How busy are airport arrivals?

[fingerscrossed4this]

My parents are visiting and I'm finally getting to meet them after a year and a half!!! 🎉

Have any of you recently been through Heathrow airport? How long is it taking to get through immigration at arrivals with the checking of the forms and everything?

They don’t actually check forms, not as a rule anyway. If arriving at a busy time of the day, 45 mins wouldn’t be unusual for passports and bags. Also depends if they’re UK citizens and going through the e-Gates, or having to queue for immigration control.

Ahh I wasn't aware the forms are not always checked. I assumed they were at arrival to make sure that the PCR tests have been booked. My parents are coming from an amber listed country, and do not have British passports.

Pre Covid, it used to take them 30-45 minutes to get through immigration checks. I read horror stories in the news about queues being miles long and having to wait for hours so wanted to see if anyone has had any recent experience.