The short answer
To charter a helicopter to or from Heathrow we first check whether a landing there is realistic, because business aviation needs written permission and a slot for every movement. Where it is not, we use a nearby airfield and a car. Heathrow to central London takes about 10 to 15 minutes by helicopter and 34 minutes by road.
Flying from Heathrow? Tell us where and when; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Site
- Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex (EGLL / LHR)
- Opening hours (as published, checked 29 Sep 2026)
- 24 hours; customs and immigration H24; night quota period 23:30 to 06:00
- Prior permission
- Required: written permission from Heathrow and a coordinated slot for every movement
- Customs and immigration
- On site, H24, including at the private jet terminal
- Runways
- 09L/27R 3,901 m and 09R/27L 3,658 m
- Light aircraft
- Not permitted; business aviation only, with permission
Where Heathrow flights start and end
The map shows Heathrow Airport, with range rings and the nearest cities. Pins with a page of their own are links.
The map draws a satellite picture, so it needs JavaScript and an internet connection. Heathrow Airport is at Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex. Open it in Google Maps.
Heathrow Airport
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Sites that serve Heathrow
Hours, permission and customs are the airport's or site's published information, checked 29 Sept 2026. We arrange permission and confirm times with your booking.
Heathrow Airport EGLL / LHR
- Address
- Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
- 24 hours (customs and immigration H24); night quota period 23:30–06:00
- Permission
- Prior permission required (PPR): we arrange it with your flight
- Customs
- Yes – on site
- Runway
- 09L/27R – 3,901 m × 50 m asphalt; 09R/27L – 3,658 m
Helicopter charter London: choosing the right siteOfficial websiteOpen in Google Maps
Can a helicopter land at Heathrow?
Helicopter charter Heathrow is possible, but it is the exception. Heathrow only accepts business aviation with prior written permission and a slot for every movement, and the airport tells us applications are made between 24 hours and 10 days ahead. Light aircraft are not permitted at all, and a handling agent on the airfield is mandatory.
That is why most of our Heathrow work does not land at Heathrow itself. If you hold a slot and permission, or your trip genuinely needs the airport, we will apply for it. If you do not, we plan the flight from the nearest suitable site and put a car on the ground for the last few minutes. Tell us early and we will say honestly which route saves you time.
Journey times from Heathrow Airport
The nearest places first, with the helicopter time against the car, taken from our route data.
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascot Racecourse | 8.8 nm (10 mi) | 10 to 15 min | 26 min (16 mi) | 13 min |
| London | 11 nm (12 mi) | 10 to 15 min | 34 min (16 mi) | 21 min |
| Epsom Downs | 12 nm (14 mi) | 10 to 15 min | 38 min (28 mi) | 25 min |
| London Gatwick | 22 nm (25 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 54 min (46 mi) | 36 min |
| Goodwood | 38 nm (44 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 19 min (60 mi) | 51 min |
| Oxford | 39 nm (45 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 05 min (51 mi) | 37 min |
| Silverstone | 42 nm (48 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 24 min (70 mi) | 56 min |
| Southampton | 46 nm (53 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 15 min (66 mi) | 47 min |
| Cambridge | 50 nm (58 mi) | 25 to 35 min | 1 h 32 min (72 mi) | 1 h 02 min |
| Newmarket Racecourse | 56 nm (65 mi) | 30 to 35 min | 1 h 35 min (81 mi) | 1 h 02 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 66 nm (75 mi) | 35 to 40 min | 1 h 50 min (86 mi) | 1 h 12 min |
| Birmingham | 76 nm (87 mi) | 40 to 45 min | 2 h 01 min (105 mi) | 1 h 18 min |
| Bristol | 85 nm (97 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 18 min (114 mi) | 1 h 33 min |
| Norwich | 97 nm (111 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 44 min (135 mi) | 1 h 54 min |
| Cardiff | 108 nm (124 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 2 h 56 min (152 mi) | 1 h 58 min |
| Manchester | 131 nm (151 mi) | 60 to 75 min | 3 h 45 min (186 mi) | 2 h 37 min |
| Liverpool | 142 nm (163 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 3 h 51 min (204 mi) | 2 h 38 min |
| Leeds | 150 nm (173 mi) | 65 to 85 min | 3 h 57 min (207 mi) | 2 h 42 min |
| York Racecourse | 151 nm (173 mi) | 65 to 85 min | 3 h 50 min (210 mi) | 2 h 35 min |
| Aintree Racecourse | 151 nm (174 mi) | 70 to 85 min | 3 h 53 min (212 mi) | 2 h 35 min |
| Newcastle | 219 nm (252 mi) | 1 h 35 min to 2 h | 5 h 39 min (294 mi) | 3 h 51 min |
Helicopter figures are typical block times: distance at 135 knots plus 8 minutes, shown as a range. Road figures are free-flowing road times, a floor that real journeys rarely beat. Distances are in a straight line. Figures from our UK route data, checked 29 Sep 2026.
The nearby sites we use instead
Within 45 nautical miles of Heathrow our library lists several alternatives. RAF Northolt is 5.2 nautical miles away and takes business jets and helicopter transfers; Ascot Racecourse Heliport is 8.8 nautical miles out; Denham, Fairoaks and Elstree are small airfields to the north and west. For the centre of the capital the London Heliport at Battersea is 10.5 nautical miles from Heathrow.
A flight from Heathrow to Ascot takes about 10 to 15 minutes against 26 minutes by car, which is worth knowing if your destination is the racecourse or a Berkshire hotel; see our guide to helicopter charter to Ascot. For central London, read our London helicopter charter page and London helicopter transfers.
Journey times from Heathrow, helicopter against car
The helicopter advantage grows with distance, because Heathrow sits at the end of some of the most congested roads in Britain. These are typical block times and free-flowing road times; real roads are usually slower.
- Heathrow to Gatwick: about 15 to 20 minutes by helicopter, 54 minutes by road.
- Heathrow to Oxford: about 25 to 30 minutes, against 1 hour 5 minutes.
- Heathrow to Silverstone: about 25 to 30 minutes, against 1 hour 24 minutes.
- Heathrow to Birmingham: about 40 to 45 minutes, against 2 hours 1 minute.
- Heathrow to Manchester: about 60 to 75 minutes, against 3 hours 45 minutes.
For a Birmingham meeting that starts at ten, that is the difference between leaving Heathrow at 7 am and leaving at 9. Our article on helicopter against car journey times explains how we calculate every figure.
Who flies from Heathrow by helicopter
The typical passenger is arriving on a long-haul flight with a meeting the same morning, or leaving for one. Executives landing from the Gulf, Asia or North America who need to be at a plant in the Midlands, a client in the Thames Valley or a country house by lunchtime are the core of it. Security teams also use a short helicopter leg to take a principal away from the busiest public areas; the secure helicopter transport page explains how that is planned.
We also move people the other way, from a house or office to a departure at Heathrow, when a road journey would be too uncertain for a fixed check-in time. Our airport transfers by helicopter page covers the principles for every UK airport.
How a booking works from Heathrow
Send us the route, the date, the number of passengers and their approximate weights. We check the aircraft, the landing sites at both ends and, for Heathrow itself, whether permission and a slot are available. You receive one clear quote with the site we recommend and why.
On the day, arrive 10 minutes before departure. Luggage travels in soft bags where the hold is small. Landing at a hotel, house or other private site is subject to landing permission and site suitability, and we arrange it ahead. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. Prices depend on the aircraft and route, so use the quote form and see the helicopter hire price guides.
Jets, cars and the rest of the journey
If you are flying in by private jet and want a helicopter at the other end, say so when you book: we can match the jet landing site to the helicopter. For jet charter itself see Charter Private Jet, and for the car at either end see Executive Global Travel. For a central London departure from the Battersea heliport, the London Heliport flight service is the complement to this page. The wider picture is on our list of UK heliports and airfields.
Nearby airfields and heliports
Other sites close to Heathrow Airport, with the distance in nautical miles. Chips with a link open that site's own page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I land a helicopter at Heathrow?
Only with prior written permission from Heathrow and a slot for every movement, and not for light aircraft. We tell you at the quote stage whether it is realistic, and otherwise use a nearby site such as Northolt or Ascot with a car for the last leg.
How long does a helicopter take from Heathrow to central London?
About 10 to 15 minutes by helicopter against around 34 minutes by road in free-flowing traffic. Most central London flights use the London Heliport at Battersea.
Are customs and immigration available at Heathrow?
Yes. Customs and immigration are on site 24 hours, including at the private jet terminal. If you are arriving from abroad we plan the helicopter connection around your clearance.
What is the nearest alternative to Heathrow for a helicopter?
RAF Northolt is 5.2 nautical miles away, but it is an active military station with its own permission process and civil hours that differ at weekends. Denham and Ascot are also close.
Is Heathrow open at night for charter?
The airport runs 24 hours, with a night quota period from 23:30 to 06:00 that limits movements. Anything at night needs specific permission, so tell us the time you need as early as you can.
Can you pick up at my house or office near Heathrow?
Often, subject to landing permission and site suitability. We confirm the landing site with you before the flight.
