Yes, baggage trolleys are free at Heathrow Airport, in all four terminals. You will find them in baggage reclaim after you land, and on the departures concourse before you check in, with no coin deposit or card payment required. The one restriction is that trolleys cannot be taken through security control, so plan to unload yours before the security queue. Checked 2026.
Where to find free trolleys by terminal
Heathrow provides trolleys in the same pattern across Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5:
- Arrivals / baggage reclaim — plentiful trolleys are stacked near the carousels in every terminal, so you can load up as soon as you collect your bags.
- Departures concourse — trolleys are also available before check-in and security, useful if you have heavy cases to wheel to a check-in desk or a bag drop point.
- Car parks, bus and rail access points — trolleys taken from arrivals can be pushed all the way to short-stay car parks, the Heathrow bus and coach station, or the rail and Underground station entrances, so you are not stuck carrying bags the last stretch to your transport.
This is different from several other UK airports. Bristol, Luton and Edinburgh charge a non-refundable fee (around £2) for a trolley, and some airports use a coin-deposit system where you get your money back on return. Heathrow, along with Glasgow, Aberdeen and Newcastle, is one of the airports that has kept trolleys free throughout, with no deposit and no charge.
How Heathrow compares with other London and UK airports
If you're connecting through, or comparing options with, another airport on your trip, trolley policies vary more than most travellers expect:
| Airport | Trolley cost |
|---|---|
| Heathrow | Free |
| Gatwick (North and South) | £1 or €1 coin deposit, refunded on return |
| Stansted | £1, €1 or $0.25 coin deposit, refunded on return |
| Luton | £2 or €2, card accepted, not refunded |
| Bristol | £2 or €2, card accepted, not refunded |
| Southend | £1 or €1, coin only, refunded on return |
If your itinerary involves flying into Heathrow and out through one of these other airports, or vice versa, it's worth carrying a spare £1 or €1 coin for the leg where trolleys aren't free, since not every airport on this list accepts card payment.
Can you take a trolley through security?
No. Heathrow's own guidance is explicit that trolleys picked up on the departures concourse cannot be taken through security control. If you are travelling with a lot of hand luggage plus checked bags, use the trolley to get everything to the check-in desk or bag drop point, then carry your remaining hand luggage through security by hand or on a smaller cabin bag with wheels. There are no trolleys provided airside, past the security checkpoint.
Trolleys in arrivals: getting from the plane to your transport
If you are arriving into Heathrow, trolleys are typically available right at baggage reclaim, so you do not need to carry bags any distance before you can load up. From there, a loaded trolley can go all the way to:
- A short-stay or meet-and-greet car park, if someone is collecting you or you left your own car
- The bus and coach station for onward travel
- The taxi rank, though be aware that black cabs generally load your luggage into the vehicle themselves rather than you wheeling a trolley alongside the vehicle for an extended distance; see our guide to Heathrow taxi pickup points by terminal for exact rank locations
- The rail and Underground station, for the Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express or Piccadilly line
Rules and safety
Heathrow's guidance asks that children not be allowed to ride on trolleys, for safety reasons. This is worth keeping in mind if you are travelling with young children and a lot of luggage; a trolley loaded with cases is not designed to carry a child's weight safely, and can tip.
What if you have too much luggage for a trolley alone?
A single trolley can generally hold two to three standard suitcases plus hand luggage, though this varies with case size. If you are travelling as a larger group or family with more bags than one trolley can manage, most areas of the terminal have enough trolleys nearby that you can take more than one, rather than needing to make multiple trips. If you are storing bags rather than carrying everything with you, our guide to left luggage prices and locations at Heathrow covers where to drop bags for a fee if you'd rather not manage a full trolley of luggage around the terminal.
Do disabled or less mobile passengers need to rely on trolleys?
Not necessarily. Heathrow's special assistance service can help with moving luggage as part of a wider assistance booking, which is worth arranging in advance if you would struggle to manage a loaded trolley unaided. See our guide to booking special assistance at Heathrow for how that works and how far ahead to request it.
Heathrow Airport Guide is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Heathrow Airport. Facilities can change; confirm current details with the airport before you travel.