Smoking at London Heathrow Airport – LHR – 2026

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.

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 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.

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 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 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

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.

Compared to other major European hubs, Heathrow is more restrictive for smokers. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport has indoor smoking rooms throughout all terminals, and Frankfurt Airport provides enclosed smoking cabins in both terminals. If you are transiting through Heathrow to Dubai International Airport, you will find well-ventilated indoor smoking lounges at every terminal there.

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.

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.

How Heathrow Compares

Compared to other major European hubs, Heathrow is more restrictive for smokers. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport has indoor smoking rooms throughout all terminals, and Frankfurt Airport provides enclosed smoking cabins in both terminals. If you are transiting through Heathrow to Dubai International Airport, you will find well-ventilated indoor smoking lounges at every terminal there.

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.

Useful Links

• London Heathrow Airport Terminal Maps