Copy updated 6 September 2026. Photo counts and routes are from live galleries on 4 September 2026. Runway direction and aircraft assignments change.
In short
- Myrtle Avenue is a public residential street with a classic view of 27L arrivals.
- Stay off airport property. The active runway decides whether that view is useful.
- G-EUUU (BA A320, Common) and G-XLEL (BA A380-800, Epic) are live community galleries tied to Heathrow.
- Read the registration, then identify the next arrival with your camera or a photo you already have.
Why spot at Heathrow?
London Heathrow (LHR) offers a mix of British Airways short-haul aircraft and long-haul arrivals. It features in our top 10 airports for plane spotting. Use the Heathrow airport guide for the map and weather, then browse the registration galleries below for examples of aircraft serving the airport.
Spotting at LHR? Identify the next arrival with your camera, or upload a photo you already have, then save the aircraft.
Identify the next Heathrow arrival →
Myrtle Avenue: one public 27L viewpoint
What it is
Myrtle Avenue in Hatton is a public residential street south of the southern runway. When 27L is active, arrivals pass close enough that you can read a registration on a still photograph. Hatton Cross station is the usual public-transport access. It is not an official airport terrace and it is not useful when operations switch to 09R.
Check the runway before setting out
Myrtle Avenue is useful for arrivals on runway 27L. Check Heathrow’s runway alternation information and current flight movements before setting out. The runway used for arrivals can change during the day. Heathrow’s official spotting guide also lists viewpoints around the terminals; departure-lounge views are for passengers with access.
- Photograph from public land only. Do not climb fences or enter airport property.
- Do not block driveways on Myrtle Avenue. Residents live there.
- Confirm that arrivals are using 27L before travelling to Myrtle Avenue.
British Airways aircraft in the community galleries
These British Airways registration galleries include flights to or from Heathrow. They illustrate the aircraft you might look for, although a flight’s route alone does not establish where a photo was taken:
- G-EUUU : Airbus A320, Common. Five public catches. Identity on the gallery: LHR → VIE. This is the short-haul workhorse you will fill a session with.
- G-XLEL : Airbus A380-800, Epic. Fifteen public catches. Identity: SFO → LHR. Same UK prefix, different type. See what rarity means in spotting.
Each gallery groups photos of the same registered aircraft, with its type, airline, and available flight details. A route such as San Francisco to Heathrow describes the flight, not the photographer’s location. Check the individual sighting details when comparing viewpoints.
What to record from the fence
A useful Heathrow sighting is the registration, type, airline, date, and the viewpoint. How to read a tail number covers G- prefixes and where the marks sit on the airframe. G-EUUU and G-XLEL are both G- plus four letters; each registration identifies an individual aircraft.
Use a tracker to check approaching traffic, then photograph and record the aircraft you see. FlightCatcherPro can help identify the aircraft and save the sighting with your photo. Confirm the registration when it is readable, especially if several aircraft of the same type are arriving.
FAQ: Heathrow spotting
Where can I plane spot at Heathrow from public land?
Myrtle Avenue in Hatton is the well-known public street for 27L arrivals. Stay on public land, obey signs, and never enter airport property.
What British Airways aircraft appear in the community galleries?
Examples include Airbus A320 G-EUUU and Airbus A380-800 G-XLEL. Their galleries include flights serving Heathrow. A flight route does not prove the photograph was taken at Heathrow; check the sighting details before using a photo to choose a viewpoint.
Is Myrtle Avenue the only Heathrow spotting location?
No. Runway direction decides whether 27L is useful. Use the Heathrow airport guide on this site for the map and current spotting notes, then confirm the active runway before you travel.
Can I spot Heathrow traffic without standing at the fence?
Yes. Identify overhead or arrival traffic with your camera, or upload a photo you already have, and save the aircraft. The registration still matters so the photo is tied to one airframe.
Spotting at LHR? Identify the next arrival with your camera or a photo. More airports: top 10 spotting airports and the Heathrow guide.