Heston Aerodrome

The primary reason for closure was the post-WWII selection and development of the nearby London Airport (now Heathrow) as the UK's main international hub. Heston was deemed too small and unsuitable for expansion to accommodate the larger airliners of the new jet age. Its fate was sealed by the construction of the M4 motorway directly across the airfield in the early 1960s, which physically prevented any future aviation use.

The site of the former aerodrome is now completely unrecognizable and has been extensively redeveloped. The M4 motorway and the Heston Services motorway service area bisect the original airfield. The remaining land is occupied by large industrial estates (such as the Airlinks Industrial Estate), warehouses, and residential housing. The iconic 1930s control tower and terminal building were demolished in 1978. There are no visible remnants of the runways or major airport infrastructure.

Heston Aerodrome was a historically significant airport in the UK. Opened in 1929, it served as London's second airport after Croydon and was a hub for early airlines like Spartan Air Lines and the original British Airways Ltd. It was renowned for its modern facilities and as a centre for private flying. Its most famous moment in history occurred on September 30, 1938, when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain landed at Heston after signing the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler, holding up the Anglo-German Declaration and declaring 'peace for our time'. During WWII, it was requisitioned as RAF Heston and served as a fighter station for Spitfire and Hurricane squadrons, including Polish and Czech units, during the Battle of Britain.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Heston Aerodrome. The site is fully and irreversibly redeveloped with major infrastructure, including the M4 motorway, a motorway service station, and extensive industrial and residential buildings. Reopening as an aviation facility is physically and economically impossible.