1 full day--Windsor from Heathrow?? I screwed up flights
 

Okay I just booked a US to London flight and realized I screwed up the return date; I accidentally ended up giving myself an extra day in London. But, this isn't just one more day to tag onto my trip; it would be an extra day in London after flying in from a tour of Jordan.

I have about 18 hours to cancel my ticket and rebook, so I am looking for thoughts.

My plan had been to spend 4 nights in London and then fly roundtrip to Jordan for a 10 day tour. Then, I would fly back to London, spend the night in a Heathrow airport hotel before flying back to the US the next morning. With the ticket I accidentally booked though it would mean 2 nights in an airport hotel and a day to fill.

So, (1) I can just cancel my ticket and re-book on the correct date I wanted.

Or, (2) I can just keep the ticket I mistakenly bought. I'd fly back to London from Jordan and get my airport hotel. Then the next day I'd take a day trip to Windsor, go back to the airport hotel for the night and then leave the next morning for the US.

The trip I mis-booked is actually $150 less than what I can find re-booking for the date I wanted, so it would be sort of a wash financially for me to book an additional night at the airport hotel. And, the cheaper mis-booked trip is in Delta's comfort+ seats. Whereas if I re-book I will be paying $150 more, but I'll be in standard economy seats. (I am short have usually found that Delta's economy seats work for me.) Also, the mis-booked ticket is nice because it departs around 11:30 while if I re-book the flight would be around 9:30. I am guessing with the 9:30 flight I'd have to arrive at the airport about 6:30am which is not my favorite time.

I am retired so I certainly have the extra day available, and that isn't a problem.

My concerns: Will I be so done with travel after 4 days in London and then an intensive 10 day tour of Jordan that I will really just want to get home and collapse rather than spending another day sight-seeing? Will I figure out the round-trip transportation to Windsor from Heathrow, arrive for the day, and find it so swamped with tourists that I would be fed up with the hassle? I am not a huge fan of the typical tourist-inundated sites. And, this would be an I've-got-to-fill-a-day visit rather than an I-am-absolutely-dying-to-see-Windsor visit.

And, I certainly learned my lesson on this one. I was in a rush to get somewhere and wasn't as careful as normal and didn't double and triple check the details like I usually do.

Since I know probably all of you have been to Windsor, what are your thoughts? Thanks for the last minute advice!

So as I understand it you now have 5 nights and a morning flight home - right? What I'd personally do is EITHER:

1) Spend 4 nights IN London, head out to LHR in the morning, drop my bag at a LHR hotel, take a bus to Windsor and explore for much of the day, return to the hotel in the evening, check in and get a good night's sleep before flying home.

or

2) Keep the existing 3 nights in London, check out leaving bag at the London hotel and do any last minute sightseeing I'd missed, then retrieve my bag and take the Elizabeth line or regular train to Windsor and stay 2 nights there, then a cab to LHR for your morning flight. It is only about 7or 8 miles.

I wouldn't want to spend 2 nights in a LHR hotel.

No, actually I have 4 nights in London, 9 nights in Jordan, and then if I keep the accidental tickets I have 2 nights to fill after my Jordan tour. I would get into Heathrow from Jordan mid-afternoon and then check into an airport hotel. Then I would have that evening and the entire next day and night to fill. I guess I wasn't clear about my dilemma.

I suppose I could go from Heathrow to Windsor mid-afternoon when I get in from Jordan. I could spend 2 nights in Windsor. You mention that it's really not all that far from Windsor to Heathrow so I could just take a cab from Windsor to the airport for my morning flight. I never thought about that because I had no idea at all about the distance involved. Now I just looked at Rome to Rio and see that a cab only takes 14 minutes (without traffic I am assuming) and costs $30 to $40.

Does one really need to be at the airport 3 hours early for an international flight?

It does help me though to know that you wouldn't want 2 nights in a Heathrow hotel.

Is Windsor truly interesting as a place to visit?

Once again, thanks a lot!

Janis, her four nights in London are before the trip to Jordan. I believe the one night at LHR is at the end after Jordan.

Guess we were posting at the same time! 😁

OH - now I get it. The OP confused me, and I thought all the London area nights were together.

Now . . . I still would not spend two nights at a LHR hotel. If it was me I'd take advantage of the booking error and book the two nights in Windsor (but then I'm a total Anglophile) Especially because of the 11:30 AM flight time. So civilized ;) I'd go straight to Windsor and stay there.

Or - a tiny stretch . . . you could even go to Oxford for 2 nights. There is a direct express coach that leaves every 30 mins and takes a bit over an hour.

BTW -- do you have status with the airline (that gets you expedited security)? Yesterday when I flew out of Terminal 3 security took less than 5 minutes. Arrived from my T-4 hotel via the free tube at 6AM for my 0830 flight and I ended up with more than 2 full hours in the Lounge. Mimosa's and breakfast.

Julie, if seeing Windsor Castle is not high on your list, I'd choose Oxford. There are lots of interesting buildings, I did a guided walk by a current Oxford student. Shopping is good, I stayed at the Premier Inn right next to John Lewis and a big newish mall.

If you choose Windsor, there's a walk along the river and Eton is walking distance too.

I would definitely allow three hours before an international flight. Security in Heathrow is quite strict. I have sometimes made it through fairly quickly but at other times needed all three hours.

Terminal 5 (BA) seems worse but otherwise, as I mentioned -- having status with the airline makes a huge difference. In my last 7 trips (since Dec '21 - post covid reopening, all in terminal 3 except for one through T-5) I have yet to take more then 15 minutes through security.

My flight would go out of terminal 3.

I have got a couple more hours and am still deciding what to do.

I am investigating and thinking through the idea of going to Windsor now that I have gotten so much more information from you. My full day there would be a Sunday which I am guessing is probably the busiest of the week for a visit. So, that's a bit concerning.

After hearing from you and looking at things to do I figure I could fill the time. Has anyone ever done one of the boat cruise tours down the Thames from Windsor?

I am looking at hotels. Is Windsor or Eton better location?

Thanks.

The two are across ihe river from each other -- so both are fine, but Windsor will be the more convenient (and it has more options for accommodations). If the weather is decent a river excursion is lovely. But don't decide until the day.

Thee used to be a boat tour along to Runnymede from Windsor, I don't know if it still runs, but it was always an enjoyable trip.
Sunday will be no busier than any other day in Windsor. There is probably enough for you to do there, including crossing the bridge to Eton, and maybe walking the Long Walk, along with a boat trip, even if you give the castle itself a miss. I haven't been for many years but we used to go a lot. You may need to book the boat trip in advance.
Wander away from the centre a bit and you lose the crowds.

Have a look at https://www.windsor.gov.uk/things-to-do for ideas, and there is also accommodation listed there.

You can take a bus to Runnymede, the Line 8. It costs 2 pounds each way, cheaper than the boats!

I personally loved Windsor and the tour of Windsor Castle. Oxford does also sound like another nice option.

Security at Heathrow is strict and it does take time.

What time of year is this? Windsor can be a zoo during the tourist season.

When is tourist season? This would be mid-April. I am wondering about the comment about Windsor potentially being a zoo.

I decided to just stick with my mis-purchased flight ticket and spend time in Windsor, and then take a taxi to Heathrow.

I appreciate all the assistance I got.

What are your exact dates? Easter week falls in mid-April. It won't be a zoo except for Easter weekend (Including Easter Monday), when it likely will be mobbed. The rest of the week between Palm Sunday and Good Friday will be more crowded than typical off-season April. On Easter Sunday April 20 the Castle won't open until 1PM and St George's Chapel will be closed to visitors on Good Friday April 18 (though open for services)

Unfortunately the one full day I will have in Windsor is Palm Sunday. I know that St. Georges Chapel is closed on Sundays, but I am thinking about attending the regular Palm Sunday service or evensong that night. I adore choral music and having the opportunity to hear music in the type of setting for which it was originally composed would more than compensate for the fact that I wouldn't be able to just roam around the chapel as a sightseer. Will there be more people than usual at Palm Sunday services?

As far as lodging, is there really much difference between staying in Windsor vs staying in Eton? I have found low-key bed & bs--one in Eton and one in Windsor--that seem more than adequate.

I'd prefer staying in Windsor but it makes a big difference which neighborhood. Windsor is much larger than Eton so some areas are quite far from the castle/river/train stations (there are two) etc. Maybe tell us the post code of each property and we can provide some info

In the same situation as you, I stayed in Teddington at the Park Hotel and visited Hampton Court. I also had time to stroll along the Thames, a park with tame deer, and take in part of a cricket match. Loved every second of it. With some planning, there is actually lodging right on the grounds of Hampton Court.

I still haven't booked anything in the Windsor location because I read reviews and realized that the small apartment I was most considering is gloomy due to lack of windows in the room. So, I will definitely take a look at this alternate suggestion for Hampton Court area. Back to Windsor, I am assuming that for my purposes I should be looking at lodging not too far from the castle and the train station. Correct?

shelemm How was transportation between the hotel and the airport? Thanks.

Correct.

Re accommodations in/near Hampton Court -- the apartments inside the grounds book up months - sometimes a year - in advance. There is a lovely hotel just across from the castle. Can be a bit pricey depending on the date but very nice - The Mitre. Also the King's Arms is very close.

Teddington/Kingston-upon-Thames/Hampton Court/anywhere in that general area would be more complicated re transport from LHR but for a 2 night stay it would be lovely.

Transport form Teddington to Hampton Court couldn't be easier. Just hop on the bus. You tap you credit card, and it whisks you there. Easy as pie. I loved the Park Hotel, very nice in every way and really good food. Highly recommend the breakfast, and I also had lunch there which was quite delicious.You can order breakfast from a menu or you can partake of a fairly elaborate continental breakfast spread. We ordered from the menu and were very pleased. It's a great village to walk around. You can get from Heathrow to Teddington by public transport, but we arrived vary late at night and decided to take a cab, which is admittedly expensive. But fast.

When we got to Heathrow to return to the US, it was not the day of the big computer meltdown, but it was the next day. Chaos reigned supreme. We barely made our flight. We followed orders on which line to stand on, but I think by that time the BA guy was just pissed at everyone. After two hours of not budging, we broke off and found a line that got us through pretty quickly. It was all done with automation, no person checks you in, but the machines were malfunctioning. Finally got one to work. Do whatever you can do give them your passport and all other info in advance of going to the airport. I am feeling that 3 hours is a good rule of thumb.

Did you say when you are traveling?

"Transport form Teddington to Hampton Court couldn't be easier"

I meant transport to/from LHR. Heck, I've walked Teddington to Hampton Court Palace.

Oh yes, it would be a nice (long) walk or a bike ride, both through Bushy Park. Where you will see deer mulling about, large ones with big antlers.

From LHR, you takes the Picadilly lIne one stop, and then there is a bus that goes to Teddington.

Before going to Hampton Court, I thought it was loads of fun seeing this Tiny Desk Concert:

I have decided to just stick with the Windsor idea. I am fine with going to Windsor via public transportation from Heathrow. But, to get to the airport for my flight to the US, I will be taking a cab. I never want to risk missing my flight back to the US.

I still haven't booked a place (and many have no option but non-refundable), but I am thinking I may book at the Sir Christopher Wren Hotel in Windsor. It seems to have a convenient and lovely location right on the river.

Have a look at the George Inn in Eton too.

https://www.georgeinn-eton.co.uk/accommodation/