Spotter

London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) Plane Spotting Guide

Best place to watch planes land at London Heathrow Airport: 3 spotting locations at EGLL, with coordinates, view bearing, fence notes, focal length, and the sun schedule. Updated Tue 27 Oct, 14:25 local.

Spotting locations at EGLL

The London Heathrow Airport (LHR) plane spotting guide. Focal length badges are 70-200mm inside 250 m, 100-400mm from 250 m to 450 m, and 150-600mm beyond 450 m, unless a landmark keeps the lens spotters use on site, including 50-200mm at airside gates. Click a location to open the live map centered on that spot.

  1. 150-600mm
    Coordinates 51.46244, -0.41817
    View bearing 305.0°
    1136 m to 27L
    Best sun: morning 08:00

    Elevation and fence notes. Field elevation 83 ft. Residential street south of the 27L extended centerline. Be a guest: no ladders on private fences, no blocking drives.

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  2. Hatton Cross

    Landmark

    150-600mm
    Coordinates 51.46708, -0.42305
    View bearing 194.7°
    798 m to 27L
    Best sun: midday 10:00

    Elevation and fence notes. Field elevation 83 ft. Public pavement by the station, east of the 27s. Planes are low. Keep clear of the road.

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  3. 150-600mm
    Coordinates 51.48001, -0.50821
    View bearing 92.5°
    1331 m to 09L
    Best sun: afternoon 16:00

    Elevation and fence notes. Field elevation 83 ft. West of the 09 thresholds for easterly arrivals. Flat fields and a public road, often muddy.

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Lighting schedule by spot

Morning is 07:00-11:00, midday is 11:00-14:00, and afternoon / golden hour is 14:00-18:00. CLEAN FRONT LIGHT means the sun sits behind the camera. BACKLIT / GLARE means the sun is in the lens. The JetPhotos camera note names the lens and the hours to keep or avoid.

Spotting LocationMorning (07:00-11:00)Midday (11:00-14:00)Afternoon / Golden Hour (14:00-18:00)JetPhotos / Camera Note
Myrtle Avenue approach

Runway 27L

CLEAN FRONT LIGHTSIDE LIGHTSIDE LIGHTRecommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 08:00-12:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
Hatton Cross

Runway 27L, 27R

SIDE LIGHTBACKLIT / GLAREBACKLIT / GLARERecommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 10:00. Avoid 11:00-16:00 harsh backlit contrast.
Stanwell Moor west

Runway 09L, 09R

SIDE LIGHTSIDE LIGHTCLEAN FRONT LIGHTRecommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 15:00-17:00 local. Avoid 08:00-09:00 harsh backlit contrast.

Questions

What is the London Heathrow Airport (LHR) plane spotting guide?

The London Heathrow Airport (LHR) plane spotting guide lists 3 locations at EGLL, with coordinates, view bearing, elevation and fence notes, and a focal length badge (50-200mm, 70-200mm, 100-400mm, or 150-600mm). Start with Myrtle Avenue approach at 51.46244, -0.41817, view bearing 305.0°, lens 150-600mm. Listed spots include Myrtle Avenue approach, Hatton Cross, Stanwell Moor west. Each location links to https://planespottingmap.com/airport/EGLL?spot=myrtle-avenue-approach so the interactive map centers on that pin. The lighting table covers morning (07:00-11:00), midday (11:00-14:00), and afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00).

What is the best place to watch planes land at London Heathrow Airport?

The best place to watch planes land at London Heathrow Airport depends on the active runway and where the sun sits. The top-ranked spot right now is Myrtle Avenue approach, 1136 m from runway 27L, view bearing 305.0°, best in the morning (08:00 local) with a 150-600mm lens. Open it on the map: https://planespottingmap.com/airport/EGLL?spot=myrtle-avenue-approach CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the schedule is the hour band that puts the sun behind the camera.