LHR · Traveller guide
Heathrow Terminal 3: arrivals, pick-up and getting to London
Terminal 3 is the Virgin Atlantic hub and also serves Emirates, Delta, American Airlines, Qantas, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Finnair. This guide covers where to meet someone, Heathrow's pick-up rules and charges, the trains and the drive into London.
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 airline pages list for Terminal 3, among others: Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Delta, American Airlines, Qantas, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Finnair. British Airways uses both T3 and T5. Airlines can change terminal, so check your booking.
Meeting and collection
Meeting someone at Terminal 3
Heathrow's official meeting point for Terminal 3 is the seating area on the ground floor of Arrivals. Anyone meeting you should go there, not to the forecourt, where waiting is not allowed. If a chauffeur is meeting you, they will be in arrivals with a name board.
For collections, Heathrow points drivers to Terminal Parking or a Park & Ride car park. The Terminal 3 Park & Ride bus stop is at stop 14 or 15 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 3 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.
Loading the journey map…
By train, coach and Tube
Elizabeth line
28 minutes from Paddington
All six trains an hour call at Terminals 2 and 3 (the station is between the terminals).
Official pageHeathrow Express
15 minutes to Paddington
Non-stop, every 15 minutes, from the shared T2 and T3 station.
Official pagePiccadilly line
about 50 minutes to central London
From the same station. The terminal's central bus station accessibility line is +44 (0)20 8757 2925.
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
- Terminal 3 has the Aerotel in Arrivals, Club Aspire and No.1 Lounge in Departures, free Wi-Fi and a fast-track option.
- T2 and T3 share a station, so the walk from either terminal is the same few minutes.
- Heathrow warns that airline terminal allocations change, so check your flight details the day before.
Questions
Terminal 3 FAQs
Where do I meet someone at Heathrow Terminal 3?
How far is Heathrow Terminal 3 from central London by car?
Can a car wait for me on the terminal forecourt?
Which train is quickest from Terminal 3?
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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