Heathrow terminal closes for £1bn new look

Heathrow Airport's Terminal 2 closed yesterday in a £1bn plan to replace the building.

Previous passengers who have used the terminal, which opened in 1955 and was the London airport's first, included The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Margaret.

Work will begin on the new terminal next year and it is expected to open to passengers in 2014.

BAA chief executive Colin Matthews said: "The closure of Terminal 2 marks an important moment in the modernisation of Heathrow. We look forward to the new Terminal 2 providing a new home for the Star Alliance and a better experience for our passengers, with less impact on the environment."

Passengers flying from Heathrow are advised to check their terminal before travelling.

The original terminal was designed by architect Frederick Gibberd, who also came up with Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and London Central Mosque.

It was designed to deal with 1.2 million passengers per year but recently saw around eight million.