All the terminals in Heathrow stay open 24 hours and are connected to each other by shuttle buses so even in the dead of night, you are able to move around and find some comfortable resting places.

While you can technically stay inside Heathrow Terminal 2 overnight if you are a "landside" passenger (before security) or a transit passenger with a valid boarding pass, it is not designed for comfort. Heathrow is not a 24-hour airport in terms of departures, so most shops and restaurants close by 10:00 PM or 11:00 PM. If you are stuck landside, seating is limited and often has armrests that prevent lying down; security may also ask to see your travel documents to ensure you have a flight the next morning. For a much better experience in 2026, it is highly recommended to stay at the Aerotel London Heathrow, which is located directly inside Terminal 3 (a short walk or flight connection away) and offers rooms by the hour. Alternatively, the Hilton Garden Inn is connected to Terminal 2 via a walkway. While "sleeping on the floor" is a budget-traveler staple, Heathrow’s 2026 policies encourage using the designated on-site hotels to maintain terminal safety and cleanliness during the late-night maintenance hours.