Flight paths over Richmond upon Thames

Aircraft noise affects many thousands of local residents in many parts of the borough – broadly speaking, landing noise affects Richmond, Kew, East Sheen, Barnes and St Margaret’s; whereas take off noise affects Twickenham, Teddington, Whitton, Hampton and Hampton Wick.

The borough suffers because it lies due east of both the Northern and Southern runways at Heathrow. These runways are used by all arriving/landing aircraft on days when the wind is westerly or southwesterly or indeed when there is no wind at all. Since the prevailing wind in the UK is westerly this accounts for around 75% of the year. However, it is also overflown by departing/take off aircraft. So when the wind is blowing from the east, aircraft will take off over the borough. Heathrow is of course very close to the borough boundary.  The southern runway is only 5 miles from the Richmond Old Deer Park.