Today, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) represents the beating heart of commercial aviation in the UK. Like many airports, its passenger numbers have suffered amid the coronavirus pandemic. Even so, more than 22 million passengers passed through the airport in 2020. However, it hasn't always been the case that Heathrow is the UK's primary airport. Let's look back to the interwar era to see which facility previously held this title.

Croydon Airport

Before Heathrow took on the role of the UK's primary commercial air hub, this was a role filled by Croydon Airport in South London. The facility opened in 1920, following the combination of two former First World War airfields at Beddington and Waddon. As it was first known, Croydon Aerodrome quickly rose to significance during the interwar period.

While the UK had multiple other airports also open at the time, Croydon was the only one to handle international traffic. Its early destinations included Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Paris, with the latter being served twice daily. Berlin was added in 1923. The fact that Croydon was the UK's only international airport meant that the facility was also the busiest. Known for its neoclassical architecture, it comfortably outranked its counterparts elsewhere in the country in cargo, mail, and passenger figures. In 1924, it became the base for Imperial Airways, which served routes as far afield as Australia. Several aviation pioneers of the time visited Croydon, including Amy Johnson and Charles Lindbergh.

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A smaller post-war role

As was the case with many British airports, the start of the Second World War represented a role change for Croydon. It was closed as a civil aviation facility during the conflict and instead housed Supermarine Spitfire single-seat fighters belonging to 92 Squadron. In August 1940, the airport was damaged in a bombing raid, killing six airfield personnel. After the war, Croydon lost its status as the UK's main airport. Heathrow opened in May 1946, offering more space than Croydon, whose growth was restricted due to South London's urban sprawl having now surrounded it with suburban villages. It initially remained active but eventually closed 16 years later. The last flight left in September 1959.

The site today

Today, the former airport site is dominated by housing and an industrial estate. That being said, various buildings from the airport have remained in place, as well as a 120-meter long strip of the former WNW-ESE runway in Roundshaw Park.

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A de Havilland Heron remains on display by the former terminal building. Photo: Adam Burt via Flickr

The most prominent of the airport's buildings is the former terminal, known today as Airport House. The forecourt of this structure is home to a de Havilland Heron, painted to bear the registration G-AOXL of Morton Air Services, as this was the aircraft that flew the last passenger flight from Croydon in September 1959. All in all, it is heartwarming to see that the area has honored the site's legacy of having once been the UK's main airport. The location of Croydon Airport is roughly equidistant from Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport.

Did you know about Croydon Airport's former significance as the UK's main airport in the pre-Heathrow era? Have you ever visited the site? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments.