Yes, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) has designated outdoor smoking areas at every terminal. Terminals 2 and 4 offer airside outdoor smoking enclosures accessible after security — Terminal 2 near Gate A1 on the ground floor and Terminal 4 near the Gate 7 exit past Burberry. Every terminal also has outdoor areas at ground level before security; Terminals 3 and 5 have these landside areas only.
Heathrow is a major long-haul gateway, so if you are connecting on, see where to smoke during a Dubai layover or Singapore Changi’s smoking areas.
Terminal 2 — Smoking Area (Confirmed Open)
Terminal 2 has a clearly signposted outdoor smoking area on the ground floor (Level 0) in the A Gates area, near Gate A1. This is the most accessible airside smoking spot at Heathrow and was confirmed open as of late 2025.
How to find it: Look for the official “Smoking Area” sign next to Gate A18 on the first floor. Take the escalator down between Gates A26 and A17 to the ground floor. At the bottom, turn right and walk through to the outdoor enclosure.
The area itself is an outdoor covered cage with seating, offering protection from wind and rain. It is maintained with ashtrays and has enough space for several smokers at once. Because it is technically outdoors, it complies with British smoking regulations while remaining accessible from the airside departures area.
Terminal 3 — No Airside Smoking
Terminal 3 previously had an airside smoking cage that appeared on official Heathrow airport maps. This area has been decommissioned and no longer operates. There is no smoking area after security at Terminal 3.
If you are flying from Terminal 3 and need to smoke, your only option is to do so before entering the terminal. The outdoor smoking areas at ground level outside the building are available to all passengers before clearing security.
Terminal 4 — Smoking Area (Confirmed Open)
Terminal 4 has an outdoor airside smoking area accessible to departing passengers after security. It is located near the Gate 7 exit area and was confirmed open as of late 2025.
How to find it: After passing through departure security, turn left toward the duty-free shopping area. Walk past the Burberry store on your left. Shortly after Burberry, you will see an escalator going down with a small “Smoking Area” sign. Take two sets of escalators down to the lower level, then exit through the double doors into the outdoor enclosure.
The smoking area is a caged outdoor space equipped with heating lamps for colder weather and a Costa coffee vending machine. It is only accessible to departing passengers who have already cleared security. The enclosure is covered and provides reasonable shelter from the elements.
Terminal 5 — No Airside Smoking
Terminal 5 has no designated smoking area after security. A vape lounge once operated in T5 but was closed by regulators and has not reopened. This makes Terminal 5 the most challenging Heathrow terminal for smokers.
Some passengers take the free inter-terminal bus from T5 to Terminal 4 to use the smoking area there. Be aware that this is a significant time commitment:
Bus travel time from T5 to T4 is approximately 20-30 minutes each way
You will need to clear security again when returning to T5
Allow at least 1.5 hours for the entire round trip
If your flight departs from Terminal 5, the most reliable option is to smoke in the outdoor area outside the terminal before entering and clearing security.
Pre-Security Outdoor Areas (All Terminals)
Every Heathrow terminal has outdoor smoking areas at ground level outside the building, typically near the arrivals exits. These are available to all passengers, meeters-and-greeters, and staff before entering the terminal or after collecting luggage.
To use these areas, you must step fully outside the terminal building. Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the terminals, including entrance foyers, covered walkways, or car parks. The outdoor areas are not formally enclosed, so they are usable in all weather though not always comfortable during winter.
For connecting passengers, reaching these outdoor areas requires exiting through passport control and re-entering the terminal through security. This is only feasible if you have a long layover of several hours.
Vaping at Heathrow
Vaping follows the same rules as smoking at Heathrow: use the designated outdoor areas, including the airside outdoor enclosures at Terminals 2 and 4.
How Heathrow Compares
Heathrow is more restrictive than most major European and international hubs. By contrast, the outdoor smoking terraces at Paris Charles de Gaulle are accessible from all terminals, making it far more convenient for smokers in transit, while Frankfurt Airport’s after-security indoor smoking cabins are dotted throughout both terminals in every concourse. If you are connecting through Heathrow on a long-haul route, it helps to know where to smoke during a Dubai layover, where you will find well-ventilated indoor smoking lounges at every terminal.
Among UK airports, Heathrow is typical in offering only outdoor smoking areas. The key advantage at LHR is that Terminals 2 and 4 provide airside outdoor access, which is uncommon at British airports. If you are choosing between London airports, see also the airside My Lounge smoking terrace at London Gatwick.
Summary
| Terminal | Airside Smoking Area | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 2 | Yes | Outdoor covered enclosure near Gate A1, ground floor. Signposted from Gate A18. |
| Terminal 3 | No | Previously available but decommissioned. No airside access. |
| Terminal 4 | Yes | Outdoor enclosure with heating lamps near Gate 7. Two escalators down past Burberry. |
| Terminal 5 | No | No airside area. Vape lounge closed. Bus to T4 takes 1.5 hours round trip. |
| All Terminals | Landside only | Outdoor areas at ground level outside each terminal building. |
For United Kingdom airport smoking rules, vaping rules, and other general info, see our United Kingdom smoking guide.
