Guide to London Heathrow Airport
The airport offers a fantastic selection of airlines but there are better airports in the UK for photography, namely Manchester. The spots listed below, with the descriptions are from my findings and I have never had problems at them. If anyone has different experiences at the airport then please let us know by discussing it in the forum, a link to which is the right side of the page. My "How To Get There" descriptions are meant only for people driving as my knowledge of public transport is very, very limited, again if anyone has things to add then please use the Heathrow forum.
Radio Frequencies
Delivery: 121.975
Director: 120.4
Ground: 121.9 & 121.7
Tower: 118.5 & 118.7
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London Heathrow Airport Weather
All times on the weather descriptions are local
Observed at 12:50 - (11 mins ago)

13°C
Mostly Cloudy
Clouds: Broken Clouds at 2,200ft
Wind: 300° at 08 knots
Visibility: Greater than 10km
QNH: 1019
Dew Point: 5°C
Runway in Use: Landing: Runway , Take-Off: Runway
Movements
A sample of the upcoming movements for London Heathrow.
October 2013
Sun 27th
- Qatar Airways changes its European flight numbers. From this date, LHR's 5 daily flights will be QR1/2, QR2/3, QR4/5, QR6/7, QR7/8.
Heathrow Runway Alternation
Heathrow use one runway for take-off and one runway for landing in the mornings and then swap the runways at 1500
to use the opposite in the afternoon. The morning / afternoon rotation is then reversed at the start of each week.
The details below help you to see which runway is used for landing / take-offs each day.
Note: Between 6am and 7am aircraft may land on both runways.
If runways 09L/R are in use then 09L is used for landing and 09R for take-offs all day.
The allocations are confirmed for 2010, details given for dates beyond that are not confirmed but still highly
likely.
| Date / Week Beginning |
0600 - 1500 | 1500 - Last Dep. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landing | Take-Off | Landing | Take-Off | |
Or
Spot A - Myrtle Avenue Grass Area
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 27' 49" (N51° 27.817')
Longitude: W0° 25' 43" (W0° 25.711')
Photos
Spot B - Renaissance Hotel Room
Best to check the runways before you book the room. At Heathrow the runways are switched every week, whatever runway is used for landings in the morning one week is used for take-offs in the morning the week after and so on. The London Aviation website in the links on this page gives details of which runways are used for each week. Obvisouly if 09 is used then this can be ignored and I wouldn't bother going.
One further point to note is that you will be shooting through glass, although didn't cause us many problems at the time of our visit.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 28' 48" (N51° 28.799')
Longitude: W0° 26' 46" (W0° 26.766')
Photos
Spot C - Feltham Park
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 27' 9" (N51° 27.158')
Longitude: W0° 24' 59" (W0° 24.981')
Photos
Spot D - 09L Arrivals
The area is best from about 10am until 3pm on a summers day. The sun does tend to work its way round and at about 5pm ends up at 90° to the runway, meaning shots are very difficult by that time. After this time you can walk down to the roundabout on the north side and shoot south, although its probably 7pm before you get the sun behind you.
The best way to get by car is to come off the M25 at the Terminal 4 junction and turn left at the first roundabout. You can park the car up on the side of the road, on a sunny day especially there'll be plenty of others there. If going on foot, exit Terminal 5 and turn right following the perimeter fence adjacent to the parked A320s, crossing the road to do so when you get to the airport vehicle checkpoint. Once past the taxis, you will see a grassy embankment with a fairly steep, shrubbed verge across the road to your left. Cross the road a little further up to make an easy climb up the grass embankment to the top. This is a pleasant place to sit and enjoy good views of 09L landings with a little natural shade. A 5-10 minute walk.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 28' 28" (N51° 28.464')
Longitude: W0° 29' 48" (W0° 29.792')
Photos
Spot E - 27R Threshold
The best way to get there is by public transport. Take a bus from Hatton Cross Station (Bus Stop A) towards Heathrow Central (285, 423 - both are free of charge, or 90) and get off on the bus stop at Hatton Road North.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 28' 46" (N51° 28.759')
Longitude: W0° 26' 5" (W0° 26.081')
Photos
Spot F - Take offs 27L (Esso petrol station)
If you want to use public transport take bus 203 from Hatton Cross Station towards Staines (bus stop E) and get off near petrol station on the junction of Bedfont Road and Clare Road. Follow Bedfont Road for about 60 - 100 meters and then turn right into Riverside Road. There's a pub at the end of that road called Rising Sun , from where I took photo of bmi A330 (below) having a nice ,cold pint of beer. To get to Esso petrol station from there, you just have to turn right to Southern Perimeter Road (via Oaks Road)
You can get there by car via Bedfont Road (free parking space on Oaks Road) or via Southern Perimeter Road (parking space at Esso petrol station).
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 27' 41" (N51° 27.683')
Longitude: W0° 28' 53" (W0° 28.88')
Photos
Spot G - Southern Perimeter Road
Lens 50-200mm is enough for take offs and line-ups.
Photos:
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 27' 44" (N51° 27.734')
Longitude: W0° 25' 60" (W0° 25.996')
Photos
Spot H - T5 Top Level (Cafe Nero)
You can view planes though this spot if you get the train to T5 station
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 28' 19" (N51° 28.325')
Longitude: W0° 29' 17" (W0° 29.282')
Photos
Spot I - Bedfont Town Football Club Field
Update Feb 2011
Photographers have reported that the football club have now decided this to be a members only area. As I'm pretty sure this is private property then they have every right enforce this policy. The club will allow photographers to continue using the area as long as they are members - quoted figures seem to be £20 for the first year and then £10 to renew every year after that. Be prepared to be moved on from this area if you are not a member.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 27' 44" (N51° 27.727')
Longitude: W0° 25' 34" (W0° 25.564')
Photos
Spot J - A30 Dual Carriageway
The downside here is that you'll have to work to avoid the lamp posts from the street. Only short lenses required, anything bigger than a 757 requires less than 100mm.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 27' 50" (N51° 27.828')
Longitude: W0° 25' 46" (W0° 25.767')
Photos
Spot K - Southern Perimeter Road 2
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 27' 41" (N51° 27.676')
Longitude: W0° 28' 37" (W0° 28.621')
Photos
Spot L - Northern Perimeter Road
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 28' 48" (N51° 28.808')
Longitude: W0° 27' 23" (W0° 27.376')
Photos
Spot M - Eastern Perimiter Road
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 28' 34" (N51° 28.56')
Longitude: W0° 25' 12" (W0° 25.193')
Photos
Spot N - The Heron Field
Walking down the perimiter road past the BA maintenace facility/away from Hatton Cross past the Jury's Inn there's a little mini-roundabout that leads to some parking facilities for different areas. There's also a brown gate to a field. I climbed over the gate and went through the small gap into the next field stood on the left handside, along the treeline that runs along the road.
Binoculars and a minimum Canon 200mm lens needed, bigger for the smaller aircraft but you can get side on shots of landings on 27R and possible 27L (but Myrtle Ave is better for 27L). Good points - fully enclosed so hassle or comments from passing motorists/jobsworths. Negatives - quite insecty, overgrown and remote. Not sure if you're allowed here but I never got troubled. Spent a good few hours there too.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 28' 17" (N51° 28.288')
Longitude: W0° 24' 51" (W0° 24.851')
Photos
Spot O - Renaissance & Heathrow Academy Car Park
And for photographers, when the sun is behind you later in the day this can be a great place to also photograph the arrivals on 27R.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 28' 49" (N51° 28.813')
Longitude: W0° 26' 34" (W0° 26.559')
Photos
Spot P - Terminal Five Drop Off
Finally if you decide to get to T5 by car and park in the short stay beware of the extortionate charges. I was there fore just over an hour and got charged over £6!
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 28' 24" (N51° 28.402')
Longitude: W0° 29' 23" (W0° 29.38')
Photos
Spot Q - Meeting of the Northern and Eastern Street
Best time - morning and afternoon until 15:00PM
Lens - 18-200mm
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 28' 35" (N51° 28.583')
Longitude: W0° 25' 36" (W0° 25.605')
Photos
Spot R - Horton Village
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 27' 51" (N51° 27.85')
Longitude: W0° 32' 2" (W0° 32.032')
Spot S - Hatton Cross Tube Station
Lens range, is from 50mm for side-on shots, up to 300mm for just off head-on shots.
Perils are lampposts and high sided vehicles for photography.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 27' 59" (N51° 27.975')
Longitude: W0° 25' 25" (W0° 25.42')
Photos
Spot T - Thistle Hotel viewing terrace
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 28' 48" (N51° 28.799')
Longitude: W0° 29' 1" (W0° 29.009')
Comments About This Airport / Guide
Add Your Comments
Guide Content
- Radio Frequencies
- Links
- Weather
- Runway Alternation
- Photo Spots
- Spot A - Myrtle Avenue Grass Area
- Spot B - Renaissance Hotel Room
- Spot C - Feltham Park
- Spot D - 09L Arrivals
- Spot E - 27R Threshold
- Spot F - Take offs 27L (Esso petrol station)
- Spot G - Southern Perimeter Road
- Spot H - T5 Top Level (Cafe Nero)
- Spot I - Bedfont Town Football Club Field
- Spot J - A30 Dual Carriageway
- Spot K - Southern Perimeter Road 2
- Spot L - Northern Perimeter Road
- Spot M - Eastern Perimiter Road
- Spot N - The Heron Field
- Spot O - Renaissance & Heathrow Academy Car Park
- Spot P - Terminal Five Drop Off
- Spot Q - Meeting of the Northern and Eastern Street
- Spot R - Horton Village
- Spot S - Hatton Cross Tube Station
- Spot T - Thistle Hotel viewing terrace
- Comments
- Post Comment
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Thursday 16th May, 2013 at 12:39 GMT
don't know if someone has already reported this but the official Heathrow Airport website:
http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/services-and-facilities/spectators
also mentions that:
"For £35 you can enjoy unique elevated runway views from the comfort of the Renaissance Hotel's Club Lounge. Designed with the aircraft enthusiast in mind, this day package includes parking, unlimited coffee, tea and soft drinks in the lounge, and internet access. For more information call 44 (0)20 8897 6363 or ask for your Day Pass at hotel reception."
Still quite expensive, but cheaper than getting a room.
Thursday 2nd May, 2013 at 18:38 GMT
I'll be visiting London for a few days (between 27.05 and 01.06) and I would like spend at least one day spotting at LHR. Now, the issue is, I'm handicaped. No wheelchair, but it is not easy for me to walk. I probably will have my walking stick with me, so I can walk small distance. But it's still hard for me. So, I'm looking for some advices where I can find places to stand (or, maybe, take a sit?), watch planes, and where I can get by tube or bus. I'm just a tourist so probably can't afford a taxi to drive me around the airfield too :) Looking forward to receive some advice. And sorry for my poor english.
The easier way to reach me is smoczyca@gmail.com . Thanks! :)
Sunday 28th April, 2013 at 01:54 GMT
Saturday 27th April, 2013 at 13:40 GMT
Tuesday 23rd April, 2013 at 18:50 GMT
fantastic by far the best location for plane spotting
Tuesday 23rd April, 2013 at 18:24 GMT
You want Myrtle Avenue. Big grass area, Ice Cream van on sunny days (or short walk to BP garage) and it's easy to park close by (although do remember to consider the local residents). As for timings, you want 27L to be used at the landing runway... see link
http://www.heathrowairport.com/static/Heathrow_Noise/Downloads/PDF/rwy-alt-prog-2013.pdf
RE Ross 23/4/13
Try lhe-lgw.co.uk for list of movements.
Monday 22nd April, 2013 at 23:04 GMT
Friday 19th April, 2013 at 11:11 GMT
I am urgently looking for a London based plane spotter who can help me to identify the different types of planes we've filmed for a Channel 4 documentary series I'm working on about aviation safety.
I was wondering if you would be able to send out a message to your members asking if there is anyone available (ideally next week) who would be willing to spend a few hours watching our rushes and identifying the planes for us.
Please ask them to contact me at Lydia.Delmonte@arrowmedia.com. They can check out the production company's website at www.arrowmedia.com
Kind regards,
Lydia
Wednesday 10th April, 2013 at 21:09 GMT
Thanks
Sunday 24th February, 2013 at 11:42 GMT
Sunday 10th February, 2013 at 00:43 GMT
Thursday 24th January, 2013 at 09:36 GMT
Wednesday 16th January, 2013 at 22:09 GMT
Wednesday 16th January, 2013 at 06:19 GMT
Friday 11th January, 2013 at 22:33 GMT
Sunday 30th December, 2012 at 21:09 GMT
I will be there all morning between those two points and then to Myrte Avenue as if only a bit.
Thank you very much for your answers KC!
Sunday 30th December, 2012 at 20:49 GMT
Saturday 29th December, 2012 at 00:41 GMT
So unfortunately point A shall I see from there.
The option is that, points F and K for takeoffs or points Q and M for landing.
For point F 55-250 Telephoto Canon served for aircraft "Heavys"??
Friday 28th December, 2012 at 23:09 GMT
Friday 28th December, 2012 at 22:23 GMT
Another place to go is in thinking I have the points F and K.
I've seen that you can grab a bus from Hatton Cross to a gas station there and walk about 100 meters to the Esso station to photograph takeoffs on 27L.
I'm a Saturday January so we'll see how the day is presented in Heathrow.
Thanks again...