5 Festive Things To Spot At The London Airport This Season

The holidays are a time of year when airports see some of their highest passenger numbers. While in the United States, the winter travel season is punctuated by both Thanksgiving and Christmas, the European market revolves almost entirely around the Christmas holiday.

Thus, with passenger numbers at their peak this and next week, airports need to do their best to maintain normal operations and minimize delays while also keeping the festive spirit alive. At no other European airport are these pair of challenges more visible than at London Heathrow Airport (LHR).

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Activities that take place at Heathrow during the holiday season extend across all the airport’s operations and are fascinating to explore. In this article, we will look closer at the five most festive things you can spot while traveling from Heathrow this holiday season.

1 A special dance

Location: Arrivals hall

Nothing is more exciting about the holiday season than reconnecting with loved ones. Heathrow acknowledges the importance of these holiday reunions and has something special planned this year for those who will be picking up family and friends at the airport’s main arrivals halls.

Photo: Heathrow Airport

Those who have a love for dance are in luck and will not want to miss this unique display. A professional ballet company led by esteemed choreographer Ruth Brill will be performing regularly in the terminals’ arrival halls to celebrate festive family reunions.

Furthermore, the airport has gone to an impressive extent to ensure that this dance is uniquely Heathrow. Specifically, the complex and elaborate dance has 239 planned moves, the exact number of destinations one can reach on direct flights from the massive global hub airport.

2 Christmas trees

Location: Throughout terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5

For those who love holiday decor, Heathrow has you covered. Throughout all four of the airport’s terminals, the facility has been filled with holiday scenery that would be sure to excite even the most devoted interior designer.

The centerpiece of the festive fixtures is the airport’s 47 purple and green Christmas trees, which stand in airport common spaces at an impressive height of 22 feet. This year, for the first time, Heathrow has partnered with internationally recognized designer Christian Dior in order to ensure that all facilities are beautifully spruced up for the holidays.

Photo: Heathrow Airport

Holiday decorations don’t just stop with the airport’s trees. Illuminated presents and lavish Christmas wreaths are also displayed throughout the terminals for passengers to enjoy.

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The crowning jewel of the airport’s decorations is a 22-foot-tall golden Christmas tree in Terminal 5 that you surely will not want to miss. Additionally, those purchasing Dior products can enjoy free engraving services during this holiday season.

3 Brass quintet

Location: All airport terminals

While the arrivals hall may be filled with holiday ballet dancers, the sounds of the season will not just be limited to those leaving the airport. Indeed, classic holiday music will ring throughout the entire course of the week across the whole of London Heathrow.

Photo: Heathrow Airport

A locally hired brass quintet will be present at the airport throughout the days leading up to Christmas and will play seasonal tunes to ensure that spirits remain high. The group will feature musicians playing the trumpet, trombone, and baritone horn and will wander throughout the terminals, bringing passengers loads of festive cheer.

The airport’s holiday music scene does not end here either. Local choirs have also been hired and will wander around the airport singing Christmas carols for all to hear.

4 A one-of-a-kind mobile game

Status: Available for download

Rather uniquely, Heathrow Airport has partnered with software company Mr Men Little Miss to design a mobile game. Exclusively available for the holiday season, this game can be downloaded by simply scanning any of the many QR codes that will be present on advertisements throughout the airport.

The game features Mr Adventure and Little Miss Explorer, two characters created entirely for the purpose of this festive mobile game. Not only is the game another aspect of the holiday operations at Heathrow this year, but it will also be ideal for keeping young children entertained during a flight delay or lengthy layover.

5 Santa’s North Pole delegation

Location: Passenger gates

1. Santa will be greeting children
2. Children will receive complimentary chocolate and coloring books
3. Animals will be available for children to pet

A special delegation from the North Pole has been dispatched and will be wandering around Heathrow to celebrate the holiday. Throughout this festive month, young travelers will have the opportunity to meet with the big man himself and discuss their Christmas wishes.

Photo: Heathrow Airport

You also won’t want to miss the all-female singing group, the Jingle Belles, which will be singing carols throughout the terminals accompanying Santa. A complimentary gift-wrapping service will also be made available, allowing passengers who purchase a duty-free gift to bring home a specially-wrapped present.