I will be in London with my 3 kids (7 year old twin girls, and 9 year old boy) in July on a 12 hour layover in Heathrow Airport. My kids and I do not want to be stuck in the airport for that long... I'll go crazy. So, we've been researching how to get to London, do some sightseeing and get back to the airport in time for our 9pm flight (we arrive at Heathrow at 9am). We won't have any luggage to carry (I plan on bringing only a small camera bag).
Here are my questions:
1. How do we get to Central London on the Tube? I've researched this and found it is the cheapest way to get to London. However, terminal 4 tube will be closed? That's what their website says. So, how do I get to London?
2. What's a suggested itinerary? We'll be tired of course so we don't care to do much. Just see perhaps Westminster/Parliament buildings/etc., Hyde Park, Kensington and maybe do some light shopping on Oxford street. Any other suggestions?
3. Do you think the bus tours are worth it? I don't want to spend too much money.

Thanks!
Manal

I have NEVER thought that the hop on hop off bus was agreat idea. Until now. It would give you a great intro to the city and not tax your kids too much.
Skip the "light shopping" om oxford street- too crowded and mostly larger stores (not an easy in and out imho).
your other option would be to spend the day in hyde park (lots of outdoors stuff for the kids) with a trip over to Harrods for picnic food.
I hope other will chime in but with three kids and a very short bit if time I'd want a good weather plan and a bad weather plan!!

I will probably get blasted for saying this but isn't possible you and these kids will be tired? I would guess you are flying at night since you arrive at 9 a.m. Are you all planning on getting a good night's sleep on the plane? If not, I'd not want to go sightseeing for 12 (or at least 9 or 10) hours and then get on another flight. While these kids are not babies they are probably going to get cranky at some point.

I understand wanting to see a little of London, but unless you are all super-human won't a day room at an airport hotel be a good idea? Being able to stretch out, sleep and freshen up sounds good to me.

I am probably the only person that will suggest this, but it's a thought. Another thought is to simply go over to Windsor Castle for a couple of hours. Then come back to Heathrow and hunt down the shower rooms and try and rest a little.

Lori: You are half right. I will be dead tired. My kids won't. Past experience has taught me that my kids will have slept on the plane and will be filled with energy.
highledge: Everyone I talk to recommends the bus tour just because it means relaxing while someone else shows us the city... we'll probably go ahead and do it. I heard it takes 2 hours. I was thinking we'd do the tour and then get off at Hyde Park and have a picnic there and then go back to the airport. What do you think? If the weather is bad, we'll just hang out at the Natural History Museum instead of Hyde Park.
How do we get to London from Heathrow (Terminal 4)?

I think the hop-on, hop-off bus tour is a great idea. I'd stay on for the full loop to get an overview of the city and then let the kids decide where they want to hop off for a few minutes

Backup plans are good, but how exciting FOR THEM to be able to get a taste of the city and then have input on what they want to do and see (in the limited time available).

Of course, I'm one of those who is absolutely shocked when I read a post by someone who has decided what they are going to do and where they are going to eat (with reservations!) in a place they've never set foot in before. I say a little prayer of gratitude that I don't have to travel with someone with that approach to travel.

Research away - but make room for serendipity. Okay, I'm preaching now. Sorry.

Jusst did the Heathrow to Central London thing last week. From what I could find you have two choices. First is the Express train from Terminal 4 to Paddington Station and then take the tube to where you want to go. Or take the free portionof the Express train from termianl 4 to terminals 1-2-3 and take the tube from there. The tube is far less expensive but will take you about an hour to reach Picadilly Circus. From Picadilly circus you can walk easily to the West End, the Thames, Big Ben, Parliment, the London Eye. If your kids are Harry Potter fans (though they may be young) you can go to Kings Cross station to see where some of the scenses from the films were shot. I like the idea of the hop on hop off bus for you. I wish I had done that.

Thanks everyone! Looks like we'll take the Express train to Terminal 3 and then take the tube to Piccadelly Circus. Then we'll do the hop on/hop off bus and take it from there.

Hi ...

If you arrive at 9AM, you might not get into London till midday if you go by tube, & you would need to leave by 5 (in the rush hour) to get back in time for your checkin.

What about using 1 of those car services that are mentioned in here regularly - might give you more time in London?? Of course might be extremely expensive - no idea !!

Mark

Heathrow T4 to Piccadilly Circus using HEX & Tube takes 45 minutes

Heathrow T4 to Piccadilly Circus using Tube takes 52 minutes

Using the HEX with 3 children will cost £65 (120USD) return PLUS the cost of the Tube

Using the Tube will cost £8 (15USD)as the children will go free

alanrow: I read that you can get on the Express for free when traveling between Terminals. So, if we go from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3 that should be free, right? That's what I've read on these boards.

Yes you can, but if you are leaving from T4 why bother.

You can take the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station, and pick up one of the Big Bus tours there. The station is stop #28 on the blue route. You may as well see the city from a double-decker bus!

http://www.bigbus.co.uk

I still think the tube is easiest, even with the hiccup of the shuttle between T4 and T3.
The price of the day travelcard is essentially a hop on hop off bus and tube pass (albeit one that stops at too many sights of little interest to tourists!) so you could the money of the other bus, but convenience might be worth its weight in 7-year-old twins here, so grab a spot on the top deck up front and hold on tight!
If the weather's fine, you'll see half of London catching a nap under a tree in one of the parks. (Hyde is as good as any, thought the ducks/swans/coots/pelicans in St. James are entertaining.) I see no reason why you shouldn't do the same if you need to.
Even if the weather looks terrible, or everyone is in a horrible mood, I'd say go for it! The worst thing that can happen is you head back early. But you might have the time of your lives. I remember doing some crazy stuff like this with my mom, and we still laugh about it, and I admire her for it. You will certainly be entertained.
12 hours is absolutely doable. I wouldn't plan too much. I honestly think you're safe just getting off at Piccadilly, doing the bus, park and wandering around (I lived there for a few years). You can pick up good premade sandwiches, salads etc. for a picnic all over the place, and the parks have little indoor/outdoor cafeteria/cafes, usually by the ponds.
Have a wonderful time!

Thanks everyone for your wonderful advice

Weather and time permitting, the kids would have a great time at the Princess Diana Playground in Kensington Park. Might be nice to let them burn some energy.

issy: is it an easy walk from Hyde Park to Kensington ?

12 hours is doable, but please DO consider the previous poster's observation about actual layover time. To elaborate, if your plane arrives (on time!) at 9.00 a.m., plan on 60 to 90 minutes to unboard, walk down loooong Heathrow corridors, clear customs and immigration, and reach the tube or train. On a busy July morning, it could take even more time. Then add 30 to 50 minutes for the tube/train time into central London.

On the return trip, start with the tube/train time (30-50 minutes), airline's required advance check-in, time to clear security check, etc.

Alternative suggestion? A taxi from Heathrow to nearby Windsor (15-25 minutes). Tour the castle or....go to Legoland.

Dave
dw*KidsToLondon.com

Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens (I believe that's what Issy is talking about) are next to each other. You might not even know you crossed over from one to the other. Having said that, it's a hike from one end to the other. You could spend the entire day just exploring the parks! (I love the Serpentine, in Hyde Park, around sunset.)
With your short schedule, I would not get too hung up on any particular part of the parks. They're all lovely and special in their own way, but for your purposes, they'll all pretty much do.
Many tube and bus stops ring the parks though, so you could get off reasonably close to where you want, if your (meaning their!) heart is set on something.
Guide books and the Web are your friends.
Have fun!

I think Dave has a grand idea. I read his description of Windsor (and Legoland 3 miles down the road) and think it would be a great choice.

Taxi there. Nice visit to a wonderful area and easy, uncomplicated return back to the airport. It would be my choice - hands down.

Thanks Dave from KidstoLondon ... clearly stated exactly what I was I was trying to say ... if you go to the centre of London, you'll be lucky to have more than 5 hours - much better to go to Windsor - see the castle - maybe go on a boat cruise (is Windsor the right place for that - or am I thinking of somewhere completly different??) - go to Legoland etc.

Mark