Smoking Areas at United Kingdom (UK) Airports.
Smoking Regulations at UK Airports
The United Kingdom banned smoking in enclosed public spaces through the Health Act 2006 (England), the Smoking, Health and Social Care Act 2005 (Scotland), and similar legislation in Wales and Northern Ireland. All indoor areas of UK airports are completely smoke-free with no exceptions.
Smoking is only permitted in designated outdoor areas outside terminal buildings. Unlike airports in Germany or France, UK airports do not have indoor smoking cabins or rooms.
What to Expect at UK Airports
All smoking areas are outdoors near terminal entrances. At most UK airports, smoking after clearing security requires exiting the terminal and re-clearing security, which can take 30-60 minutes at busy airports like Heathrow. A few terminals have outdoor areas accessible from the airside, but these are unofficial and may change.
Vaping and e-cigarettes generally follow the same rules as traditional smoking at UK airports.
Tips for Smokers at UK Airports
- Smoke before entering the terminal or clearing security
- Allow extra time if you need to exit and re-clear security during a layover
- UK weather is unpredictable — outdoor areas have limited shelter
- Check terminal-specific guides as access varies significantly between terminals