Everybody has heard about the recent and highly contentious news that Heathrow Airport is set to have a third runway built, after ministers backed the plans. The airport certainly racks up column inches in the media, which is expected, to be fair – spanning over 7000 acres and flying 78 million passengers in 2017 alone, it is the largest and busiest airport in the UK.
To give you an idea of the sheer size of the airport, Terminal Five alone is as big as Hyde Park in London – you can fit fifty football pitches inside the main building!
But what else is hiding behind the airport that has attracted endless media attention due to its proposed £14bn addition? For all the aviation #avgeeks out there, we have found the little-known facts about Heathrow Airport.
A Mysterious Underground Secret
Hidden deep underground, Heathrow Airport is home to an abandoned and eerie “ghost” train station that is reportedly the length of thirty-three London buses. The little-known and deserted space was built in 2008 for the then newly-opened Terminal Five, but has never become open to the public.
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Heathrow’s Head of Surface Access Chris Joyce told BBC Radio 5 Live that the space is the airport’s “biggest secret and …. the scale is absolutely immense”.
Chris praised Heathrow for its fantastic access to the road network in the past twenty years, and predicted that in the next twenty years, the airport will become a part of the national rail network.
Hidden deep underground, Heathrow Airport actually has an abandoned and eerie “ghost” train station.
Fantastic Food and Beverage Hospitality for Every Budget
Heathrow Airport offers a myriad of venues to keep passengers suitably fed and watered, from the more “budget” end of the spectrum to true and limitless luxury.
An Impressive Budget Option
For £30 per person for one hour, or £40 for three hours you can stay for an hour in one of Heathrow Airport’s Plaza Premium Lounges where you can have unlimited food and drink.
The Happy Middle Ground
If you’re flying from Terminal 4 and feeling exhausted, there is a perfect solution for you. Did you know that just beyond security, Yotel has cabin rooms designed with passengers like you in mind? Catch a few winks, drink unlimited hot beverages and refresh with a shower! Prices start from £40 for a four hour stay.
True VIP Luxury!
The privileges of Heathrow VIP – notably used by Meghan Markle’s mother Doria when she flew in to London for the Royal Wedding – are countless. Users of the service are personally picked up by a chauffeur from their home in a 7 Series BMW with massage seats. Then, once at Heathrow Airport, they enter the suite through a private entrance, escorted by a doorman in a top hat and tails. Staff members purposely choose not to disclose its exact location.
The VIP Concierge team personally carry out check in on their behalf, and world class cuisine is served from Michelin Star Chef Jason Atherton. Even if you fancied some retail therapy, the suites’ personal shopper has you covered! Guests can take advantage of a VIP refund service when shopping.
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emphasised the exclusivity of the service: “If you’re looking at the movers and shakers and people leading the globe, these are the people using Heathrow VIP. The type of people who use it sometimes want to stay under the radar, and sometimes there are security elements.”
Any travellers lucky enough to be in a suitable financial position (namely, a position to spend at least £3300!) can make use of a VIP suite, favoured by royalty and Presidents.
The VIP Concierge team personally carry out check in on their behalf, and world class cuisine from Michelin Star Chef Jason Atherton. Even if you fancied some retail therapy, the suites’ personal shopper has you covered!
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Heathrow Airport Ranks in RewardExpert’s 2018 International Airport Dining Scorecard
Although just beaten by fellow UK airport Gatwick in the culinary stakes, it’s still impressive that Heathrow Airport has received Reward Expert’s seal of approval in its 2018 International Airport Dining Scorecard.
Airports’ food offering is judged on cuisine quality, price and diversity. Heathrow has been given 4.29 points out of 5 for quality, which isn’t surprising with Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant in Terminal Five, “Plane Food”, and Heston Blumenthal’s located in “The Perfectionists Café” in Terminal Two both firm favourites.
Skytrax is also a big fan of Heathrow
Continuing with the theme of awards, Heathrow stormed ahead in the famous Skytrax Airport Awards this year. Terminal Two scooped the top spot for best airport terminal in the world and, Terminal Five was awarded fourth place!
The Heathrow App
The LHR London Heathrow Airport App helps passengers with forward-planning, adding to the overall Heathrow experience. Helpful tools of the app include checking real-time flight status updates and alerts, comparing parking options and displaying many special shop and restaurant offers.
If you’d like to find out more about all things Heathrow, whether it is concerning airport lounges, food and beverage outlets or transport and directions, everything you need to know is here.