORMATION
see the
general Heathrow advice page
POLICE STATION
The airport police station is located close to the main tunnel entrance
to the central terminals area. You take a left just before you enter the
tunnel at the road opposite the Concorde Model. This applies to journeys
INTO the airport. The police station is opposite the Renaissance Hotel,
on the same side of the Northern Perimeter Road.
Heathrow Police Station
East Ramp, Heathrow Airport
Hounslow
Middlesex
TW6 2DJ
Telephone: 020 8897 1212
Minicom: 020 8897 4163
Opening hours: 0600 - 2200 / 0700 - 2300
LEFT LUGGAGE
This service is handled in each terminal by the Excess baggage Company.
See terminal information for opening times and location.
http://www.excess-baggage.com/
Telephone +44 (0)20 8759 3344
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