Hey, indulge us here for a moment, as we enter this innocuous sounding article about airports with an inappropriate level of enthusiasm. Because it’s been so long since we’ve been at 30’000 feet that we’re even excited – we’d go as far as to say nostalgic – about a place we once considered hell; Heathrow.
Hey, we’re all guilty of a little wanderlust, especially in the winter, when images of Caribbean seas, South African skies and Sri Lankan sun dominate our Instagram feeds. As the nights draw in, our minds take flights of fancy abroad, but for the first time in what feels like forever, those flights can become reality.
Since travel restrictions relaxed earlier this month, and red, amber and green lists merged into one rainbow shade of vacay-inclusivity, our excitement has been building. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves; going on holiday, and especially the airport, is stressful at the best of times. And with new forms to fill in, PCR tests and checks to make, these are certainly not the best of times.
If you’ve watched (or just read the name of) the ITV documentary series “Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest Airport”, then you’ll know that Heathrow is indeed the UK’s largest and busiest airport as well as being the busiest airport in Europe.
As such, a little preparation is needed to ensure the transition from home to holiday mode is smooth and successful. We’re here to help with that; if you’re travelling from Heathrow Airport, here are 8 hacks for a stress free experience.
WHERE TO EAT
Hungry stomachs make unhappy holidays. It’s a saying as old as time itself (we just coined it), but it’s one that applies not only to the vacay itself, but also to the airport experience that precedes it.
Indeed, eating at an airport is necessary to beat both those moments of stress induced hanger and those moments of boredom induced hunger. Moreover, having a meal which isn’t plane food is essential to get you through the flight in one piece, particularly if you’re doing that whole 9am airport pint thing.
If that familiar, inflight ‘chicken or beef?’ dilemma doesn’t fill you with excitement, then you’ll be pleased to hear that Heathrow has some pretty decent dining options in the airport, all things considered.
For us, nothing beats the glow of the airport bar and you’ll find a great one in the Caviar House & Prunier Seafood Bar, in the Queen’s Terminal (that’s Terminal 5 to non-royalists). Having a few oysters, rich in nutrients including vitamin B12, magnesium and zinc, is the ideal way to start a flight (we have no scientific information to back that up).
In terminal 5, you’ll also find Gordon Ramsay’s Plane Food, which has had mixed reviews. However, as Eater London highlights, “the express menus — 2 courses in 25 minutes for £22, or 3 in 35 minutes for £26 — can make Plane Food a real traveller’s delight.”
Terminal 5 is obviously the place to be, as Fortnum & Mason Bar can be found here, too, with decent takes on French classics and plenty of drinks options to get the holiday started early.
In Terminal 4, The Commision by Drake and Morgan offers a varied, serviceable menu, and in Terminal 2, Heston’s The Perfectionists’ Cafe does a range of all-day breakfasts, eggs, salads, burgers and pizzas pretty well (which kind of betrays the name, but anyway…).
Considering this is ‘airport food’ after all, designed to be cooked en masse and in a hurry, you can eat surprisingly well at Heathrow.
COVID TESTS AT THE AIRPORT
If you’re getting a PCR test at Heathrow airport, it’s worth booking online beforehand. There are options for completing your PCR test at a drop in clinic at the airport. Doing this is fine but you’ll likely pay slightly more. Be prepared for queues, too.
The government has recently announced that PCR tests will soon be dropped in favour of ‘lateral flow’ antigen testing, and this is expected to happen at the end of October. But as with all things relating to COVID, travel and this government, it’s essential to check the very latest guidelines just before you travel; there could be U-turns and changes in policies at a moment’s notice.
AIRPORT PARKING
Let’s be honest here; if you’re driving to Heathrow, then the stress levels of deciding to take the wheel could go either way. Sure, you’ve alleviated yourself of the heavy burden of lifting luggage on busy platforms, but equally, finding a parking space might send your anxiety into overdrive. Therefore, as the team at 4U Travel Solutions point out, it’s imperative you book an airport parking space in advance.
To enjoy the cheapest rates and bag the best spaces, pre-booking is essential. Ideally, you’ll do that through official channels, on Heathrow Airport’s dedicated parking platform.
THE HEATHROW EXPRESS
Alternatively, The Heathrow Express service runs every 15 mins and takes just 15 minutes to Terminals 2 and 3 (a little longer for Terminals 4 and 5) from London Paddington. If you want to be extra-organised, book ahead online – it costs £22. Trains run from approximately 5am until midnight.
You could also take a standard train from London Paddington to Heathrow Terminals 2, 3 and 4, which takes around half an hour and costs £11.20. A free shuttle will connect you to Terminal 5, if needed.
With Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3, as well as 4, and 5 all on the Piccadilly Line, you can also take the tube from any station on that line. From Picadilly Circus, the journey takes around 50 minutes, though the cost of a ticket is significantly cheaper than the previous two options.
Finally, there’s even a coach service, which leaves from Victoria Coach Station, stopping at Hammersmith or Earl’s court. Running from around 4.20am until 10.20pm, this journey could take upwards of an hour and a half during busy times.
Alternatively, if you’re keen to avoid the hassle of public transport, renting a car to and from the airport from companies like Rental24.co.uk, can make things feel like they’re running super smoothly, even if you find you’ve lost your passport or packed winter clothes for a summer holiday!
Read: 10 IDEAL ways to make your next flight less stressful.
CHANGE YOUR MONEY BEFOREHAND
When changing money at Heathrow airport, exchange rates and transaction fees are, simply put, not favourable to the flyer. As Investopedia point out, ‘’Because airport-based currency exchange shops know that you might need local currency to catch a bus, train, or taxi, so they make big profits offering you the worst exchange rate.’’
The best place to get good exchange rates are at local ATMs or local banks at your destination. So, do your exchanging before you get to the airport or, better still, don’t do it at all!
SLEEPING AT THE AIRPORT
There are only a small clutch of exorbitantly priced ‘nap rooms’ in the terminals at Heathrow airport, and soft, sleep-friendly seating is hard to come by. What’s more, all terminals tend to stay brightly lit 24 hours a day, so catching 40 winks can be tough. Terminal 3 does offer hotel rooms in 6, 9 and 12 hour blocks though, again, you’re going to pay for the privilege. Check out Sleeping in Airport’s useful guide to sleeping in Heathrow here for more on all of that.
CHECK IN ONLINE OR THROUGH AN AIRLINE APP
Since Heathrow is one of the busiest airports, you know that the queues are going to be huge, and travelling in the time of a global pandemic has only exacerbated this. Do make your life easier by checking in at home first, which you can do via your airline’s official portal or on the Heathrow app. Speaking of which…
DOWNLOAD THE HEATHROW APP GUIDE
Billed as your ‘ideal travel companion’ (hey, we thought that was us), the Heathrow Airport app offers useful features for travellers including live flight updates, the latest offers in shops and restaurants, maps of the terminal to find your way around, and onward links for checking in. Download it!