Suggestions where to go during 10 hour layover at Heathrow
#1
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Suggestions where to go during 10 hour layover at Heathrow
I will be traveling back from Asia next month and have a 10 hour layover at Heathrow, arriving at 6:40am on a Friday and departing that afternoon around 4. I'd like to leave the airport for a little while, but realize I need to be organized if I want to do anything worthwhile. What would you suggest? I've been to London before, but would like to go somewhere for lunch, preferable somewhere close to a tube station as I won't have any warm clothes with me. Does Covent Garden make sense? Or is there somewhere closer that I should look in to?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
#3
Join Date: May 2004
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Anywhere on the Piccadilly Line would be fine. Covent Garden is ok but Knightsbridge is closer. there are also some nice places to eat around Green Park or maybe Piccadilly itself or Leicester Square for Chinatown ( restaurants around Leicester Sq itself are generally pretty dire!)
#5
Windsor is probably best -- but you won't have time to do much since your free hours don't match up too well w/ opening hours.
You'll be through passport control and the queue at Left Luggage for your carry on's by maybe 8AM and in Windsor by 8:30/8:45-ish.
You'll need to be back at LHR by 1PM at the latest in order to retrieve your carry on's (this is assuming they are too large to carry to Windsor and schlepp around)
So The Castle opens at 9:45 and you'd have to exit to start looking/calling for a a cab by noon-ish.
So you can either do a quick visit of the Castle . . . or probably better is to just walk around the town - cross the river to Eton - have a late morning tea or an early lunch and then head back to the airport.
You'll be through passport control and the queue at Left Luggage for your carry on's by maybe 8AM and in Windsor by 8:30/8:45-ish.
You'll need to be back at LHR by 1PM at the latest in order to retrieve your carry on's (this is assuming they are too large to carry to Windsor and schlepp around)
So The Castle opens at 9:45 and you'd have to exit to start looking/calling for a a cab by noon-ish.
So you can either do a quick visit of the Castle . . . or probably better is to just walk around the town - cross the river to Eton - have a late morning tea or an early lunch and then head back to the airport.
#6
Join Date: May 2004
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Without warm clothes in November, I might opt to take to tube to Leicester Square and wander around the National Portrait Gallery a bit. The restaurant at the top is good and has a nice London view, but doesn't open until 12 for lunch, so depending on what time you need to be back to LHR you might not have time for that. Alternatively, there is a cafe in the basement which opens earlier.
#8
>>The restaurant at the top is good and has a nice London view, but doesn't open until 12 for lunch, so depending on what time you need to be back to LHR you might not have time for that.<<
There really isn't time for that. They fly out around 4PM and the tube alone takes approx an hour. If they need to be at LHR 3 hours ahead (which some airlines require) - they'd have to leave central London around opening time . . .
There really isn't time for that. They fly out around 4PM and the tube alone takes approx an hour. If they need to be at LHR 3 hours ahead (which some airlines require) - they'd have to leave central London around opening time . . .
#11
Note the easiest buses to use for Windsor depart the T5 bus station, not Heathrow central bus station. Allow around an hour in each direction.
In Windsor get off in the High Street opposite the castle; there's a covered shopping mall right there (Windsor Royal Shopping) that has numerous cafes and restaurants, for a coffee, late breakfast, whatever, before exploring farther.
In Windsor get off in the High Street opposite the castle; there's a covered shopping mall right there (Windsor Royal Shopping) that has numerous cafes and restaurants, for a coffee, late breakfast, whatever, before exploring farther.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2004
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I think it was more like 25 minutes, gardyloo. We got the return schedule and gave ourselves plenty of time in case we missed one. it was a wonderful day. I'll see if I can find my mini report on this visit
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#19
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Thank you everyone for your suggestions. Depending on the weather, we'll take the bus to Windsor, as that seems to make the most sense. Is there a cafe or restaurant that you'd recommend? It doesn't sound like we'll have a lot of time, but it'll be good to get out and get some fresh air before we begin the next leg of our trip home.
#20
Join Date: Jun 2004
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We just stopped at a nice pub with flowers outside and the later walked to the river, took a river tour and had a coffee at a riverside café and got the bus back. no rush. plenty of time and very relaxing.