Taxi to Heathrow Terminal 3: Drop-Off, Pick-Up and When to Leave

Booking a taxi to Heathrow Terminal 3 is the easiest way to reach Heathrow’s main long-haul terminal from Camberley and Surrey Heath: no train to Woking or Reading first, no coach with heavy cases, just the M3, M25 and M4 to the terminal door. This guide covers the route, where taxis drop off and pick up at T3, which airlines fly from it, when to leave home and how to book. Our drivers make this run day and night, and our Camberley to Heathrow taxi service covers every terminal.

Heathrow Terminal 3 at a glance

Sources: Heathrow and Virgin Atlantic. Airport arrangements can change, so check before you travel.

Which airlines fly from Heathrow Terminal 3?

Terminal 3 is Heathrow’s long-haul terminal. It is Virgin Atlantic’s base, and its partner Delta flies from here too. Most oneworld airlines also use T3, including American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Japan Airlines, along with Emirates and a number of other carriers. Flights are mostly to North America, the Middle East and Asia, with some routes to Europe.

British Airways flies from both Terminal 3 and Terminal 5. Most BA flights use T5, but some of its routes operate from T3, and BA moves routes between the two terminals from time to time. Airlines can also change terminals, so check the terminal on your booking or with Heathrow’s terminal finder before you set off, and tell us your terminal when you book. Terminal 5 has its own access road from a different junction, so going to the wrong one costs time. If you are flying from T5, see our taxi to Heathrow Terminal 5 guide.

Camberley to Heathrow Terminal 3 by taxi

Terminals 2 and 3 sit together in the middle of the airport, so the approach is different from Terminal 5. You do not leave the M25 at junction 14 but carry on to the M4.

1. Join the M3 at junction 3 (Lightwater and Bagshot) or junction 4 (Frimley and Camberley), depending on where we collect you.
2. Leave the M3 at junction 2 and join the M25 north at junction 12.
3. Stay on the M25 past junction 14 and leave at junction 15, following the signs for Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 onto the M4.
4. Leave the M4 at junction 4 and take the airport spur road through the tunnel into the central terminal area.
5. Keep left after the tunnel and follow the signs for Terminal 3 Departures.

The drive usually takes about 35 to 40 minutes, a few minutes more than Terminal 5 because of the longer approach. It is a little longer from Sandhurst, Yateley or Blackwater and a little shorter from Bagshot or Lightwater. The M25 between junctions 12 and 15 is one of the busiest stretches of motorway in the country, especially on weekday mornings, Friday afternoons and at the start of school holidays, so that is where we allow extra time. If the M3 is closed or badly delayed, the usual alternative is the A30 through Bagshot and Sunningdale to Egham, joining the M25 at junction 13.

How early to arrive at Heathrow Terminal 3

Work your pickup time back from your flight, not from the length of the drive. These are Heathrow’s recommended arrival times.

Check-in and bag drop close at different times for each airline, so check your airline’s own deadline as well. Most T3 flights are long-haul, which means more bags, more document checks and longer queues at peak times.

As an example, for an 11:00 flight to New York you would aim to reach T3 by 08:00. From Camberley that means a pickup at around 07:15 on a quiet morning, or a little earlier on a busy weekday. Give us your flight time when you book and we will suggest a pickup time that suits the traffic at that hour.

Terminal 3 drop off: where your taxi stops

Your taxi follows the Terminal 3 Departures signs from the tunnel to the drop-off forecourt outside the terminal, which leads straight into the check-in hall. If you have checked in online and have hand luggage only, you can head straight for security. If you have bags, go to your airline’s check-in or bag drop zone.

The same rules apply at T3 as at every Heathrow terminal: a drop-off charge for each vehicle entry, taxis included, a 10-minute maximum stay and no waiting. When you travel with us, your driver handles the drop-off. If a friend or family member is driving you instead, our Heathrow drop off charge guide explains how to pay, the deadline and how to drop off for free at the Park & Ride car park.

Flying Virgin Atlantic Upper Class or Delta One? Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class Wing has its own drive-in drop-off at Terminal 3, with private check-in and security. Your driver turns left before the usual T3 drop-off, following the “Virgin Upper Class Wing” signs. Virgin Atlantic says the Heathrow drop-off charge does not apply at the Wing. Just tell us when you book, and for a business trip our executive taxi service is there if you want a more comfortable car.

Heathrow Terminal 3 pick up: how it works

Coming home works differently. Picking up passengers on the Terminal 3 forecourt is not allowed, and Heathrow says cars left unattended there will be removed by the police. These are the ways to get picked up at T3:

• Terminal Parking car park. The Terminal 3 Terminal Parking car park (formerly Short Stay) is about a 2-minute walk from the terminal doors. Drivers take a ticket and pay at the machines.
• Park & Ride. Pick-ups are also allowed at the Terminals 2 and 3 Park & Ride car park, with a shuttle bus to the terminal.
• Pre-booked private hire. Licensed drivers meet passengers in the Terminal Parking car park or at an agreed point in the terminal.
• Ride-sharing apps. Heathrow says app passengers meet their driver on foot in the terminal’s Terminal Parking car park, not at the kerb.
• Black cab rank. London black taxis queue at the rank outside the terminal, with no booking needed.

After a long-haul flight, allow time for passport control and baggage reclaim before you reach the arrivals hall. Heathrow’s passenger pick-up page has the current car park details.

With Camberley Cars, give us your flight number when you book and we track your flight, so your pickup follows the actual landing time. Your driver calls or messages before pickup so you know who is coming and where to meet. Our guide to meet and greet airport pickups explains how it works.

Taxi, coach or driving to Terminal 3: which suits you?

With long-haul luggage, the changes on the coach and bus routes add up. For a closer look at the costs of each option, see our comparison of airport parking versus a taxi.

How much is a taxi to Heathrow Terminal 3?

There is no single price for a taxi to Terminal 3, because the fare depends on:

• Where we collect you. Camberley, Frimley, Farnborough, Sandhurst and Bagshot are all different distances from the airport.
• The vehicle you need. A saloon, MPV, executive car or 8 or 12-seater minibus, depending on passengers and luggage.
• Extra stops. For example, collecting a second passenger on the way.

Enter your address on our booking page and choose Heathrow Terminal 3 to see your fare before you pay. With Camberley Cars the fare is fixed and agreed when you book, so you know the price before you travel. Long-haul trips often mean big cases, so choose a vehicle that really fits your group: for a family or a group, one MPV or minibus taxi is often better value than two cars. Our airport taxi vehicle size guide helps you pick the right one.

Tips from our drivers for Terminal 3

1. Check T3 or T5 the day before. If you are flying British Airways, check which terminal your flight uses, because BA flies from both.
2. Check in online. With a boarding pass on your phone, you skip the check-in queue and only need bag drop.
3. Know your neighbours. Terminals 2 and 3 are next to each other and share a station, so if you end up at the wrong one of these two, you can walk.
4. Tell us your numbers. Let us know how many passengers and cases you have so we send the right vehicle.
5. Book your return at the same time. Share your inbound flight number and we will track it for you.
6. Keep your phone on after landing. Your driver will be in touch to confirm where to meet.

Taxi to Heathrow Terminal 3 FAQs

How long does a taxi from Camberley to Heathrow Terminal 3 take?

Usually about 35 to 40 minutes via the M3, M25 and M4, depending on traffic. Allow extra time on weekday mornings, Friday afternoons and at the start of school holidays.

Which airlines fly from Heathrow Terminal 3?

Virgin Atlantic, Delta, American Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Japan Airlines and others, plus some British Airways routes. Airlines can change terminals, so always check your booking.

How early should I arrive at Heathrow Terminal 3?

Heathrow recommends arriving 3 hours before long-haul flights and 2 hours before flights within the UK or Europe. Check your airline’s own check-in deadline as well.

What is the postcode for Heathrow Terminal 3?

The postcode for Heathrow Terminal 3 is TW6 1QG. Leave the M25 at junction 15 or the M4 at junction 4 and follow the signs for Terminals 2 and 3.

Where does a taxi drop off at Heathrow Terminal 3?

On the Terminal 3 departures forecourt, reached through the tunnel into the central terminal area. There is a drop-off charge for each vehicle entry, a 10-minute maximum stay and no waiting.

Where is the pick-up point at Heathrow Terminal 3?

Pick-ups are not allowed on the forecourt. Use the Terminal 3 Terminal Parking car park, about a 2-minute walk from the terminal, or the Terminals 2 and 3 Park & Ride. Pre-booked drivers meet you in the car park or at an agreed point in the terminal.

Where do ride-sharing apps pick up at Heathrow Terminal 3?

Heathrow says app passengers meet their driver on foot in the Terminal 3 Terminal Parking car park. Pick-ups on the forecourt are not allowed.

Is there a taxi rank at Heathrow Terminal 3?

Yes. London black taxis wait at the rank outside the terminal. If you are heading home to Surrey, you can also pre-book a fixed-fare taxi.

Are Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 next to each other?

Yes. Terminals 2 and 3 share the central terminal area, the same road approach and the Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 station, and you can walk between them.

Does British Airways fly from Terminal 3?

Yes, some British Airways routes operate from Terminal 3, although most BA flights use Terminal 5. Check the terminal on your booking before you travel.