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All direct flights from London Heathrow
Flight Summary
London Heathrow serves more international passengers than any other airport in the world. Although it has been overtaken in terms of the diversity of routes it offers by Amsterdam Schiphol and Frankfurt International, Heathrow's ability to offer really high frequencies to the destinations that really matter – especially New York – keeps the London hub at the top of the tree.
Heathrow also has the advantage of not being dominated by British Airways in the way that say Paris Charles de Gaulle is monopolised by Air France, thus resulting in a healthy dose of competition on most routes.
The huge pressure for slots at Europe's busiest airport means that Heathrow is only served by a relatively small network of domestic flights. These same slot restrictions have also resulted in it being very rare for new routes to Ireland to be launched.
Heathrow has good links with most of the major European capital cities, as well as a number of regional cities, especially in France, Italy or Germany. However, Stansted has long since overtaken Heathrow in terms of the range of European destinations available, although you can at least rest assured that whichever airline you choose to fly with, all flights from Heathrow will take you to the "proper airport" (Frankfurt International for example), and not a remote field in the middle of nowhere (like Frankfurt Hahn) as favoured by some no-frills airlines.
Heathrow's trump card is its long-haul portfolio. Just about every corner of the globe is covered, with airlines willing to pay three or four times what they would at Gatwick in order to secure the prestige that flying into Heathrow offers. Over the past decade the relaxation of restrictions on flights between the UK and India has seen new routes across the Subcontinent, whereas the ever expanding Chinese economy has seen more competition develop on flights from Heathrow to Shanghai and Beijing. The low-cost airlines might have taken away some of the appetite for short-haul flights from Heathrow, but there are still numerous airlines that would love to get in on the act, if only the space was available for them.
Destination Summary
This kingdom-within-a-kingdom had, long before the race for the 2012 Olympics, been involved in a three horse race with Paris and New York for the title of The Greatest City on Earth.
Of course, the usual tourist trails continue unabated. The familiar red buses will, on any given day, be performing their regular snap-happy circuit of Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace and the Towers of London.
There is, however, another reason why many people relate everything else within the UK in terms of its proximity and similarity to the nation's capital. London is a location grand enough to occupy the entirety of one's time in Britain, and a destination which will forever reward individual wandering on quiet afternoons.
Turn left on shoppers' nirvana Oxford Street, and you'll find yourself in the buzzing multi-media node that is Soho. Take a calming stroll along the South Bank to Tate Modern, the city's premier venue for contemporary arts. Or head north, for the views afforded by the increasingly chic Primrose Hill or lavender-tinged picnickers' favourite Hampstead Heath.
London rotates its "hippest neighbourhood" award on a weekly basis, and some suggest the city's axis of cool has begun to shift towards the suburban South, away from the East End's gentrified streets. But even that reductive take on London topography leaves out its West (expensive Knightsbridge, Kensington and Chelsea) and the North (yoof-ful Camden, urbane Islington).
In truth, London's novelty never wears off: in whichever direction one looks, there's always something new to see.
Quick Facts
- Airport Code: LHR
- Alternative Name: Heathrow
- Miles From City Centre: 15
James Says
Slot restrictions mean that there is a much wider choice of domestic links to either Gatwick or Stansted, but those cities which do have direct flights to Heathrow tender have a very high frequency of service. For example, there are over 20 flights each day between Heathrow and Edinburgh. Competition on domestic flights to Heathrow is restricted to just British Airways, BMI and Aer Lingus.
Mark Says
Sprawling Heathrow airport might be big and cumbersome, but it is still the best connected London airport - at least in terms of onward travel.
From the central terminal complex and Terminal 5, you can take the Heathrow Express to Paddington (change here for National Railways, District, Circle, Bakerloo and Hammersmith & City underground lines) - the journey takes just 15 minutes, with trains operating every 15 minutes at peak times. Although this service is quick and convenient, the hefty fares put a lot of people off. Indeed, on a per-mile basis, the Heathrow Express is the most expensive rail journey in the world.
As a slower but cheaper alternative, the Piccadilly underground line runs into London from the central terminal complex, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5.
Your Comments (7)
Maverick
James Avery
I some how doubt that will happen under the current set up. BA are already overflowing from Terminal 5, and would no doubt take up most of the airport if they could. The flights which operate from Gatwick are mainly point to point services, whereas Heathrow has a much higher proportion of connecting traffic. However, just to keep things different, BA's flights to Nassau (Bahamas) do operate from Heathrow, with continuation to the Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos. These routes may have a few more business and connecting passengers, but also, they are operated using the smaller Boeing 767, which is not part of BA's Gatwick fleet.
Pat Barnes
Will Brown
James Avery
Valencia of course is the exception, as it is both a business and leisure destination. As you say, Spain's 3rd largest city, but still some way off Barcelona and Madrid, both in terms of business flights and as a leisure destination.
As I recall, Vueling have operated Valencia flights previously. For now, I'm afraid you've just got to make do with Gatwick - a shame though, as it is by far my favourite Spanish city, the City of Arts and Sciences is just breathtaking!
Bromley Bob
Why don't they just chuck out domestic flights to places like Manchester and Newcastle, surely people could just as easily get there by train?
They must do something so that London can have direct flights to Guangzhou, Chongqing etc -- it is ridiculous that you can get to these places from Paris or Amsterdam, but not Heathrow.
James Avery
Although there isn't much to be made on operating these domestic shuttle flights, they give people access to connections onto a whole range of European and long-haul flights, from which the airlines usually can make money.