We're using Frequent flyer miles to get from Maryland to Copenhagen and Oslo back home. All by way of Chicago (airline requirement) and London (Heathrow). Most connections are OK; but, on the way home we have a 5.5 hour (9:05 am to 2:35 pm) layover at Heathrow. Should I bring a good book or is there something else worth doing? We've been to the UK (including London) twice before, many years ago. Thanks

Bearing in mind the time it might take to get through immigration, and the huge amount of retailing airside, you might have a lot less than 5 hours and a lot more to do at the airport than you expect.

But I'd be tempted to get the Heathrow Connect train to Southall (10 mins), lok at Europe's biggest Sikh temple and have an early Indo-East African lunch at The Brilliant.

The main problem if you go landside, is the extra time it will take to get back into departures.

When you factor in taxi time to your gate, the often looooong walk (w/ equally often broken moving sidewalks) from the gate to arrivals, immigration (which you wouldn't have to worry about if you stayed airside), security and so on you really will have barely 2 hours away from LHR.

If you had a 7 hour layover - I possibly go for it. But w/ only 5+, I'd stay at the airport.

I think the shopping and restaurants are better in Heathrow than other airports. I have been there for 5 hours though and there is only so much oysters on the half shell you can eat.

No way around this? Sure you can't hop on an earlier flight when you are there? Are you coming back at a busy time?

Hmmm... That's an unfortunate layover amount of time. I find 3 hours comfortable for Heathrow. There's enough to do (take a shower, have a meal and/or some wine, buy trashy British tabloids, go shopping). And with 7+ hours I'd say leave the airport.

Personally, I would probably stay at the airport only because for me it would be less stressful.

Working backwards from your departure time of 2:35, you should allow

1:00 to get checked in, or
0:00 if you're e-ticketed and can check yourself in
1:00 to clear security
0:30 to get from Paddington to Heathrow on the Express

So if can you be on your way to town by 10:00 or so, you'll have a couple of hours to hit a few high points - which is better than staring at the Duty Free.

With a one-day Zone 1 Off-Peak Travelcard bought at Paddington Underground station, you can get all over town by bus or tube. Download this map and print it out:

<b>http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/pdfdocs/tourist.pdf
</b>

You might want to take the Bakerloo line straight to Waterloo Station and from there walk over Westminster Bridge to the Abbey, Cathedral, and Buckingham Palace - or get off the Bakerloo at Oxford Circus and take an eastbound #15 bus to the Tower, returning to Waterloo on the RV1 along the south bank. As you can see, the #15 goes by a number of popular sights, and the RV1 takes you to the Eye.

No matter where you roam, you can dive into the nearest Tube and be back at Paddington in fifteen minutes or so. With your pass, you can jump off any time, take a closer look at something, and get on the next bus going your way.

There is a chain of &quot;gourmet&quot; sandwich shops called Pret a Manger all over town; here you can quickly buy a lunch to picnic on.

i would go to windsor ( if you've never been there)to spend an hour or two or so.
worth the taxi ride or public bus. apporx. 15 minutes MAX to get there.

we have done this and enjoyed it.