Heathrow & Gatwick airport plane spotting

[MantaRay]

Where is the best place to view & photograph the aircraft at these airports? I've looked on both airports websites and there is no information at all regarding spectators.

[barney4444]

Not a official spot,but they do tend to leave you alone, terminal 5 drop off is right at end of runway, great for photos..

[237SJ]

It depends which way the wind is blowing as to which runways they use for take off or landing. Today, the wind is in the west and they are taking off on the southerly runway. When they are doing that, the Esso petrol station on the Southern Perimeter Road is very popular. People seem to get away with parking there for a little while at least. What you need to remember is that they switch runways at 3pm so later on they`ll be using that runway for landing and take offs will be on the northern runway. If they land on the southern runway, Hatton Cross tube is good to view the landings. If the wind is in the east, they will take off from the southern runway as they`re not allowed to use the north for easterly take offs. This is LHR by the way. I`m not clued up about Gatwick.

[MantaRay]

Thank you, both.