Heathrow
A Journey Through Time
1946 — 2008
London Heathrow opened for civil aviation on 31 May 1946, taking over from the former RAF Heston airfield. The initial terminal was a collection of tents along the northern perimeter.
The Queens Building terminal opened in 1955 with a rooftop viewing terrace that became one of Londons most popular attractions, drawing over a million visitors per year.
The Piccadilly line extension to Heathrow opened on 16 December 1977, making it the first major airport in the world to have a direct Underground rail connection to the city centre.
Terminal 5, designed by Richard Rogers, opened on 27 March 2008 after 19 years of planning and construction. It was the largest freestanding building in the UK at the time of completion.