Airport guide
London Heathrow Airport (EGLL) is the principal international gateway to the UK, sitting 14 miles west of central London. Commercial service is overwhelmingly dominant — EGLL is one of the busiest international airports in the world — and the field is not the typical London-area private aviation default. Charter and corporate traffic for the city routes through London Luton (EGGW, 30 miles north), London Stansted (EGSS, 35 miles northeast), Farnborough (EGLF, 35 miles southwest), Biggin Hill (EGKB, 14 miles southeast), and London City (EGLC, 9 miles east of central London).
The two runways at EGLL (09L/27R and 09R/27L, both about 12,800 feet) handle every current business jet without restriction. The Heathrow slot system is the tightest of any major airport in the world; business aviation slots are extraordinarily scarce and expensive — operators routinely book months in advance through specialized slot coordinators, and short-notice requests are typically denied. Where EGLL makes sense for private aviation is intercontinental VIP arrivals where the passenger requires the Heathrow experience or where airline interline is needed; outside that specific use case, every London-area broker will steer you to one of the relievers. Field elevation is 83 feet, no density-altitude concerns. Ground time into central London via the M4 is 45–75 minutes depending on traffic.