London Heathrow: Terminal 3
Operated By: |
 Heathrow Holdings |
Website: |
www.heathrow.com |
Terminals: |
4 - 2, 3, 4, 5 |
This Review: |
Terminal 3 |
Rating: |
 |
| LHR LONDON TT0107 /221750 |
Last updated 17/01/2008
General: |
What can you say about Heathrow when it is one of the worlds largest airports. Terminal 3 is the main intercontinental terminal with flights going to all corners of the globe. It's also, in part, the original terminal building which was opened when the airport was properly developed in the early 50's |
Appearance: |
It's very difficult to get a proper glimpse of the outside of Heathrow (except from 5,000 ft) as approach to the airport is through tunnels. Inside its clean and smart but a bit of a mish-mash of buildings as it has been extended so many times since it's first creation. |
Inbound
Domestic
There are no domestic flights from Terminal 3
International
Given the size of the terminal the walk from the plane to the immigration hall was very short. From immigration you descend down a ramp, or escalator, to the large baggage hall and from there walk through one of the largest customs halls I have even been through into the arrivals hall.
There were long queues for those passengers coming from non-EU countries. There was a large number of people queuing to go through the two open EU desks, but the queue moved quickly and the person who I saw was very polite and friendly.
A very large and, thankfully, spacious baggage reclaim hall with lots of belts. Due to the size of the terminal it did take nearly 15 minutes for the luggage to start coming round, and that was with me sitting towards the back of the plane and having to queue for over 10 minutes to get through immigration.
Quite a large customs hall with lots of desks for opening peoples luggage on and several members of customs wandering about as I went through.
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.
Outbound
Domestic
There are no domestic flights from Terminal 3
International
After checking in there are stairways from each of the check-in areas to the top floor shopping mall and food court and security. After passing through security, which was very busy, but with lots of desks, you emerge into the duty free shop and into the main departures lounge. From there the walks to the gates are not as bad as they are at some other airports!
There are a couple of bars on the land-side of the airport, and once you are through to air-side there is quite a lot of choice in the departures hall.
There are a couple of cafe's, mostly located near the arrivals area on the land-side. Once through security there is a choice of several cafe's.
There are a couple of restaurants in the food court near security and several more in arrivals on the land side of the airport. Once through security there are several more restaurants and cafe's
As with other BAA terminals both sides of the airport, land and air resemble small shopping centres with lots of shops.
The toilets are, on the whole, clean and well maintained.
