London Heathrow: Terminal 2

Domestic
I have not landed at Terminal 2 on a domestic flight

International
OLD: Terminal 2 is more compact than the other terminals and it's doesn't seem as far to walk from the air bridge to the main part of arrivals. The immigration checks sit almost on top of escalators down to the baggage reclaim hall, which like checkin, has very low ceilings, no natural light and a claustrophobic feel. Then it is a very short walk through compact customs channels and out into the main part of the airport. NEW: Terminal 2 is now a much larger terminal that it used to be, and from the gate that we parked on that meant a long walk back to immigration and baggage reclaim.

OLD: Large banks of desks and long queues for non-EU passport holders, for EU passports two desks which people pass through very quickly. NEW: Large immigration hall, but at the time of visiting the queues were all moving quickly

OLD: Like the check in area the baggage reclaim hall has very low ceilings, and to make matters worse, no natural daylight. The baggage belts are all located close to each other so this doesn't help the claustrophobic feel. NEW: The baggage hall is immediately behind the immigration hall, so it's a very short walk through - this is a massive space with high ceilings and a lot of space even with 11 belts.

As I was coming back in on a flight from the EU I passed through the blue channel so did not see if there were any customs officials about.

Heathrow is well served for connections. Terminals 1, 2 & 3 share their own Piccadilly line (Metro) and Heathrow Express (Train) stations. The main central bus station is located just outside the terminals with buses serving most of West London and coaches into Central London and other major cities.

Domestic
There is no separation between domestic and international flights at terminal 2

International
OLD: The check-in area is a sort of mezzanine floor with very very low ceilings (7 foot at the most) and quite a dark and claustrophobic appearance. There is a main lounge area which includes the exit from arrivals and the entrance to departures on the floor above which includes a few shops and restaurants/cafe's/bars. Through security the departures lounge is quite small, thin and long with a some shops and restaurants/cafe's/bars. NEW: The checkin area is now large, spacious and bright with lots of self-service machines as well as desks.

OLD: 1 small bar on the land side of the airport and another on the air side. NEW: No bars landside, but airside there is a wide choice of food and drink outlets

OLD: There are a couple of cafe's, mostly located in the food court area above the main part of the terminal building and there are a few more in the food court in the departures lounge. NEW: As with the other Heathrow terminals there are now a large choice of cafes both landside and airside

OLD: On the land-side there is a large Pizza-Express in the food court area. Once through to the departures lounge there is a small restaurant. NEW: Limited choice landside, but once through security there are a large number of options

OLD: There are a few shops in the land side part of the airport, but not as many as terminal 1 has. Once through to the air-side there are a few more shops, but not masses, two large duty free shops take up a large amount of space. NEW: Very little landside, but once through you are into the usual shopping mall assortment of stores

The toilets are clean and well maintained.