Live TSA Wait Times at London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the largest and busiest airport in the United Kingdom, located west of Central London in Hillingdon, England. As one of the world’s premier international gateways, Heathrow serves over 80 million passengers annually, connecting travelers to 200+ destinations across six continents.

The airport operates five terminals (T1–T5), though Terminal 1 has been retired, leaving Terminals 2 through 5 active. Heathrow is a primary hub for British Airways and a major base for Virgin Atlantic, offering extensive transatlantic and European connections. Travelers can enjoy world-class amenities including luxury shopping, fine dining, lounges, and high-speed transit connections via the Heathrow Express, Elizabeth Line, and London Underground (Piccadilly Line).

Heathrow is globally recognized for its efficiency, sustainability initiatives, and advanced technology, making it a key hub for both business and leisure travelers heading to or from Europe.

London Heathrow maintains stringent yet efficient security operations across all terminals. Each terminal features its own dedicated security checkpoints equipped with next-generation 3D scanners, reducing the need to remove liquids and electronics during screening.

• Terminal 2 (The Queen’s Terminal): Used by Star Alliance members and select international airlines.
• Terminal 3: Home to Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and long-haul international carriers.
• Terminal 4: Serves airlines such as Air France, KLM, Etihad, and Qatar Airways.
• Terminal 5: Exclusively used by British Airways and Iberia, with some of the airport’s fastest security lanes.

Heathrow offers Fast Track security for premium passengers and select loyalty tiers, plus assisted lanes for families and travelers with accessibility needs. Security generally opens three hours before the first departure and closes after the final evening flights.

Peak security periods are 6:00–9:30 a.m. and 4:30–7:30 p.m., particularly for transatlantic and evening departures. Passengers are encouraged to arrive two hours before short-haul and three hours before long-haul flights.