London Heathrow Terminal 5
- Heathrow Terminal 5 is the newest of Heathrow's terminals.
- It was opened in 2008 at a cost of £4 billion, and its five floors are large enough to hold 50 football pitches.
- It is used exclusively by British Airways and Iberia and provides a huge range of facilities for travellers, including restaurants, shops, hotels, car hire services, business services, parking and bureaux de change facilities.
- The design of the new terminal began in 1989, but government planning permission was only granted in November 2001.
- The terminal was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on the 14th March 2008 and was open to passengers on the 27th March 2008.
- The terminal now sees approximately 32.1 million passengers pass through its doors on more than 211,000 annual flights
- All of the check-in desks can be found on the top floor of Terminal 5. Plenty of airlines now provide their own self-service check-in desks.
- If you're flying with one of these airlines, the airport staff can direct you to the appropriate desks, which will also have their own dedicated bag drop areas.
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Heathrow Terminal 5 Check In
No one wants the stress of being late for their flight because they got delayed at check-in or security. For that reason, we strongly advise that you give yourself the following amount of time:
Car Hire at Heathrow Terminal 5
Six car hire companies serve Terminal 5 Heathrow, including Avis, Hertz and Sixt. The rental desks can be found on the arrivals level next to the We Know London kiosk. Visit our Car Hire page for full details on the providers and what they offer. Remember that booking your car hire in advance will save you money, so be sure to book early to make the most of any online deals. You can of course hire a car on the day, but the car you get will be subject to availability.
Transfer between terminals
Getting between the terminals is super easy - see below for a quick guide on how to get to the others from Terminal 5;
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Terminal 2 & 3: Complimentary London Underground services and shuttle trains can be utilized to move between Heathrow Terminal 5 and Heathrow Terminals 2&3.
Journey Time: 20 minutes
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Terminal 4: You can make use of complimentary London Underground services and shuttle trains (including the Elizabeth Line) for moving between Heathrow Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. Remember to switch trains at Heathrow Terminals 2&3 for a smooth transfer.
Journey Time: 30 minutes
Heathrow Meeting Points
Heathrow Airport has got you covered with easily identifiable meeting points in every terminal. These designated spots are designed to make it a breeze to reunite with your friends, family, and fellow travellers. No matter which terminal you're in, you'll have no trouble spotting these meeting points, ensuring that connecting with your loved ones or travel companions is always a straightforward affair. For terminal 5, things are split up a bit. The north meeting point is situated across from Travelex, and the south meeting point is close to Costa Coffee.
Hotels at Heathrow Terminal 5
There are many hotels located next to the terminals at Heathrow Airport, as well as in the surrounding area, making it easy to stay overnight before flying or to book a room when you arrive.
From Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, the nearest hotel is the
Sofitel London Heathrow
, to which you can walk in a few minutes.
This is a luxury hotel containing over 600 rooms and two restaurants. Other hotels located near the airport that you can travel to include
Hilton Hotel
,
Marriott London
and Sheraton Heathrow. To see a complete list of hotels at or near Heathrow Airport visit our
Heathrow Airport hotels section.
Heathrow Parking Terminal 5
There are plenty of options for
parking at Heathrow Terminal 5. There is one long stay car park at Terminal 5, which is open all year round.
It is located on Northern Perimeter Road, and there is a five-minute courtesy coach service running every 10 minutes. Terminal 5 parking also consists of a short stay car park, which is located right next to the terminal.
It is ideal if you are parking for up to a few hours. There is a height limit at the car park of 2.2 metres. However, there is an Over-height Vehicles entrance on the ground floor.
Heathrow Business Car Parks are located closer than the long stay car parks, and one of these is available exclusively for passengers travelling through Terminal 5. There is also a meet & greet service and valet parking at Terminal 5. Click here to book Heathrow airport parking.
Airlines flying from Heathrow Terminal 5
Terminal 5 is normally exclusively used by just two airlines; BA and Iberia. British Airways, with the majority of their flights departing from Terminal 5, fly long haul, Iberia fly to Madrid whilst Iberia Express serve Gran Canaria and Tenerife North.
Baggage Enquiries
You can leave excess baggage at Terminal 5 if you have too much to take on the plane. This service is operated by the Excess Baggage Company and there are various locations throughout the terminal. You can call them on
020 8759 3344. There is a lost property office in Terminal 5 in the arrivals hall close to the UK arrivals. If your baggage gets lost during your flight, you should make sure you inform your airline straight away. You can inform British Airways at the arrivals desk in the baggage reclaim area. You will then be asked to complete a report and provide them with your telephone number and a reference number to assist them in finding your bag.
Cash Facilities
ATMs are located throughout London Heathrow Terminal 5, both before and after security. They accept most cards from UK banks, as well as international credit cards.
A number of Bureaux de Change offices are located throughout the terminal belonging to
Travelex
.
Travelex
provide over 80 currencies alongside travel insurance and their new Money Card, especially for those overseas purchases. With 8 offices throughout both Terminal 5 and 5b, you won't far away from an exchange desk! The offices are open from 5.00 until 22.00 for you to exchange on the day, or to pick up pre-ordered currency.
Medical Help
Emergency phones are located throughout Terminal 5. If there is a medical emergency, use one of these phones to call 222, and the operator will arrange to send an ambulance or medical help to your location immediately. Highstreet favourites
Boots
are located throughout Terminal 5, both before and after passport control. If you need to pick up a prescription, these are available at the Boots pharmacies before security in Terminal 5.
Communication Facilities
Wi-Fi is accessible throughout Terminal 5 and is free for the duration of your stay at Heathrow. If you are a Heathrow Rewards member, you get access to wi-fi that is up to 5 x faster than the standard option!
Payphones are located throughout Terminal 5, and you can use either cash or cards with these. There are also phones for wheelchair users, and text phones for the hard of hearing.
There are no fax services available in Heathrow Terminal 5, but you may be able to find one in a British Airways lounge.
You'll find the post office at WHSmith, Landside Departures that is next to the South Wing. You'll also find a few post boxes before and after security should you need to send anything from the airport. Be aware that post may be inspected by HM Customs, and you are unable to send parcels. If you need to charge your mobile phone, laptop or tablet, there are Free Power Poles located before and after passport control. You can plug your devices into these using either a plug or a USB charger.
Toilets, Showers and Baby Changing
Restrooms are conveniently available throughout Heathrow Airport, in both arrival and departure areas, before and after passing through security. Most of these facilities include a unisex, wheelchair-accessible toilet. In some instances, the accessible toilet can be found within the men's and women's restrooms. Parents traveling with children of the opposite gender are welcome to use the available unisex accessible toilets.
Additionally, every terminal at Heathrow is equipped with baby changing areas, both before and after the security checks. These facilities are often located alongside the restroom blocks for your convenience.
For those wanting to use showers, You can access showers in the Aspire Lounge that you can find in the departure lounge - passenger area. However, there will be a charge for this.
Trolleys and Porter Services
Trolleys are located throughout the terminal and in the baggage reclaim area. They are free to use, and you can use them to take your luggage to your car or the rail and bus stations. A porter service is also available and you can find porters located in both departures and arrivals.
Relaxation and Leisure Facilities
- Seating is located throughout airport and views of the runways are available from many areas.
- There are plenty of duty-free shops after security, where you can buy anything from souvenirs to designer goods.
- Worship facilities are provided for various faiths. Chaplains are available for Catholic, Anglican and Free Church members, as well as representatives from various faiths. Call 020 8745 4261 or email chapel@heathrow.com before your trip for more information.
- Prayer rooms are also available for people of any faith. One is located in Departure Zone A, one is located after security in Terminal 5A near Gate A8, one is in Terminal 5B near Gate B34, and one is in Terminal 5C near Gate C52.
- There are many restaurants in Terminal 5 which you can find by heading over to our Heathrow restaurants page.
Business Facilities
The Terminal 5 Business Car Park is located closer to Terminal 5 than the long stay car park, providing a more convenient option for business travellers. Valet parking is also available at Terminal 5. There are also a number of business lounges located after security, which are operated by the airlines.
Family Facilities
You can find Stay and Play areas which can be found in the after security near Gate A2. It is suitable for children up to the age of nine. It is open every day from 6.00 until 21.00. Many restaurants in Terminal 5 are child-friendly and can provide high chairs and children's menus. We recommend you find one in advance to save time before the departure of your flight.
Disabled Passengers
- Disabled parking is available in the short stay car park at Terminal 5. The areas are located near the entrance to the terminal and are clearly signposted. Help points are located close by to the disabled parking areas. These have a green telephone, which you can use to ask for free assistance.
- Disabled parking is also available in the long stay and business car parks. Contact your car park in advance to arrange your transfer to the terminal. There is also a special assistance bus that provides free transfers between the terminals.
- Help points are located in the forecourts in the terminal, both in the short stay car park and in the baggage reclaim hall. Special assistance is available in the terminal for the partially sighted, blind and hard of hearing. There are also text payphones in the arrivals area after customs, as well as payphones adapted for hearing aids.
- Reserved seating is provided in the terminal, so look for the signs to direct you to the right area. These are located within the general seating areas and provide flight information screens at a low level, an induction loop and extra space for wheelchairs.
- Disabled toilets Accessible toilets are available both before and after security, conveniently located near most restroom facilities.
