We will be having a 10 hour layover at Heathrow starting at 6am.....would it be feasible to take the tube into London see some sites, have lunch and catch our next connection at 4pm? What would be your suggestions on what to see in London?
Thanks - Connie

You could easily do that. Since time is short, I would take the Heathrow Express instead of the tube. It's more expensive but a lot faster. If you've never been to London before, take one of those hop-on, hop-off bus tours to get a good overview and see the major sites.

Here's the info on Heathrow Express:

http://www.heathrowexpress.com/

Here's info on the bus tour:

http://www.theoriginaltour.com/

Have fun.

Good idea from P_M.

Is your plane due arrive at 6am and the other leave at 4pm? If so, your 10 hours will actually be a lot less than that.

Or have you factored in estimated timings for customs, luggage collection, check-in etc etc?

While it is true that you will have to go through customs before going into London, I assume your bags will be checked through to your final destination. If that's the case, you won't have to go through baggage collection or check-in.

Another thing I just thought of is that you can leave your carry-on bags at the Left Luggage facility at the airport instead of carrying them around London all day.

And thanks, Ira, you're too kind....

i would spend the day in windsor as it is 12 minutes from heathrow and very well communicated, leaving you most of your time as quality time to do some serious and easy, fun, non-tiring nor worrisome walking, touring, pubbing and resting.
as mentioned, your ten hours will be GREATLY reduced, and i am sure to play it safe on way back from london city, (quite a distance) you will even reduce your touring time again.
we enjoyed our time between flights at windosr with a nice boat ride on river, light lunch, shopping, photos of castle, and it was all so easy with the public bus right there at heathrow.

A lot can happen at both ends of your layover (having to wait for a gate, delays at immigration, long check-in times, etc) so count on having about 6+ hours free time. If you are lucky there won't be any gate delays or queues at immigration and you might have 7+ hours.

Of course you can go into London - but if this is after an overnight flight, London during the morning rush might be a little overwhelming.

I personally think going over to Windsor is a better idea. it is 12-15 minutes by cab or about 30 mins by local buses. You could go there, have a nice breakfast or morning coffee, wander along the river, maybe walk across the bridge to Eton, and then after 10 a.m. enter the castle and tour the state apartments and St Georges Chapel. After the castle (maybe even see th changing of the guard there) have a leisurely lunch in the town and a quick taxi ride back to LHR.

Am I the only person on the planet (or this board anyway) that thinks that getting a day room at a Heathrow hotel and taking a shower/bath and a nap is a consideration when there is a fairly long layover? Freshening up is not a bad thing and airport restrooms leave alot to be desired for this function.

Granted this person does not say where he/she is starting off from, but if it is a long flight to Heathrow I cannot see much fun in "sightseeing" after a long flight with another flight looming ahead in 10 hours. Call me a wimp but it does not sound like fun.

Please, do not jump all over me for this, but I really do wonder.

Lori, I don't disagree with what you're saying but I personally think that given the opportunity to see somewhere, however briefly, particularly if I've never been there but have always had images of it via the media, then I'd kick myself for not making the most of it. There's time to sleep and freshen up on the plan - or when you get home.

Horses for courses.

Lori, You're certainly not the only person on the planet who thinks that way, but you are almost certainly in the minority on this site.

Count me as one who'd go the extra length to see something new in the world, even if I was jetlagged and bleary-eyed.

Actually I'm with Lori on this one.

Especially if I was coming/going on terribly long flights and/or huge time changes.