visitor centre LHR

hro-man · Post by **hro-man** » 30 Jan 2006, 14:00

I have some questions about the visitor centre at London Heathrow. Is it from the centre easy to photograph and / or to registrate the planes? And are there any free busses going to it?

Thanks in advance

Tim

YYZ727 · Post by **YYZ727** » 02 Feb 2006, 09:11

The visitor centre is not a good place for taking pictures. Planes are too far away. Registrations can be logged, with a good set of binoculars.
If it's pictures that you want, it's better to find a spot near the Hatton Cross tube-station (last stop before Heathrow).

Sabena_690 · Post by **Sabena_690** » 02 Feb 2006, 09:30

The Visitors Centre is indeed bad for photography, but good to log the movements (although I usually go outside, in front of the visitors centre, where you can also watch all movements, and "hear" them as well). There are often two or three B747's screaming down the runway in front of you, which is nice.

I always try to visit LHR when 27R is in use for departure till 3pm. In this case, you can log all departing aircraft (also those that were already on the ground before you arrived). After 3pm, you will see (and be able to read) all landing aircraft. In this scenario, you can log about 80 % of all movements. You can visit the LHR yahoogroup to get the remaining 20 % of the registrations (all regs and all movements are posted over there).

Staying airside is another option. I know a vantage point in Terminal 1 and 4 where you can see both arriving and landing aircraft. Don't hesitate to ask me for more information if you are interested in staying airside.

Good luck!

hro-man · Post by **hro-man** » 05 Feb 2006, 09:23

Thanks for the reply. Because I'll arrive and depart with BMI on the same day. I'd be great if you could tell me the vantage point in terminal 1.

MikeLima · Post by **MikeLima** » 05 Feb 2006, 12:06

Before I went to LHR the first time, I bought myself a pocket street atlas of London. As LHR is surrounded by industrial and residential areas it's in most editions. This gives a good and detailed impression of all the possibilities you have to get next to the approach paths.

I must confess that I had my own car with me and took position in a residential area where I was able to take some good pictures. I realize though, that when on foot this is quite a long walk from the terminal building.

As mentioned by others in previous posts: go to Hatton Cross Underground station and walk to Myrtle Avenue from there, a very popular site amongst 'hard-core' LHR-spotters.

Good luck with the weather

and enjoy yourself, LHR is abolutely great!

meerkat · Post by **meerkat** » 05 Feb 2006, 23:46

The visitor centre remains the best place to get an overall view of arrivals and departures so long as your are not a picture only spotter as both runways are visible whether they are on 27's or 09's. You will need decent binoculars or telescope to read the far runway, unless of course, like today there is fog when for a while it was impossible to read off departures on 25R which is right in front of you. If you are a regg taker and do fail to read off that elusive aircraft on the far side most, if not all, movements can be found on the internet. There is plenty of overflight activity too as evidenced by today's viewing.

It can be of help to have a VHF airband radio too as having a callsign makes tie-ups all the easier.

Just be prepared for way too many BA 'busses - the place is full of them and they do get somewhat repetitive.

Meerkat

ps this morning was one of the worst times I have spent at the 'row - from 8.30 until after 12.00 i made not one new 'frame and for much of the time the vis was awful. After 12 until we departed I did manage to make 19, although 7 were over the top.

Post by **speedbird1** » 08 Feb 2006, 10:48

Seen them years ago mate.... what do you want them for!!!

Emirates

elnombre · Post by **elnombre** » 08 Feb 2006, 12:22

'Scuse me could you move your car?
El