Terminal 2, the oldest of London Heathrow's terminals, began life in 1955 as the Europa building. Today it handles mostly European airlines.
Check-in is at street level while Departures and Arrivals share the congested upper floor concourse. The check-in area refurbishment has provided more room, but the area is low ceilinged, claustrophobic and still gets very busy. At peak times expect a long wait and outbursts of frustration in a variety of languages.
After checking in take the stairs or escalator up to the Departures level and prepare to join the human tide as arriving and departing passengers meet head on. The Departures area is to the right, Arrivals on the left where there is access to Terminal 1 and a Business Centre offering a range of facilities for those who need to communicate while they commute.
The need to separate Arrivals and Departure traffic is the terminal's major problem but the extension to the floor has provided extra seating and additional shops close to a pleasant café bar and an enclosed smoking area. The mezzanine floor provides most of the catering facilities which include a food court, a burger bar and a small coffee shop in the book shop.
Arriving passengers will find the usual services at their disposal including hotel information, car rental, rail tickets, phones/fax and a baggage enquiries desk. London Transport information is available and an escalator and ramp link the concourse to the basement level where access to the Underground and Heathrow Express train stations serving central London are located.
For passengers with limited English a phrase book is an essential item as Terminal 2, which hosts more than 25 European airlines, has no foreign language signs. Indeed as Heathrow's signage often needs careful deciphering for native English speakers, it is time that the airport made at least a gesture to the rest of the world.
 | If you are flying out go Airside as soon as possible. Life is a lot more comfortable there. |
