Heathrow's four terminals each have free unlimited WiFi, a multi-faith prayer room, and left luggage storage from £10 for up to three hours. Walk-in lounges are available in every terminal from around £30, and special assistance must be booked through your airline at least 48 hours before you fly. Checked August 2026.
Airport lounges
You don't need a business-class ticket to use a lounge at Heathrow. Pay-on-the-day, walk-in lounges sit alongside the airline lounges in several terminals: Club Aspire at T5 is indicative around £42 to £48 for about two hours, rising to around £65 for five hours; Plaza Premium is indicative around £47 to £48 walk-in; and My Lounge at T3 (formerly branded Club Aspire) starts from around £30 per adult. No1 Lounge, Clubrooms and the Amex Centurion Lounge are also on site, and a Priority Pass or an Amex Platinum or Centurion card gives access to several of these without paying on the day. Prices vary by terminal, time of day and how you book, so confirm the current rate when you book. There are no free public showers landside; showers are inside the paid and airline lounges, such as Plaza Premium.
WiFi, charging and workspaces
Free WiFi with no time limit runs throughout all four terminals, so there's no need to buy a data pass or ration your session. Power outlets are provided throughout the terminals for charging phones and laptops, and free luggage trolleys are available in key areas. There's no dedicated public workspace outside the lounges, so if you need a proper desk and some quiet, a pay-to-enter lounge is the practical option.
Food, drink and shopping
Every terminal has extensive airside dining and retail, including World Duty Free, a range of boutiques, pharmacies and places to eat. What's available varies by terminal, so it's worth checking the airport's own interactive terminal map for your specific gate area before you fly.
Left luggage and lockers
Left luggage is available in the terminals, run by the Excess Baggage Company, and is monitored 24 hours a day. Prices start at £10 for up to three hours, £15 for three to 24 hours, £27.50 for 24 to 48 hours and £40 for 48 to 72 hours, then £12.50 for every further 24 hours, dropping to £10 a day after a week. Booking ahead online saves time at the counter. Other baggage services, including bag wrapping, baggage delivery, bag shipping and porter assistance, are also available.
Special assistance and accessibility
Book special assistance through your airline, travel agent or tour operator at least 48 hours before you fly. It isn't booked directly with the airport itself. Free sunflower lanyards for hidden disabilities are available from any Heathrow Assistance desk and are recognised well beyond Heathrow too. Changing Places facilities, with extra space and equipment, are available for departing passengers; you'll need a RADAR key, or you can borrow one from the assistance area. Every airline flying from Heathrow must carry assistance dogs free of charge, and you should notify your airline at least 48 hours ahead if you're travelling with one.
Travelling with children and families
Baby-changing and child facilities are provided in every terminal, and free trolleys are available to help with luggage and buggies. If you need a pushchair-friendly route or a family security lane, confirm the details with the airport or your airline ahead of travelling, since this can vary by terminal.
Prayer and multi-faith rooms, quiet spaces
Every terminal has a multi-faith prayer room, open to all faiths and none. Heathrow also has St George's Chapel and a Multi-Faith Chaplaincy team on site.
Smoking and vaping
Smoking is not permitted inside any of the terminals. Designated outdoor smoking areas are provided instead. Heathrow's published guidance covers smoking rather than vaping specifically, so treat the same outdoor zones as the place to vape, and check current signage if you need certainty.
Security fast-track and how early to arrive
Fast Track through departures security costs from £12.99 per person at all four terminals, operating roughly 06:00 to 21:00, and can be booked in advance or on the day. A separate Fast Track for arriving passengers through passport control costs £25 per person off-peak or from £35 at peak times, bookable up to six months ahead and closing an hour before you land.
Heathrow advises arriving 3 hours before a long-haul flight and about 2 hours before a short-haul or domestic one. Over 97% of passengers waited under 5 minutes at security across 2025, though the morning long-haul peak, roughly 05:00 to 08:00, at T3 and T5 can push waits past 20 minutes, so build in extra time if you're flying then. Since 24 January 2026, all four terminals use CT scanners, so liquids up to 2 litres can stay loose in your bag with no need for a clear plastic bag, and laptops and tablets can stay packed too. Other airports you connect through may still use the older 100ml rule, so check before you fly onward.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free WiFi at Heathrow and is it time-limited? Yes. Free, unlimited WiFi is available throughout all four terminals with no time cap.
Where can I shower at Heathrow? There are no free public showers landside. Showers are inside paid or airline lounges, such as Plaza Premium.
Which Heathrow lounge can I use without a business-class ticket? Walk-in options include Club Aspire at T5, My Lounge at T3, and Plaza Premium, indicative from around £30 to £48 depending on the lounge and length of stay. No1 Lounge, Clubrooms and the Amex Centurion Lounge are also on site.
How much is left luggage at Heathrow? From £10 for up to three hours and £15 for three to 24 hours, run by the Excess Baggage Company and monitored 24 hours a day.
Is there a prayer room at Heathrow? Yes. Every terminal has a multi-faith prayer room, plus St George's Chapel.
How do I book special assistance at Heathrow? Through your airline, travel agent or tour operator at least 48 hours before you fly, not directly with the airport.
Where do I get a sunflower lanyard at Heathrow? Free from any Heathrow Assistance desk.
How much is Fast Track security at Heathrow? From £12.99 per person for departures at all four terminals. A separate arrivals Fast Track through passport control is £25 off-peak or from £35 at peak times.
How we verified this
The facts on this page were checked in August 2026 against Heathrow's own website, the Excess Baggage Company's published left-luggage prices, and named lounge operators including Club Aspire and Plaza Premium. Facilities and prices change, so confirm specifics, especially lounge prices and family security lanes, on the airport's own website before you travel. Sources: Heathrow's own website, the Excess Baggage Company and the named lounge operators.
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Last verified August 2026 by the Heathrow Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Heathrow Airport website before you travel.