#gloucester road

[the-home]

[londiniumlundene]

Lost London: West London Air Terminal

The idea of an airport in central London has never really (excuse the pun) taken off. Despite its name, London City airport is out in the Docklands – and has always been viewed as more useful for business flights rather than a place to jet off from on holiday.  The larger London airports of Heathrow and Gatwick are much further out – so it may seem surprising that it has been possible at various points in history to check-in for a flight in the centre of the capital. The concept of an air terminal miles away from the actual airport starts when Croydon was the site of London’s main airport – passengers could check in at a terminal near to Victoria Station.

After the Second World War, Heathrow was set to replace Croydon. In the early 1950s it was served by a terminal at Waterloo, but the longevity of this was limited by redevelopments of the South Bank. British European Airways, aided by a committee, decided that a new terminal should be built in west London. They chose a site on Cromwell Road, a short distance from Gloucester Road Underground Station. The first building was a temporary two storey terminal, completed in 1957.

The more permanent structure – a classic 1960s tower block with curling road ramps – was opened in 1963. Passengers could check in their baggage, receive their boarding passes, and then travel out to Heathrow Airport by coach. For those who arrived with plenty of time to spare, there were shops and a restaurant. Passengers arriving at Heathrow would also be deposited back at the West London Air Terminal, where they could collect their baggage from a carousel.

The terminal didn’t last for long though. One of its major drawbacks was that road traffic could delay the coaches, which would then delay the departure of the flight. Another was that passengers could of course make their own way to Heathrow, choosing whichever mode of transport suited them best. 

The check-in facilities closed on 1st January 1974, with a bus service from the terminal hanging on for another five years. The building survived, and (re-clad) now houses a supermarket and flats. Whilst in later years check-in facilities would appear again at Victoria (for Gatwick) and Paddington (for Heathrow), there has yet to be another purpose-built terminal in central London.

[researchhistorian-blog]

 Gloucester road station sign Prince Albert statue, Hyde park and the Great Exhibition sign

[delvinginthedark]

London 28.12.17

[bluesman56]

standing still by Tony

[1122deactivated2211]

[lippenimnebel]

[peacemore-springs]

he had lived in and round London throughout many years of his life but he had never been to....

eurochange London at Gloucester Road Underground Station.

why this was so he had no clue. he had simply never thought to venture in this direction. he was glad to have found the source of Christianity lay in the foundations of Buddhism and was not, as he had first been taught, born from Judaism. this peaceful and compassionate understanding pleased him.