LHR parking for spotting
 

Hi

I want to drive down to LHR for a day of plane spotting, where is best to park? I normally park up at brent cross and get the tube across.

fr-

Depends on the day. There are a number of hotel car parks on the north perimeter road and there's a mini grandstand in the car park at one of the business blocks, again on the north perimeter road.
You could bludge a ride on a car hire bus from LHR central as many of these go to the threshold of 27r

if you're taking photos of aircraft coming into 27R then a great place to be is the premier inn car park on bath road, there is a nice grass bank next to the car park, otherwise the mini roundabout at the threshold is very very close. myrtle avenue for 27L is a park on the road type place.

on the other side it's busy A roads so you might have to take a long walk there. There is a spot near T5 where you can see the runway pretty well, it's on the walkway to get to the terminal I think. I've just parked on the side of the A3044 and taken photos from there.

Trouble with most of the hotel carparks I tried, they have swing down barriers and you need to pay lots of money to park in there. Myrtle avenue is good, and free, and if they're coming in at the other side, 27R, then a brisk walk over there is in order. Another option which I did once, if you're coming down the A4 from London, instead of turning left into the perimeter road, there's a pub just there on the left hand side , can't remember the name, park in there, go have a nice pub lunch and a drink, and then as customer, leave your car there and go for a stroll to wherever your going. I asked once, and the barman said if you've eaten and drunk here, as a customer I don't see no problem. Worked out well, and I had a nice pub lunch inside me !

The Premier Inn location is no good on bright or sunny days as you will be facing south into the Sun. Best place for 27R (which almost all enthusiasts use) is the Enfield Road roundabout/Eastern Perimeter Road area. You'll have to park elsewhere (at a cost) but you can use the free bus service to get to this photo location.