hi there I am hoping to make my 1st visit to Heathrow soon and any help would be great as best place to go. I'm traveling down by car so would need parking space nr and may be toilet and place to get a snack ? thanking you mike lister from telford

Hi Mike,

This site will help you.

http://www.plane-mad.com/airport-spotting-guides/united-kingdom/london-heathrow-lhr-egll.html

Regards and good spotting.

Mike

When I worked at LHR there was always a cluster of people at the end of the runway - follow the perimeter road round and you'll find them. Not sure about toilets though.

There used to be a viewing deck on the top of the Queen's Building but I don't know if that is still open - shows how long ago I was there!!!

Hi Mike

Heathrow has a number of different viewing options and the link posted is a really good starting point. As with most airports it depends on what you want to get out of it where the best place for you would be, over the years I have managed to find a few locations from trail and error that cover each runway and I spend most of my time covering only incoming flights and hopefully (weather and my skill level permitting!) get some half descent pictures. If your more focused on reg's and also enjoy the more social side of spotting the old visitor center (now a Airport training building) has a public car park which many spotters use and people are always willing to chat, it also has the advantage that you can walk across the road to McDonalds and have access to the both the food and the loos! I believe it is still £1 a hour but you can get a day pass for £5. The down side is that is has no photography ability and that if they are landing on 09L some turn off early and can be difficult to read unless they run down to their stands, you do get the advantage of seeing more airport activity which can be a bonus and taxing aircraft can be read off, but just remember if they are using 27 they will change runways as 15:00 so if you have been watching arrivals in the morning much of what you have already seen will be departing in front of you and unless you have a powerful lens or pole/bin's you wont be making the arrivals on 27L and even then the heat-haze often puts stop to that. Hope it helps in someway

I've heard the renaissance hotel is good. I'm planning a trip there myself, hopefully in the next few months

27L outside Hatton cross tube - toilets and coffee in newsagents 27R perimeter road near purple parking under flight path

free bus Heathrow to Hatton cross

Runway switchover at 3pm sually