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RAF Northolt

Northolt, Greater London, United Kingdom

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ICAO

EGWU

Elevation

124 ft

The gateway in a glance

The Essence of RAF Northolt

NHT

Location

Northolt, Greater London · ENG · United Kingdom

Position

51.553°, -0.418° · 124 ft elev.

Visa & Entry

UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), Standard Visitor VisaOfficial

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A closer look

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TravelerPulse profile

London's historic military airfield serving VIP and government flights.

Opened

1915

Location

Northolt, Greater London, United Kingdom

RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station located in the London Borough of Hillingdon, approximately 12 miles west of central London. It is the closest airfield to central London and serves as the primary base for No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron, which provides air transport for the Royal Family, senior government ministers, and military personnel. While primarily a military installation, Northolt also handles a significant volume of business aviation and general aviation traffic, and holds a civilian licence allowing commercial operations. The airfield played a crucial role during the Battle of Britain in 1940, serving as a key fighter station for the Royal Air Force. The airport has a single runway and limited civilian passenger facilities, but its proximity to London and its VIP handling capabilities make it a preferred destination for heads of state, government delegations, and private charter operators.

Terminals

RAF Northolt has no conventional public terminal; VIP and business aviation passengers are handled through dedicated private facilities on the airfield.

Getting to & from

The airfield is accessible by road via the A40, and the nearest London Underground station is South Ruislip on the Central line, approximately one mile away.

Airlines here

No scheduled commercial airlines operate from RAF Northolt; the airfield primarily serves No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron and private/charter operators.

Notable facts

›RAF Northolt was established in 1915 and is one of the oldest active military airfields in the United Kingdom.
›It served as a key Battle of Britain fighter station in 1940, hosting Polish RAF squadrons among others.
›No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron, based here, operates VIP transport aircraft including the BAe 146 and Agusta Westland helicopters.
›Despite being a military base, it holds a civilian aerodrome licence and handles substantial business aviation traffic.
›A Polish War Memorial stands at the main gate, commemorating Polish airmen who flew from Northolt during World War II.

Official website Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

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Encyclopaedia

Royal Air Force Northolt or more simply RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station in South Ruislip, 2 nautical miles from Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, western Greater London, England, approximately 6 mi (10 km) north of Heathrow Airport. As London VIP Airport, the station handles many private civil flights in addition to Air Force flights.

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