---
title: "LHR is which airport? London"
description: "LHR is Heathrow Airport in London, United Kingdom. Why the code is LHR and not something you could guess, what EGLL means, and the codes it gets mixed up with."
url: https://atoneplace.net/airport/lhr/
site: "At One Place"
---

# What airport is LHR?

**LHR is: Heathrow Airport**

London, United Kingdom

## Why the code is LHR

LondonHeathRow, using the consonants.

The airport authority or a contemporaneous record states this directly.

## The airport

- **IATA code:** LHR
- **ICAO code:** EGLL
- **Airport:** Heathrow Airport
- **City:** London, United Kingdom
- **Opened:** 1946
- **Code origin:** Documented

Heathrow was a hamlet, and the airport was built over it — the last houses came down in 1944. It handles more international passengers than any other airport in the world while having only two runways, which is why a single disruption there propagates across Europe within hours. The ICAO code EGLL follows the European E, British G pattern.

## Codes people book by mistake

| Code | What it actually is |
| --- | --- |
| LGW | Gatwick, 30 miles south. LON is the code for all six London airports collectively, not for any one of them. |

## The other code, EGLL

Every airport has two codes. The three-letter IATA code, LHR, is the one on your boarding pass and your luggage tag, and it is assigned for commercial use. The four-letter ICAO code, EGLL, is the one pilots and controllers use, and it is assigned geographically: the first letter or two identify the region, so every airport in the same part of the world shares a prefix. That is why EGLL looks nothing like LHR.

## Common questions

### What airport is LHR?

Heathrow Airport, in London, United Kingdom.

### Why is London's airport called LHR?

LondonHeathRow, using the consonants.

### What is the difference between LHR and EGLL?

LHR is the IATA code, used commercially — tickets, timetables, luggage tags. EGLL is the ICAO code, used operationally by pilots and air traffic control, and assigned geographically by region.

### Is LHR the same as LGW?

No. LGW is gatwick, 30 miles south. LON is the code for all six London airports collectively, not for any one of them.

## Related pages

- [United Kingdom](https://atoneplace.net/country/united-kingdom/)
- [The flag of United Kingdom](https://atoneplace.net/flag/united-kingdom/)
- [Airport codes in United Kingdom](https://atoneplace.net/airport/in/united-kingdom/)
- [What airport is LGW?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/lgw/)
- [What airport is LGW?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/lgw/)
- [What airport is STN?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/stn/)
- [What airport is MAN?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/man/)
- [What airport is LTN?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/ltn/)
- [What airport is LCY?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/lcy/)
- [What airport is EDI?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/edi/)

## Sources

- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)