surfmom

We are trying something new this year and taking a daytime flight into LHR (my oldest DD doesn't sleep well on planes and is miserable). We arrive there about 6pm and are spending the night at the Sofitel in T5. We fly out early the next morning to our final destination.

Do we:
- take the tube into central London for dinner and walking around ?
- take a taxi to Windsor and go for a walk and dinner? If we do this, how do we get a taxi back to LHR?
- go to yet a different, recommended location?

Of course, this assumes an on-time flight and nice weather if we are going to walk around. I just thought since it is mid-afternoon our time zone, it might be nice to get outside and get fresh air and go for a walk.

thoughts/recommendations?

historytraveler

If I were you I'd just wait and see how everyone feels on arrival. Thinking a trek into London just for dinner and a walk about might be a bit much especially considering that it'll take a while to get through passport control, collect your luggage if checking bags and then checking into the Sofitel etc. Windsor might be a better option. No real need to decide before you get there. The Sofitel has two restaurants. One is up scale and expensive, the other offers an eclectic menu including pizza if I remember correctly.

surfmom

thanks historytraveler... I guess I'm trying to come up with a Plan A and a Plan B. I know when traveling with the family, if I don't have a plan, we can easily end up with groupthink and lots of 'ummm's'.

When I check the weather forecast, right now, it isn't looking good - in that case, we may just stay inside. However, in general, I like to be outside. I was hoping getting outside would help their bodies adjust so they can sleep at night.

One of my fears about going into central London is that by the time we spend 45 minutes each way (minimum), we've spent even more time traveling. For that reason, I'm probably leaning towards Windsor.

di2315

Windsor does have plenty of choices for places to eat - just stroll up the main street and look at the menus in the windows. The train station is very convenient to both the main shopping drag and for a look at the outside of Windsor Castle, even if you don't get to go inside. Di

Odin

Richmond is also a very nice area with lots of restaurants plus the river Thames is prettier in this area, with nice long path running parallel. What day of the week are you arriving? Traffic can be heavy from Heathrow to Windsor midweek in the rush hour.

If you don't feel like travelling too far, the Pheasant Inn is not too far from T5 and is highly recommended.

http://www.pheasant-restaurant.co.uk/styled/page2.html

Or, approx 10mins away from T5 by taxi, the Ostrich Inn in the village of Colnbrook

http://www.theostrichcolnbrook.co.uk/

There are couple other dining/pub options in Colnbrook.

surfmom

Di and Odin, thanks for thoughts.

Odin, it will be a Saturday night (tomorrow in fact). Weather forecast doesn't look good, so I can't imagine there will be lots of "strolling". Good ideas for pubs!

anyone else had a similar experience or thoughts?

Odin

Richmond has lots of pubs and restaurants, so don't let the weather stop you going there or Windsor. It's quite warm so people have been dining outside underneath parasols. Kingston-upon-thames and Windsor have Cote Brasserie, but for tomorrow night, they are almost certainly fully booked. Both restaurants have a lovely view of the river.

suec1

We stayed at the Swan in Staines one time for a LHR departure. It is quite close to LHR - we took a taxi, not too pricey. It has a pleasant pub and lovely seating area that looks out onto the Thames. There is also an outdoor seating area if the weather becomes cooperative and you can also stroll along the river if its REALLY nice. Lots of swans, ducks, skullers to watch.

surfmom

thought I'd update what happened.

We arrived in LHR - relatively on-time - and got to the Sofitel. Check in was a bit of a zoo with a pretty long line, but we did our best to be patient. Once at the room, we all decided we were hungry - asked the concierge about a taxi to Windsor. Since we were 5 people, it was going to be L60 each way... ummm.... no. Apparently, they have contracted with a car service and have set rates - if we walked up to the arrivals taxi line, we might do better, but may also have to wait (more unknown).

Kids were getting hungry (especially the one who gets grumpy if she doesn't get food)... and when I did the math about the 20 min. drive, agreeing upon a restaurant, ordering and getting food - on a Saturday night - I realized it wasn't a good idea. Instead, we walked up to Terminal 5 - pre-security - and went to Carluccio's.

It was decent Italian - we would eat there again. By the time we got back to the room, showered and ready for bed - it was after 10pm - since we had a 6:40am flight, it was just as well. Oh yeah, as to the weather - it rained shortly after we landed and while we were walking to the hotel, but had cleared up for a beautiful sunset.

Even though I wanted to get outside and get fresh air, we stumbled into a good plan.

working on the TR...

bilboburgler

Their rates with local cabs were probably the best going. If you'de taken the taxi it probably would have been higher (still fixed but higher)