LHR · Traveller guide
Heathrow Terminal 2: arrivals, pick-up and getting to London
Terminal 2, the Queen's Terminal, serves Lufthansa, United, Air Canada, Aer Lingus, Singapore Airlines and others. This guide covers where to meet someone, what Heathrow charges to collect people, the train options and how long the drive to central London takes.
After you land
What happens after you land
After you leave the aircraft, follow the signs to passport control. If you are eligible, Heathrow says an eGate is usually the quickest way into the UK: you need a biometric passport, and children aged 8 and 9 can use the gates with an adult if they are at least 120 cm tall (from 8 July 2026). Heathrow shows live security and immigration waiting times at heathrow.com/passenger-updates.
Most visa-free visitors now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they fly. Heathrow gives the current fee as £20, and British and Irish citizens do not need one. Check this before you travel, because airlines can refuse boarding without it.
After passport control, follow the signs to baggage reclaim and check the screens for your belt. Trolleys in the hall are free. Then choose the green channel if you have nothing to declare, or the red channel if you do. Cash of €10,000 or more must be declared.
Heathrow's own airline pages list, among others: Lufthansa, United Airlines, Air Canada, Aer Lingus, Singapore Airlines, Air India, ANA, Ethiopian Airlines and Austrian. Airlines can change terminal, so always check your booking.
Meeting and collection
Meeting someone at Terminal 2
Heathrow's official meeting point for Terminal 2 is opposite the international arrivals exit. If a chauffeur is meeting you, they will be in arrivals with a name board; if a friend or colleague is meeting you, send them to that spot, because they cannot wait on the forecourt or in the drop-off area.
Heathrow's own advice for anyone collecting is to use Terminal Parking, or a Park & Ride car park where the first 29 minutes are free (not available to private hire). The Terminal 2 Park & Ride bus stop is at stop 5 or 6 on the arrivals forecourt.
The airport's own charges
These are the airport's published figures, read on 28 October 2026. They change, so use the link on each line to confirm before you rely on them.
Drop-off at any terminal
Official page, checked 28 October 2026£7 per entry, 24 hours a day
Heathrow says no pick-ups or waiting are allowed on the terminal forecourts, and the charge applies to taxis and private hire as well.
Waiting area for licensed private hire operators (Authorised Vehicle Area, Northern Perimeter Road)
Official page, checked 28 October 2026£1.00 an hour for the first five hours
Heathrow's table shows higher bands after five hours, so check the page for longer waits.
Getting to London
From Terminal 2 to central London
Typical driving times without traffic, then the train options. Allow more time at rush hour and on Friday afternoons.
By car, without traffic
| To | Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Mayfair | about 35 min | 16 miles |
| Westminster | about 40 min | 17 miles |
| The City (Bank) | about 45 min | 19 miles |
| Canary Wharf | about 1 hr | 23 miles |
| King's Cross | about 45 min | 18 miles |
Our estimates from OpenStreetMap road data at normal free-flow speeds, rounded to the nearest five minutes. They are not a promise: traffic, roadworks and the time of day change them.
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By train, coach and Tube
Elizabeth line
28 minutes from Paddington
All six trains an hour call at Terminals 2 and 3. Contactless and Oyster work. Fares from Heathrow into Zone 1 are listed as from £13.90.
Official pageHeathrow Express
15 minutes to Paddington
Non-stop, every 15 minutes. First train from Paddington 04:34 Monday to Saturday, 04:55 Sunday.
Official pagePiccadilly line
about 50 minutes to central London
Runs from the same station. The cheapest option, with a train never more than ten minutes away by Heathrow's account.
Official pageRight now
Weather at Heathrow
The latest report and the next twelve hours, in plain English. Strong wind, low cloud or fog can slow flights, so it is a good moment to check your flight status.
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Good to know
Assistance and useful tips
Assistance
Book assistance through your airline or travel agent when you book your flight, or at least 48 hours before you travel. Heathrow's helpline for Terminals 2, 3 and 4, car parks and the Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line is +44 (0)20 8757 2700. All Heathrow Elizabeth line stations are step-free from train to street.
Useful to know
- Terminals 2 and 3 share one station, a few minutes' walk through a pedestrian subway.
- T2 has free Wi-Fi, a Plaza Premium lounge and the Aerotel for an overnight stay close by.
- You can change between T2/3, T4 and T5 on the Elizabeth line for free, using contactless or a free inter-terminal ticket from a machine.
Questions
Terminal 2 FAQs
Where do I meet someone at Heathrow Terminal 2?
How long does it take to drive from Heathrow Terminal 2 to central London?
Can a car wait for me on the terminal forecourt?
Is the Elizabeth line or the Heathrow Express better from Terminal 2?
Sources
Where this information comes from
Checked on 28 October 2026against the airport's own pages, TfL, rail operators and GOV.UK. Airports change terminals, charges and timetables, so confirm anything important with them before you travel.
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