Heathrow customs

[swimfin]

Hello!
Trying to find some information about roughly how long it takes to get through customs at Heathrow. We are trying to pick our time to take the express coach down to Southampton and I don’t want to miss it because customs takes longer than anticipated. At the same time, I don’t want to be at Heathrow hours upon hours longer than needed.THANK YOU!

 

[BrianL]

Hello!
Trying to find some information about roughly how long it takes to get through customs at Heathrow. We are trying to pick our time to take the express coach down to Southampton and I don’t want to miss it because customs takes longer than anticipated. At the same time, I don’t want to be at Heathrow hours upon hours longer than needed.THANK YOU!

I went through Heathrow late last year and customes was very fast and easy. I am sure it may matter how busy it is though. It's alwys good to add a little bit of pad time.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Hello!
Trying to find some information about roughly how long it takes to get through customs at Heathrow. We are trying to pick our time to take the express coach down to Southampton and I don’t want to miss it because customs takes longer than anticipated. At the same time, I don’t want to be at Heathrow hours upon hours longer than needed.THANK YOU!

Thats a how long is a piece of string question.

Heathrow is one of the worlds busiest airports. Answers can vary depending on day of week, time of day and which terminal you arrive at.

 

[Disnsyncey]

Customs should be just walking through a door of "nothing to declare", takes 5 seconds......immigration, the last time I went through immigration at Heathrow was the DESPAIRING day of the Microsoft meltdown, stuck in London instead of flying to France......they had the automatic gates and even amidst the craziness that day, it was literally 1 min (I think I had to find a person to help cuz I broke the computer apparently haha).....but I bet it was late enough in the day that there weren't many arrivals at that time.....

If it is a company that thrives on international arrivals, they will have multiple buses going and they should have your flight number and will know how things are going, same goes for any private drivers......they keep an eye on things and will either build it into their wait time or advise you how to pad your schedule (because what if your plane is 3 hours late?)

 

[angel's momma]

We did it last Oct., our first international flight. Our flight arrived around noon, and our research indicated that we should expect very long lines at immigration. We were surprised that there wasn't a line at all, we walked right up to the automatic gates.

As others have said, it depends on when you arrive.

 

[swimfin]

Customs should be just walking through a door of "nothing to declare", takes 5 seconds......immigration, the last time I went through immigration at Heathrow was the DESPAIRING day of the Microsoft meltdown, stuck in London instead of flying to France......they had the automatic gates and even amidst the craziness that day, it was literally 1 min (I think I had to find a person to help cuz I broke the computer apparently haha).....but I bet it was late enough in the day that there weren't many arrivals at that time.....

If it is a company that thrives on international arrivals, they will have multiple buses going and they should have your flight number and will know how things are going, same goes for any private drivers......they keep an eye on things and will either build it into their wait time or advise you how to pad your schedule (because what if your plane is 3 hours late?)

EXACTLY THIS! I am definitely accounting for the worst case scenario; however, just trying to figure out a general “norm“ with trying to get through!

 

[swimfin]

Thats a how long is a piece of string question.

Heathrow is one of the worlds busiest airports. Answers can vary depending on day of week, time of day and which terminal you arrive at.

Thats a how long is a piece of string question.

Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports. Answers can vary depending on day of week, time of day and which terminal you arrive at.

yes, I understand it can vary. That’s why I was trying to say roughly. Anything can happen on any given day just trying to get a feel of what people have experienced!

 

[jimmymc]

I've had it take 5 minutes and an hour. I think it's generally short, unless you get stuck arriving with 4 other international flights.

 

[BayouQueen]

We sailed right through in May -- all automated and very fast. We quickly followed signs to the National Express Coach departure area, went to the counter there and exchanged our tickets for an earlier departure. It was a very smooth operation that I'd been seriously worried about beforehand when making our travel plans.

 

[swimfin]

We sailed right through in May -- all automated and very fast. We quickly followed signs to the National Express Coach departure area, went to the counter there and exchanged our tickets for an earlier departure. It was a very smooth operation that I'd been seriously worried about beforehand when making our travel plans.

THANK YOU for this! This is exactly who we’re using and I was wondering if we could bump up our time if needed!! This information helps a ton!! Cheers!

 

[greensombrero]

We were just there in July and I worried because my youngest was barely too young by days and couldn’t do the automated gates for immigration but even seeing a person it was maybe 10 minutes. Those using the automated gates seemed to walk right through. The biggest time for us was all the walking from the gate and waiting for luggage. We landed around 11 and were on the train to London at like 12:20 PM. That’s with 4 teens/tweens in tow.

One suggestion we were given was if possible wait until after immigration to make your bathroom stop and walk quick to beat the rush from your plane if you can. We did that which maybe helped.

 

[Girl of the South]

It’s nearly a mile walk from most of the gates to baggage claim in Terminal 2!

 

[Geomom]

In 2023, we used National Express Bus. We paid for the 'change and go' option, which was just an extra $5, and we used it. We had booked the 12:20PM bus, but made it through customs with luggage by 9:40AM (after landing 40 minutes early at 8:30AM). We had no issue getting switched to the 10:30AM bus.

 

[dllocals]

I like to ask the question, which outcome is “worst” for you?

Being late for pickup or too much time in Heathrow? Plan accordingly.

 

[swimfin]

We were just there in July and I worried because my youngest was barely too young by days and couldn’t do the automated gates for immigration but even seeing a person it was maybe 10 minutes. Those using the automated gates seemed to walk right through. The biggest time for us was all the walking from the gate and waiting for luggage. We landed around 11 and were on the train to London at like 12:20 PM. That’s with 4 teens/tweens in tow.

One suggestion we were given was if possible wait until after immigration to make your bathroom stop and walk quick to beat the rush from your plane if you can. We did that which maybe helped.

THANK YOU for letting me know your timeframe as well! I am supposed to be landing at about 10:50 so this helps!

 

[swimfin]

In 2023, we used National Express Bus. We paid for the 'change and go' option, which was just an extra $5, and we used it. We had booked the 12:20PM bus, but made it through customs with luggage by 9:40AM (after landing 40 minutes early at 8:30AM). We had no issue getting switched to the 10:30AM bus.

THANK YOU! I was definitely planning on adding that after looking at their FAQ/Q&A section on their website!

 

[swimfin]

I like to ask the question, which outcome is “worst” for you?

Being late for pickup or too much time in Heathrow? Plan accordingly.

I have never flown through Heathrow, so that’s why I am asking these questions. I don’t ever mind waiting and I think it’s less stressful than trying to rush and miss something and not be able to catch a later bus because they are full. There are certain airports where I could easily answer that question though because I know where I can hang out or grab a bite to eat. I guess that opens up a whole other discussion of what’s available after you get through immigration and so forth. Are there places to sit down and wait and be able to eat or is everything on the other side of security out by the terminal?

 

[dllocals]

I have never flown through Heathrow, so that’s why I am asking these questions. I don’t ever mind waiting and I think it’s less stressful than trying to rush and miss something and not be able to catch a later bus because they are full. There are certain airports where I could easily answer that question though because I know where I can hang out or grab a bite to eat. I guess that opens up a whole other discussion of what’s available after you get through immigration and so forth. Are there places to sit down and wait and be able to eat or is everything on the other side of security out by the terminal?

The airport is huge and it’s like shopping mall inside… crowded. There will be food. Some of the terminals are only connected by buss. Search which terminal you’re landing into and go from there.

 

[swimfin]

The airport is huge and it’s like shopping mall inside… crowded. There will be food. Some of the terminals are only connected by buss. Search which terminal you’re landing into and go from there.

Should be landing terminal two. I just wasn’t sure what’s available after you go through the exiting security, immigration, baggage, and so forth. Some airports don’t have any amenities on that side and it’s only out in the terminal where the planes park.

 

[dllocals]

Should be landing terminal two. I just wasn’t sure what’s available after you go through the exiting security, immigration, baggage, and so forth. Some airports don’t have any amenities on that side and it’s only out in the terminal where the planes park.

You’re right. If you need a break, food, coffee, bath room… do that first…. Then customs. Not sure how Global Entry works in UK… but customs is simple… from there you can figure it out