Heathrow spectators terrace question

fas828 · 06-06-2003, 06:24 PM

Hi everyone,

I am going to be going to london on June 25th and just wanted to know if anyone knows the status of the spectators terrace on top of terminal 2 at Heathrow. Is it open or still closed down for serurity reasons?? It is kind of tradition to spend an hour or so there everytime I arrive at Heathrow and I just want to prepare myself ahead of time for the dissapointment if it is still closed!!!

Thanks

Faisal

Diecaster · 06-08-2003, 10:16 AM

Last time when I went there in Oct 2002, it was partially closed down for several days due to serve wind blow at the roof top, however, when I went there in Nov 2002 again, luckliy that time the weather was quite good, it allows me to toake some photos & go to the model shops for some diecast models shopping!

ZaqAttaq · 06-15-2003, 06:30 PM

Yes I will be there on June 30 anyone have a more up to date visit than Nov 02

MOONRAKER · 06-23-2003, 01:08 PM

Sorry to dissappoint you guys but the terraces are closed and will be for the forseeable future. The only 'official' viewing area now is at the Visitors Centre located on the northern perimeter road.

Stanman · 06-23-2003, 02:03 PM

I was there June 1st and 2nd of 2003 and can unfortunately confirm that the Terrace at the Queens Building is closed. This may be why Mach III is selling a lot of his stuff at the BAA (British Airport Authority) Visitors Center next to the LHR Renaissance Hotel (a Marriott company.

Attached is a view from my room at the Renaissance. Other good views can be had if you take the road through the BA maintenance center to Terminal 4. Along the way are a few roundabouts where you'll see other plane spotters watching the planes go overhead and landing on the north runway. If you have transport, you can park in the long term parking lot here and walk the 50 yards to the roundabout. Another plus is that this is where BA parks its Concordes. Concordes arrive around 4:30pm or so. Check the schedule. The morning Concorde take-off has been cancelled. Depending on luck or weather planes are either taking off from the south runway and landing at the north runway or vice-versa. Sometimes during the lighter periods its a combination of both.

I'd semi-recommend the Plane Spotters package at the Renaissance Hotel. Great views. If you want more info on this let me know and I'll type whatever I have from the brochure I picked up including the "code" for booking. Included breakfast is full English buffet style but get there before 10:30am and quality has slipped a bit from last year.

If you're light on luggage skip the Hoppa Bus and catch one of the buses from the Bus terminal in front of Terminal 2. In most cases its faster and much cheaper at 70 pence or free.

fas828 · 06-23-2003, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stanman
If you're light on luggage skip the Hoppa Bus and catch one of the buses from the Bus terminal in front of Terminal 2. In most cases its faster and much cheaper at 70 pence or free.

Hey Stanman thanks for all the info and thanks to everyone else for the info on the Spectators terrace. I was just wondering, do these buses in front of terminal 2 go to all the hotels?? I need a cheap way to get to the Sheraton Skyline where the Collectors Aircraft model shop is. Last year when i went, I took the hotel hoppa and it was something like 7 pound!! Do the buses have a name that I should look for??

Thanks

Faisal

Stanman · 06-24-2003, 12:17 PM

Buses: please see attached map. The Hoppa bus does indeed cost 5 pounds return. Yes, you can get to your hotel by bus assuming you know where your hotel is located. If you don't know then ask the information booth at the Heathrow bus station. They're very helpful.

Public buses from the Heathrow Terminal 1,2, &3 bus station to the Sheraton that I know for sure are 105 and 111. The Sheraton is on Bath Road but I'm unsure if it's before Harlington Corner or after Harlington corner. If you catch the 105 or 111 bus you can ask the bus drive to tell you when to hop off which should be within a block of the Sheraton and I recommend the above assuming the Sheraton is AFTER Harlington Corner.

If you find out it is BEFORE Harlington Corner, then you can catch in addition to 105 and 111, the buses 140, 285, 555, 556.

To get to the Cargo Area to watch close-ups as they fly almost overhead located as "BA" on my map, take buses 285, 555, and 556 and ask them to drop you off at the long term parking lot. If you spot a BEA Trident on your right, you've gone to far.

All these buses will take you past the Renaissance Hotel which I recommend staying a night over at as well as the British Airport Authority Visitors Center.

As noted in Airliner Concorde arrives at 1830 and the Visitors Center closes at 1700. I would therefore recommend first find out which runway the planes are landing on. If it's the north runway then you can always walk up to the fence or climb on a car. Or rent a room at the Renaissance. If it's the south runway, the cargo area or Terminal 4 may be a better bet. The glass at the Visitors Center is tinted by the way.

For the Renaissance Hotel, call the Marriott 800 toll free number and ask for the "Plane Spotter Break" under code EARX for the 89 pound twin room or EARZ for the upgraded Club room at 109 pounds/night. For this you get an English Breakfast for two, free car parking, return tickets on the Hoppa Bus(not that enticing after finding out about public transport). I think you also get free access to the Health/Fitness club although I've never taken advantage of this.

Stanman · 06-24-2003, 12:48 PM

Just an added view of my car/viewing stand in the car park of the Renaissance Hotel. Sitting on the hid gains height over the fence.

On thge map:
R = Renaissance Hotel
BUDG=Budget Rent a car
TESCO=Walmart type store
BA=British Airways Maintenance Hangers
P=Longterm Parking I was referring to
AVIS= Avis rental

Map is already oriented with North at top. Terminals 1,2,3 are in the middle of the airport and Terminal 4 on the south side.

06-06-2003, 06:24 PM	#1
fas828 Collector Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Northville, MI, USA Posts: 58	Heathrow spectators terrace question Hi everyone, I am going to be going to london on June 25th and just wanted to know if anyone knows the status of the spectators terrace on top of terminal 2 at Heathrow. Is it open or still closed down for serurity reasons?? It is kind of tradition to spend an hour or so there everytime I arrive at Heathrow and I just want to prepare myself ahead of time for the dissapointment if it is still closed!!! Thanks Faisal Last edited by fas828; 06-06-2003 at 09:49 PM.

06-15-2003, 06:30 PM	#3
ZaqAttaq www.wizzair.com Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: State College, PA Age: 19 Posts: 468	Yes I will be there on June 30 anyone have a more up to date visit than Nov 02 __________________ http://www.statecollegeairport.org Arsenal F.C.

06-23-2003, 01:08 PM	#4
MOONRAKER Senior Collector Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Wiltshire UK Posts: 295	LAP TERRACES Sorry to dissappoint you guys but the terraces are closed and will be for the forseeable future. The only 'official' viewing area now is at the Visitors Centre located on the northern perimeter road.

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06-08-2003, 10:16 AM	#2
Diecaster Master Collector Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 610	Last time when I went there in Oct 2002, it was partially closed down for several days due to serve wind blow at the roof top, however, when I went there in Nov 2002 again, luckliy that time the weather was quite good, it allows me to toake some photos & go to the model shops for some diecast models shopping!

06-23-2003, 02:03 PM	#5
Stanman Senior Collector Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Waxahachie, Texas, USA Posts: 426	I was there June 1st and 2nd of 2003 and can unfortunately confirm that the Terrace at the Queens Building is closed. This may be why Mach III is selling a lot of his stuff at the BAA (British Airport Authority) Visitors Center next to the LHR Renaissance Hotel (a Marriott company. Attached is a view from my room at the Renaissance. Other good views can be had if you take the road through the BA maintenance center to Terminal 4. Along the way are a few roundabouts where you'll see other plane spotters watching the planes go overhead and landing on the north runway. If you have transport, you can park in the long term parking lot here and walk the 50 yards to the roundabout. Another plus is that this is where BA parks its Concordes. Concordes arrive around 4:30pm or so. Check the schedule. The morning Concorde take-off has been cancelled. Depending on luck or weather planes are either taking off from the south runway and landing at the north runway or vice-versa. Sometimes during the lighter periods its a combination of both. I'd semi-recommend the Plane Spotters package at the Renaissance Hotel. Great views. If you want more info on this let me know and I'll type whatever I have from the brochure I picked up including the "code" for booking. Included breakfast is full English buffet style but get there before 10:30am and quality has slipped a bit from last year. If you're light on luggage skip the Hoppa Bus and catch one of the buses from the Bus terminal in front of Terminal 2. In most cases its faster and much cheaper at 70 pence or free.

06-24-2003, 12:17 PM	#7
Stanman Senior Collector Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Waxahachie, Texas, USA Posts: 426	Buses: please see attached map. The Hoppa bus does indeed cost 5 pounds return. Yes, you can get to your hotel by bus assuming you know where your hotel is located. If you don't know then ask the information booth at the Heathrow bus station. They're very helpful. Public buses from the Heathrow Terminal 1,2, &3 bus station to the Sheraton that I know for sure are 105 and 111. The Sheraton is on Bath Road but I'm unsure if it's before Harlington Corner or after Harlington corner. If you catch the 105 or 111 bus you can ask the bus drive to tell you when to hop off which should be within a block of the Sheraton and I recommend the above assuming the Sheraton is AFTER Harlington Corner. If you find out it is BEFORE Harlington Corner, then you can catch in addition to 105 and 111, the buses 140, 285, 555, 556. To get to the Cargo Area to watch close-ups as they fly almost overhead located as "BA" on my map, take buses 285, 555, and 556 and ask them to drop you off at the long term parking lot. If you spot a BEA Trident on your right, you've gone to far. All these buses will take you past the Renaissance Hotel which I recommend staying a night over at as well as the British Airport Authority Visitors Center. As noted in Airliner Concorde arrives at 1830 and the Visitors Center closes at 1700. I would therefore recommend first find out which runway the planes are landing on. If it's the north runway then you can always walk up to the fence or climb on a car. Or rent a room at the Renaissance. If it's the south runway, the cargo area or Terminal 4 may be a better bet. The glass at the Visitors Center is tinted by the way. For the Renaissance Hotel, call the Marriott 800 toll free number and ask for the "Plane Spotter Break" under code EARX for the 89 pound twin room or EARZ for the upgraded Club room at 109 pounds/night. For this you get an English Breakfast for two, free car parking, return tickets on the Hoppa Bus(not that enticing after finding out about public transport). I think you also get free access to the Health/Fitness club although I've never taken advantage of this.

06-24-2003, 12:48 PM	#8
Stanman Senior Collector Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Waxahachie, Texas, USA Posts: 426	Just an added view of my car/viewing stand in the car park of the Renaissance Hotel. Sitting on the hid gains height over the fence. On thge map: R = Renaissance Hotel BUDG=Budget Rent a car TESCO=Walmart type store BA=British Airways Maintenance Hangers P=Longterm Parking I was referring to AVIS= Avis rental Map is already oriented with North at top. Terminals 1,2,3 are in the middle of the airport and Terminal 4 on the south side.