London Heathrow LHR ★★★★★
Best-known spotting location: Myrtle Avenue / Hatton Cross
Probably Britain's most famous spotting location. Superb low arrivals onto 27L (when 27L is in use for arrivals).
Plane spotting in London & the South East
Home to Britain's busiest airports — and Myrtle Avenue, the most famous spotting location in the country. From Heathrow's wide-bodies to the business jets of Farnborough and Biggin Hill, this is the richest region in the UK for variety and volume.
Airports & spotting locations in London & the South East
★ rating reflects how worthwhile the location is for a plane spotter. Always confirm current access and public rights of way before you travel.
London Gatwick LGW ★★★★
Best-known spotting location: Horley / Lowfield Heath & perimeter areas
Excellent volume of easyJet, BA, TUI and Jet2 plus long-haul traffic. Positions vary with runway operation.
London Stansted STN ★★★★
Best-known spotting location: Belmer Road / runway 22 end
Ryanair plus substantial cargo and occasional unusual movements.
London Luton LTN ★★★★
Best-known spotting location: Airport Way / crash-gate & runway 26 approach
Very busy A320/737 airport; easyJet, Wizz and Ryanair plus bizjets.
London City LCY ★★★
Best-known spotting location: Royal Albert Dock / Connaught Bridge
Excellent close views; E-Jets, A220s and business traffic against a London backdrop.
London Southend SEN ★★★
Best-known spotting location: Eastwoodbury Lane / Rochford runway ends
Lower traffic, but extremely close views when movements occur.
Farnborough FAB ★★★★
Best-known spotting location: Trenchard Way (behind the Aviator Hotel) / Laffans Road
One of Britain's premier business-jet airports. The Farnborough Airshow makes it exceptional.
Biggin Hill BQH ★★★
Best-known spotting location: A233 / runway approach areas
Business jets, historic aircraft and special movements.
Oxford (Kidlington) OXF ★★★
Best-known spotting location: Langford Lane / Kidlington perimeter
Business jets, training and occasional larger aircraft.
Blackbushe BBS —
Best-known spotting location: Terminal / perimeter fence
Mainly business aviation; aircraft parked on the north side can be seen from public areas.
Manston MSE —
Best-known spotting location: Manston Road / perimeter
A huge former commercial runway able to handle large airliners, but not a normal operating passenger airport — check status before travelling.
Printables to take spotting
Ready for your next airport visit
Print at home, take them to the fence and log every catch — instant PDF download, buy once and print forever.
Ready-made columns, a dedicated rare-catch page and kid-friendly challenges — more useful than a blank notebook, and you can reprint them forever.
Best value
Complete Spotter's Bundle
Every sheet, checklist and planner in one money-saving download.
£9.99 · instant PDF download → Best sellerAircraft Logbook Sheets
Record registration, type, airline, date and location for every aircraft you spot.
£4.99 · instant PDF download → For familiesKids' Spotting Fun Pack
Printable challenge cards, spotting bingo and a scoreboard to keep young spotters busy.
£3.99 · instant PDF download →Secure checkout via Payhip · instant download · no account needed · prints on any home printer (A4 & US Letter included).
Log every catch on your day out
Take printable spotting sheets or the paperback log book to any of these locations — tick off types, note the registrations, and build a collection to be proud of.
Get your spotting sheets →