Arrivals T5
With the new Terminal 5 development complete theres now a grass embankment to the south side of runway 09L where approach shots can be taken from. When runway 09L/R are in use then 09L is used for the vast majority arrivals and so you won't miss much in a day of shooting. I rate this spot better than Myrtle as you are a bit more side on to aircraft rather than underneath as at Myrtle.
The area is best from about 10am until 3pm on a summers day. The sun does tend to work its way round and at about 5pm ends up at 90° to the runway, meaning shots are very difficult by that time. After this time you can walk down to the roundabout on the north side and shoot south, although its probably 7pm before you get the sun behind you.
The best way to get by car is to come off the M25 at the Terminal 4 junction and turn left at the first roundabout. You can park the car up on the side of the road, on a sunny day especially there'll be plenty of others there. If going on foot, exit Terminal 5 and turn right following the perimeter fence adjacent to the parked A320s, crossing the road to do so when you get to the airport vehicle checkpoint. Once past the taxis, you will see a grassy embankment with a fairly steep, shrubbed verge across the road to your left. Cross the road a little further up to make an easy climb up the grass embankment to the top. This is a pleasant place to sit and enjoy good views of 09L landings with a little natural shade. A 5-10 minute walk.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 28' 28" (N51° 28.464')
Longitude: W0° 29' 48" (W0° 29.792')
The area is best from about 10am until 3pm on a summers day. The sun does tend to work its way round and at about 5pm ends up at 90° to the runway, meaning shots are very difficult by that time. After this time you can walk down to the roundabout on the north side and shoot south, although its probably 7pm before you get the sun behind you.
The best way to get by car is to come off the M25 at the Terminal 4 junction and turn left at the first roundabout. You can park the car up on the side of the road, on a sunny day especially there'll be plenty of others there. If going on foot, exit Terminal 5 and turn right following the perimeter fence adjacent to the parked A320s, crossing the road to do so when you get to the airport vehicle checkpoint. Once past the taxis, you will see a grassy embankment with a fairly steep, shrubbed verge across the road to your left. Cross the road a little further up to make an easy climb up the grass embankment to the top. This is a pleasant place to sit and enjoy good views of 09L landings with a little natural shade. A 5-10 minute walk.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates
(Some locations may not be next to a road but the sat nav should get you pretty close using these co-ordinates)
Latitude: N51° 28' 28" (N51° 28.464')
Longitude: W0° 29' 48" (W0° 29.792')