please empty your brain below
Another excellent post :)

Rachel | 05.01.17 - 7:12 a.m. | #

I've always meant to have a potter around this bit of the airport. You have just made it a lot easier.

Many thanks.

Chris | 05.01.17 - 7:30 a.m. | #

A fine start to the Herbertism. Yet more improbable footpaths.

There are serious planespotters, of course. But casual "watching the planes" by people who do not make it their life's work, seems to have almost died out. Now that we've nearly all had an opportunity to ride in one, just seeing them take off and land seems to have rather lost its edge.

Wheareas the old terminal 2 (or was it the Queens Building) had a terrace devoted to exactly that activity. I doubt if there is anything similar these days, anywhere at all.

Malcolm | 05.01.17 - 7:38 a.m. | #

Classic Diamond Geezer - an in depth exploration of footpaths in a part of London where no sane pedestrian would ever think to walk. Thanks!

Marc | 05.01.17 - 8:10 a.m. | #

That was a real surprise and an excellent start to the series. As you set off I thought this was going to be another Newyears Green 'Special Ops' mission.

Can't beat being close to these machines as they rev-up for take-off but then in contrast when they're landing a beast like an A380 is so elegant and peaceful.

Never quite got the train thing but I think I could quite happily go for a bit of proper plane-spotting!

Kevin | 05.01.17 - 8:18 a.m. | #

What Marc said!

Heathrow is bit far for me so I'll try a walk around Gatwick this weekend instead and stand at the end of the runway to watch the planes. Getting in and out of the terminals is easier since the bus stops for South terminal are on the A23. Might take a look at the old Beehive too.

Tunnel Bore | 05.01.17 - 8:20 a.m. | #

Before I got a Freedom Pass I would sometimes bicycle the few miles from my home to Hatton Cross,then ride the free buses/trains around and in Heathrow courtesy of the free travel zone.

Malcolm I think there is still a non passenger use aeroplane viewing area near the Heathrow Academy.

I believe it was the roof viewing area of the old Queens Building that was seen in many newsreels when the Beatles singing group returned to the UK in 1964 and it was filled with fans.

John | 05.01.17 - 8:25 a.m. | #

John - that's what Heathrow's own website says: http://www.heathrow.com/airport-guide/terminal-facilities-and-services/spectator-areas

martin | 05.01.17 - 8:42 a.m. | #

Malcolm, There is a viewing gallery (with bar) on the roof of Salzburg airport. I found it surprising that you can only access it before security, so it is open to all. Great views, but not many planes per hour.

Amanda | 05.01.17 - 8:45 a.m. | #

Good post.

Can you cycle out from Heathrow Central?, there is that smaller parallel tunnel alongside the two others.

At Terminal 4 that sign about only being there for legitimate business may be a legal cover to remove rough sleepers etc.

As for standing and watching things - maybe because things are less interesting now, also much more security, looking at old photos security was very basic, no doubt helped by the fact that only the very wealthy could afford to fly - think about all those films and TV programmes back in the 60s that had a scene at an airport departure lounge (plus stock footage of a plane landing/taking off) - something no one bothers with now.

Still anon | 05.01.17 - 8:54 a.m. | #

You can't cycle (or walk) to the Central Terminal Area any more. Heathrow provide a cycle hub near the Northern Perimeter Road from where you catch a Free Travel Zone bus.

http://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/cycling

Matthew Dickinson | 05.01.17 - 9:35 a.m. | #

When I ran all the lines the other year, I got to Hatton Cross and then went anti-clockwise around the perimeter to visit terminals 123, then 5 and then 4. I had no problems getting in and out and used a free hotel shuttle bus to get to and from 123. In retrospect, I should have gone clockwise, so that I only needed one bus journey. Nice wash and brush up in the toilets though in terminal 4 after running from Cockfosters on a very warm day.

Running Correspondent | 05.01.17 - 9:45 a.m. | #

Thanks for the clarification about cycling, you don't realise how long ago you last visited an area.

Still anon | 05.01.17 - 10:00 a.m. | #

Well I would regard access to a public footpath (assuming it is) as legitimate business for being in the terminal. Even if not, but it was generally accessible, I think this is good enough.

I suspect one has to treat the working as slightly archaic, as legalistic messages often are. It means business as in "What business is this of yours?". Think of business = "legitimate reason".

Pedantic of Purley | 05.01.17 - 10:14 a.m. | #

A very interesting post, but as an inveterate pedant I must point out that until 1994 the southern boundary of Hillingdon Borough (and the former Borough of Yiewsley & West Drayton) followed the original course of the Duke of Northumberland's River, cutting through both the site of Terminal 4 and the future site of Terminal 5.

Consequently, almost all of your trip was actually in the area of the pre-1965 Staines UDC and, for about 500 metres, in Feltham UDC, both of which would have been in Herbert's Borough 38 (Staines & Feltham - your "Queen of Hearts") and, until the boundary changes of 1994 (which incidentally deprived Surrey of its only Tube station!) were respectively in Spelthorne and Hounslow.
[pdf] - (ignore the misleading link name) see annex B.

timbo | 05.01.17 - 11:20 a.m. | #

You'll never guess what the next card is.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 05.01.17 - 11:28 a.m. | #

@Amanda

A similar arrangement exists at Innsbruck. The main restaurant/café is before security and features tables on a balcony overlooking the runway.

In fact, aren't 'viewing areas' quite common at airports around the world?

Tirol hiker | 05.01.17 - 11:35 a.m. | #

Harrow, DG? Should have shuffled a bit more (!)

Kevin | 05.01.17 - 11:42 a.m. | #

I remember walking through the (former) cycle tunnel to the central area on several occasions in the 1960's. You wouldn't want to now though, even if you could, because of the exhaust fumes from the taxis. Excellent post DG

MikeH | 05.01.17 - 12:45 p.m. | #

Also, when emerging from the foot/cycle tunnel there was an excellent view out onto the airfield and a number of aircraft stands were close to this point visible through the chain link fence. I took a few good photos there.

MikeH | 05.01.17 - 1:25 p.m. | #

I once spent nearly 7 hours at Terminal 4 due to flight delays in the early 1990's.
I always wondered want was outside the windows, now I know!

Michael | 05.01.17 - 1:55 p.m. | #

@Michael

I had ten hours there once. Had I not already gone airside at 7am before my flight was cancelled, I could have spent the day at home and come back for my re-scheduled flight at 5pm. (And, as this was before mobile phones, I had no idea whether the person supposed to be meeting me knew I would now be arriving at midnight instead of early afternoon, nor how to find her if she didn't meet the flight!)

timbo | 05.01.17 - 2:47 p.m. | #

It's funny how they kept the two artificial rivers separate. They could've just merge them :)

Greg S | 05.01.17 - 3:28 p.m. | #

You used to be able to get guided coach tours in the 1960s from Victoria Coach Station to Heathrow (or, as it was called then, London Airport). We did one on a family holiday in around 1965 -- went via Windsor and Eton, I remember, followed by a couple of hours on the viewing terrace on the Queen's Building.

Alan Burkitt-Gray | 05.01.17 - 3:34 p.m. | #

Wow, you're much braver than I!!
I used to love living under the flight path in Hounslow, and cycling out to the airport to watch the planes closer up - but these days it's all so security conscious and unwelcoming, you're made to feel you're up to no good just by being there!

Cornish Cockney | 05.01.17 - 4:05 p.m. | #

I once walked, whilst transferring flights, from terminal 1 to terminal 4. This was post 9/11, pre T5, and involved a series of stairwells and corridors (enclosed all the way) that appeared as though they were out of bounds to the public (think service corridor and multi storey car park stairwell aesthetic) but it was signposted as a walking route and no-one ever batted an eyelid. This was my first experience of Heathrow too.

Joe | 05.01.17 - 4:13 p.m. | #

@Greg S
"It's funny how they kept the two artificial rivers separate."
It seems to be because it would otherwise be difficult to manage the flow rates in the two distributaries downstream. The Longford goes south-east to end up at Hampton Court, whilst the DNR goes east to enter the River Crane at Baber Bridge on the old Staines Road (near Hounslow Heath), which eventually debouches into the tidal Thames at Isleworth

timbo | 05.01.17 - 5:34 p.m. | #

The Heathrow Free Travel Area PDF isn't very helpful, stating that an Oyster card is needed to use the Piccadilly Line (which has more frequent services than the Heathrow Express).

Many visitors won't have an Oyster card, especially those only transiting between terminals, so why doesn't it tell them that a contactless card will also suffice?

Gerry | 05.01.17 - 5:38 p.m. | #

Does anybody remember when the 'departure lounge' was a large green marquee one could see from the Bath Road?

oap.ski | 06.01.17 - 9:41 a.m. | #

BTW, Happy new Year DG. Thank you for your always stimulating posts over the years.
I'm now catching up with your pre-Olympic ones.

oap.ski | 06.01.17 - 9:45 a.m. | #

Did you have a go at the remote vehicle 'pods' from business parking to T5? http://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/heathrow-parking/heathrow-pod-parking-terminal-5 I've done it once and they are pretty impressive, but it was part of a organised visit. I was born a few hundred yards away (Sipson) and must meander around the area one day.

Roger | 06.01.17 - 4:22 p.m. | #

Inspired by you I did this walk yesterday. Surprisingly enjoyable. Thank you.

THC | 14.01.17 - 1:55 p.m. | #

Am I right in saying that you saw planes landing and taking off on the same (southern) runway?

Greg | 14.09.17 - 11:23 a.m. | #











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