LHR · Traveller guide
Heathrow Terminal 4: arrivals, pick-up and getting to London
Terminal 4 serves Qatar Airways, Air France, Etihad, Korean Air, Gulf Air, Kenya Airways, Malaysia Airlines and El Al. Collecting passengers changed here on 23 June 2026, when the multi-storey car park closed, so this guide covers the new arrangements as well as the meeting point, trains and drive times.
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 4, among others: Qatar Airways, Air France, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, Gulf Air, Kenya Airways, Malaysia Airlines and El Al. Airlines can change terminal, so check your booking.
Meeting and collection
Meeting someone at Terminal 4, and the 2026 pick-up changes
Heathrow's official meeting point for Terminal 4 is next to WHSmith on the ground floor of Arrivals. The Underground and Elizabeth line station is directly below Terminal 4 Arrivals.
The Terminal 4 multi-storey car park closed on 23 June 2026. Pick-ups now use the Priority Pick-Up area on Salisbury Road, reached from the T4 roundabout, which is charged by time. The free alternative is Park & Ride Zone A, where Heathrow says the first two hours are free, with a free shuttle bus every five minutes. Meet and Greet parking is no longer available at T4.
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.
Priority Pick-Up (from 23 June 2026)
Official page, checked 28 October 2026Up to 10 minutes £7.00; 11 to 29 minutes £14.00; 30 to 60 minutes £25.00; maximum £200.00 a day
Charged on each entry. Drop-offs continue as normal at £7 per visit.
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 4 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 | 15 miles |
| Westminster | about 40 min | 15 miles |
| The City (Bank) | about 50 min | 17 miles |
| Canary Wharf | about 1 hr 5 min | 21 miles |
| King's Cross | about 45 min | 16 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
Four trains an hour call at Terminal 4. You can change to the other terminals for free.
Official pageHeathrow Express
15 minutes to Paddington from T2/3
The Heathrow Express does not stop at Terminal 4. Change at Terminals 2 and 3 for a free transfer train of about four minutes, every 15 minutes, and allow extra time for boarding.
Official pagePiccadilly line
about 50 minutes to central London
The T4 station is below Arrivals. The Night Tube does not serve Terminal 4.
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.
Loading the weather at Heathrow…
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. At Park & Ride Zone A there is an Assisted Services Hub, assistance staff and accessible buses.
Useful to know
- Terminal 4 has free Wi-Fi, a Plaza Premium lounge and a four-star Hilton a short walk away.
- Because of the 2026 car park changes, anyone collecting you in a private car will need to use the Priority Pick-Up area or Park & Ride Zone A.
- T4 sits on the M25 side of Heathrow, so the drive into London is a few minutes longer than from T2 or T3.
Questions
Terminal 4 FAQs
Where do I meet someone at Heathrow Terminal 4?
What changed at Terminal 4 in June 2026?
Can I take the Heathrow Express from Terminal 4?
How long does it take to drive from Terminal 4 to central London?
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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