Latest posts by Martin Moodie (see all)
- How I overcame Severe Tire Damage to become the oldest influencer in town - April 20, 2024
- Free as a (Kiwi) bird and flying high in Haikou - April 13, 2024
- Discovering Food Accademia’s world of fine flavours at a Hong Kong cha chaan teng - April 6, 2024
Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 is undoubtedly one of the world’s best air terminals. It’s architecturally attractive; it boasts some stunning internal vistas; it’s generally very efficient; and its diverse commercial offer, while omnipresent is not obtrusive.
I use the term ‘best’ rather than ‘great’ because I still believe T5 could do a lot more to underline its status as the great London (and indeed England) gateway. There’s surprisingly little Sense of Place here and that’s a particular pity in Olympics year. Maybe that will change in coming weeks.
Here are my usual five talking points from a fleeting early morning visit this month:
Paul Smith: Is this lovely store really in the heart of one of the world’s busiest airports? Step inside and you enter an entirely different world. It’s beautifully merchandised, well-ranged and full of surprises. Right up there in any list (well, certainly mine) of the world’s great airport shops.
Heathrow Charity Collection: I love it when I see airports championing causes and charities. Macmillan Cancer Support is a subject close to my heart whose work I have experienced first-hand. Look at the amount of coins (and plenty of notes) that have been donated.
World Duty Free perfumes & cosmetics: Class. One of the best within its genre in the whole world and I think it far outstrips most, maybe all, downtown department stores in the UK.
Wine Collection (Rare & Vintage): Again from World Duty Free, this is a much bigger, more widely ranged than the small area in Terminal 3 I praised in a recent Blog. I always get a friendly welcome from the knowledgeable staff and there’s a great mix of old and new world wines (including some old First Growth Bordeaux). The shop-in-shop is a bit hard to find but it’s worth the effort.
World Duty Free confectionery: The picture tells the story here I’m afraid. Confectionery can be more exciting than this. Maybe the big brands that dominate like it but I’m not sure too many other people would.
