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Have you walked the tunnel between Heathrow Terminal 5, T5B and T5C?

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I was reminded this week that we haven’t talked about the ‘secret’ tunnel between the three parts of Heathrow Terminal 5 for a while.

When travelling between the main building in Terminal 5 and Terminal 5B or 5C, you are likely to take the train.

You may also find yourself taking the train from 5B to 5C if you have a 5C departure and are using the Galleries Terminal 5B lounge. Our last review of the British Airways lounge in Heathrow’s Terminal 5B satellite is here.

You don’t need to take the train, however.

Heathrow walkway tunnel max burgess molly burgess

If you press the bottom button in the lift in 5A, 5B or 5C then you go below the level of the transit train and into this tunnel.  It has travelators so the walk is surprisingly quick.

The photo above is from 2017 and shows my gang. The photos below were sent more recently by a reader.

Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 tunnel

and

Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 tunnel

and (someone has clearly decided to liven up the walls to make the tunnel less intimidating!):

Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 tunnel

It can often be just as fast to walk, since you are not waiting around for the train. When the train does arrive, it takes a minute or two for passengers to unload first and the doors on the departure side to open. By the time it is ready to board you can be halfway down the tunnel and well on your way to the Terminal 5B lounge.

Using the tunnel is also the ONLY way to get from Terminal 5B to Terminal 5 to take a flight. You might do this if you decide to use the quieter lounge in 5B. Taking the train from 5B to the main building drops you at immigration and you cannot get back to the departure gates.

The tunnel is also a good way to stretch your legs before sitting for many hours on a long haul flight. Give it a go and see what you think.

Comments (53)

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  • Save East Coast Rewards says:

    Try to be first in the lift. Press the button for the walkway level and then if nobody else presses the button for the transit level you get a lift full of confused people wondering where the train is.

    • The Original Nick. says:

      That’s funny but not if people are running late.

    • riku says:

      yes it’s always funny when people get into a lift and expect that somebody else will press the right button for them.

  • Philondon says:

    I read about it here the last time you wrote about it. I did the walk before a flight to LA. It’s good for exercise. I made a video, not of the whole walk! https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMYnTw8Ck/

  • His Holyness says:

    Is it possible to use the Centurion lounge in T3 when departing from T2? I believe I could clear security in T3 and then how to do the airside transfer?

    • tony says:

      This is fraught with challenges as you’ll get pulled up at T3 security because you’re at the wrong terminal, the Centurion lounge might be uneasy about it – they don’t want to be the reason you miss your flight – then you need to get to flight connections, find the bus to T2 then re-clear security.

      On the basis I think if you can get into the Centurion lounge then you can use the Plaza Premium lounge at T2 anyway – and you’ll save the best part of an hour of your life by avoiding buses, security and at least one debate as to why you’re doing what you’re doing – trying to get into the Centurion lounge at T3 seems rather misguided.

  • PhatGit says:

    Always been tempted to use it to walk to the quieter lounge, but was never sure if you could get back or not, especially as the departure gate announcement always seems to be quite late ( unless there is a secret way of finding out that I don’t know?!)
    Will give it a good walk prior to a flight to Tokyo in a few weeks

    • E4 Traveller says:

      Look on FlightRadar24 to see if your aircraft is running to schedule (if you’re not on its first flight of the day). Unless you’re reasonably confident of a delay, give yourself time for a leisurely walk back to the A Gates in time for boarding. The BA app may give notification of gates before the departure screens.

  • David says:

    Talking of ‘secret’ tunnels, are there any remnants left of the pedestrian tunnels between terminals 1, 2 and 3 that were landside, if I remember correctly, outside the main entrance to each? I explored them about 25 years ago and they were a pretty grotty, damp and cold way to move about the terminals on foot – just like a public subway under a main road, but after the Heathrow Express opened, with free movement between each, I guess their usage must’ve plummeted. And presumably would’ve been dug up when T2 was being rebuilt? I have never found any pictures or reference to them online but I am sure they existed and wondered if they still did in any way?!?

    • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

      There are still tunnels bwtween the tube / rail stations/ bus station at T2/3 and the two terminals which are landside if that’s what you mean.

  • ChrisBCN says:

    There’s actually TWO tunnels though, right?

    • S says:

      Yes! This only dawned on me very recently while reading Flyertalk and it’s not at all obvious. There’s a departures tunnel and an arrivals one.

      • ChrisBCN says:

        Exactly! But the articles here make it sound like there is only one.

        • riku says:

          The story is written solely for people departing T5, if you have a connection (because not everyone lives in London) then this part does not apply: “Using the tunnel is also the ONLY way to get from Terminal 5B to Terminal 5 to take a flight”. If you arrive at 5B then you can take the train to 5A, go through security and you take your flight from T5. I think there is also transfer security at 5B itself, so you can get to departures side at 5B (or go via 5A)

  • Jody says:

    See a lot of the tunnels, as the special assistance buggies use them. They’re always very quiet, not many people choose to walk.

    • ADS says:

      when T5 gets busy and noisy … the tunnel is an oasis of calm !

      albeit without any daylight !!

  • SG says:

    I really like the tunnel walk, mainly because it’s always completely deserted. A genuine oasis of peace, which isn’t something you can usually associate with T5!

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