Heathrow airport is a large international airport and the busiest in the UK. It is located in Hillingdon, around 19 kilometres west of central London. This convenient location makes it the perfect base for exploring London and the surrounding areas. A car can be hired straight from the airport, enabling you to begin your onward journey at a time that suits you.
Car Hire Heathrow Airport: A guide to Heathrow and London
Flying to Heathrow from Ireland
It is possible to fly from Ireland direct to Heathrow from cities including Dublin, Cork and Shannon, or with a connecting flight from Donegal, Kerry or Knock. Aer Lingus is the most popular airline.
The terminals:
Terminal 1 (Closed in June 2015)
Terminal 2: This is the newest terminal. Airlines operating from here include: Star Alliance, Aer Lingus, Germanwings and Icelandair.
Terminal 3: Emirates and Qantas operate regular flights using the superjumbo Airbus A380.
Terminal 4: Terminal 4 is connected to the other terminals via the Heathrow Cargo Tunnel. Regular flights take place with Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airways. The terminal also accommodates the A380.
Terminal 5: British Airways and its partner company Iberia have exclusive use of this terminal. A motorway spur links the M25 at junctions 14 and 15 to the terminal. There is also a 3,800-space multi storey car park.
The city of London:
Heathrow is easily reached by the nearby M4 motorway or A4 road, making it the ideal destination to collect your hire car from, allowing you to begin exploring the city of London. During your visit to London why not take in some of its most famous sights:
- The London Eye: an iconic wheel offering the best views of the city.
- Visit the fascinating and historic tower of London, home to the Crown Jewels.
- St Paul’s cathedral is a gothic church with gardens to enjoy.
- The Natural History Museum is great for all the family and allows you to get hands on with history.
- Visit the residence of the British Queen and wonder at the breath taking Buckingham Palace.
- All ages will enjoy spotting famous faces at Madame Tussauds, the famous wax work museum
Enjoy your hire car with a visit to the many attractions found in the surrounding areas. Ascot is one example; the internationally renowned racecourse located approximately 40 km west of London.