Travelling with children

There are lots of ways to get to Heathrow with your family

You can travel by train, Tube, bus, coach, taxi or car. All terminals have step-free routes to help if you have a buggy or lots of bags.

Your options include:

🚆 Train: Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth line
🚇 Tube: London Underground services to Heathrow
🚍 Bus and coach: Local buses and coaches from across the UK
🚖 Taxi and private hire: Drop-off points are available at each terminal

Choose the option that best fits your family, budget, and travel plans.

Driving and parking

If you’re driving to Heathrow, there are several parking options for families.

• You’ll find wider parent and child bays in Park & Ride and  Terminal Parking. They are close to lifts or transport links, which can make it easier to get children, buggies and bags out of the car. 
• Drive to the Meet & Greet area and leave your car with the team. They’ll park it in a secure area at Heathrow. When you return, your car will be ready for you close to the terminal.
• Valet Parking lets you leave your car at the terminal forecourt. The team parks it for you and brings it back close to the terminal when you return. This can be useful when you’re travelling with children, buggies and lots of bags.
• If you’re flying from Terminal 5, you can use Terminal 5 Pod Parking. Driverless pods run on demand and take just a few minutes to reach the terminal. Children may enjoy the ride too.

Free luggage trolleys are available in Heathrow car parks and on the terminal forecourts.

Travelling on Heathrow Express

Heathrow Express can be a simple option for families travelling between London Paddington and Heathrow.

• Children aged 15 and under travel free with a paying adult
• Trains have step-free access
• There is space for bags and buggies
• The journey from London Paddington to Heathrow takes around 15 minutes
   

A good choice if you want to avoid driving and parking.

Family travel on Heathrow Express

Before you reach security

Knowing what will happen at security can make things easier for you and your children.

Before you reach the checkpoint:

• Be ready to fold your pushchair
• Keep baby food and milk easy to reach
• Keep any medicine you need easy to reach
   

If you need help, ask one of our Security Officers.

Taking baby food and milk through security

• You can take enough baby food, prepared baby milk, sterilised water and expressed breast milk for your journey in your hand baggage.
• These items are exempt from the usual liquid limits.
• Expressed breast milk must be liquid, not frozen. Each container can hold up to two litres.
• These items do not need to go in a separate liquids bag. You can keep them in your hand baggage for screening.
• A Security Officer may need to check or open a container.
• Heathrow now uses new security scanners. This means most liquids can stay in your bag.
• Remember that other airports may have different rules. Check the rules if you’re changing flights or flying back from another airport.

Taking medicine through security

• Keep any medicine you need easy to reach.
• Where possible, bring documents that support your need for the medicine.
• Powder and solid medicines can stay in your bag.

Taking pushchairs and other baby equipment through security

• Pushchairs, car seats and baby carriers must go through security checks.
• Pushchairs will usually need to be folded before they are screened.
• Most airlines let you use your pushchair in the terminal and take it to the gate. It will usually go into the aircraft hold when you board.
• Where you get your pushchair back depends on your airline. It may be returned at the aircraft or at baggage reclaim.
• Check with your airline before you travel.
• Children who can walk on their own may go through the scanner on their own.
• If your child cannot walk on their own, you can carry them through with you.

Tips to make security easier

• Give yourself extra time
• Keep your hand baggage simple
• Put things you may need somewhere easy to reach
• Tell children what will happen before you arrive
• Ask a Security Officer if you need help

Fast Track security

Fast Track gives you access to a dedicated security lane. Some families find this useful when travelling with young children, buggies or several bags.

• You need to book Fast Track in advance. Spaces depend on the terminal and time of day.
• The same security rules apply in Fast Track as in the standard security lanes.
   

Fast Track security

Where can I change or feed my baby?

• Baby changing areas are available in every terminal, both before and after security.
• Most are near the main toilets, so they’re easy to find as you move through the airport.
• You’ll also find family toilets and larger washrooms in some areas. These give you more room if you have a buggy or hand baggage.
• Some parts of the airport also have seats or quieter spaces that may be useful for feeding.
   

Look for the baby-care symbol on airport signs. You can also use our terminal maps to find the nearest facilities.

If you don’t need our Assistance service but would like some extra help, you can book a paid service.

Porters

Our porters can help with your bags in Departures and Arrivals.

They can help with:

• Taking bags from the forecourt to check-in
• Moving luggage through the terminal
• Collecting and managing bags at baggage reclaim

This is a paid service and is separate from Heathrow’s Assistance service.

Find out about porters

Meet and Assist

Meet and Assist gives you a trained host to help guide you through the airport.

It can be useful if you’re:

• Travelling alone with children
• Travelling with a buggy and several bags
• Short on time
• Making a connection

Your host will meet you at an agreed place and help you through key parts of your journey.

Find out about Meet and Assist

A few helpful pointers for your arrival at Heathrow

After leaving the aircraft, follow the signs through the terminal.

You’ll normally go through:

1. Passport control
2. Baggage reclaim
3. Customs
4. The Arrivals hall

Free luggage trolleys are available in baggage reclaim.

If you need help, look for a Heathrow colleague.

Can children use the eGates?

• Eligible children aged 8 and over can use the UK eGates when travelling with an adult.
• Children aged 8 and 9 must also be at least 120cm tall.
• If your child cannot use an eGate, follow the signs to a staffed passport control desk.

 

Can families use Fast Track Arrivals?

Fast Track Arrivals gives you access to a dedicated passport control lane.

It can be useful if you or your children cannot use the eGates.

The service is available to arriving passengers, regardless of airline, passport or cabin class.

You must book before you arrive and spaces are subject to availability.

Fast Track information