Flying through London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and need a smoke? Heathrow is officially a smoke-free airport under British law, but there are some options available. Here’s what you need to know about smoking at the UK’s busiest airport.
Smoking Policy at London Heathrow
Heathrow Airport is smoke-free in line with British law, which prohibits smoking in enclosed public spaces. The official policy states that smoking is only permitted in designated areas outside the terminal buildings. However, some terminals have outdoor areas that passengers have discovered airside.
Terminal 2 Smoking Area
Terminal 2 has a smoking area near Gate A1. There’s also an official sign saying “Smoking Area” at the top of an escalator next to gate A18 on the first floor. The smoking area is on the ground floor adjacent to the lower-numbered A gates - there’s a door straight from the gate area. This option was still available as of early 2025.
Terminal 3 Smoking Area
There are no indoor smoking rooms in Terminal 3. However, before the bus boarding point for terminal transfers, there’s an outdoor smoking area that offers some protection from the rain - described by travelers as “a cage with ashtrays.” It’s not glamorous, but it works.
Terminal 4 Smoking Area
Terminal 4 has a smoking area located behind Burberry. While the official Heathrow website says there’s no smoking past security, this outdoor area remains accessible to passengers in the secure zone.
Terminal 5 - Limited Options
Terminal 5 is the most challenging for smokers. Once you enter T5 airside, it’s difficult to access a smoking area. Some travelers take the bus to Terminal 4 to use the smoking area there, but this requires significant time:
Transit time from T5 to T4: approximately 30 minutes
You’ll need to clear security again when returning to T5
Allow at least 1 hour 30 minutes for the round trip
Pre-Security Smoking
The safest option at any terminal is to smoke in the designated outdoor areas before entering the terminal or clearing security. These are located outside all terminal buildings, away from entrances.
Vaping at Heathrow
Adult vapers and heated tobacco users should use the same designated smoking areas outside the terminal buildings. Vaping is not permitted inside any Heathrow terminal.