We have an 8 hour lay over on our way to Ireland in February. We fly into and out of Gatwick.

We have never been to London before so we want to see at least a few things if possible. What would you do if you only had 8 hours in London? Places to catch lunch would be helpful as well.

If I had a layover of that length, I would take the Gatwick Express in to Victoria Station and go for a walk to Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Westminster. You'll have plenty of time to do that, plus allowing for transit time and getting back in plenty of time for your flight. As for lunch, there are many choices and my inclination would be to choose a pub or something like that on an opportunistic basis. Functionally, you've probably got about five hours in London to play with.

If your layover is 8 hours from touchdown to boarding - then you'll really only have about 4 hours in London after you subtract 1 hour on the ground at LGW, 30+ mins Victoria on the train, 30+ mins back, and 2 hours back a LGW for security/check-in.

But that is enough time to see a bit - Victoria is very close to Buckingham Palace. Or better yet, walk up Victoria Street to Westminster Abbey. From there you are across the street from Big Ben/Parliament. And then it is a short walk across the river to the Eye.

Or you could just catch a cab from Victoria Station to where ever you want.

The tube/buses are the usual way to get around, but I would not use a lightning 4-hour first visit to learn the whys and wheres of either the tube or buses. Just too easy to get confused.

be back at Victoria station to catch the train about 2.5 hours before your flight.

(Now, if you had already factored in the travel/check in/check in and actually have 8 hours in London - you'd have a lot more options.)

What would I do? I'd start at Trafalgar Sq., go to the Natl. Portrait Gallery to get a quick refresher on English history, then to the Natl. Gallery, and have lunch in the undercroft of the St. Martin's in the Fields (or in the restaurant in the Sainsbury Annex of the Natl. Gallery, which is pretty good.) All of these are in Trafalgar Sq. Then I'd take a hop-on, hop-off bus tour of the city, and stop wherever I saw something that interested me.

oops - that should read "Now, if you had already factored in the travel/security/check in and actually have 8 hours in London - you'd have a lot more options."

And w/ just 4 hours in town you really won't have time for the National Gallery, St Martin's plus the hop-on-hop-off bus tour, let alone stopping anywhere.

Thanks for the suggestions. We land at 6:45AM and don't depart until 6:55PM, so we really have a good 8 hours to play with. Keeping in mind that we'll be traveling with a 6 year old and the fatigue factor will set in because of Jet Lag, we're keeping our options open. I'd like to hear the top three things you have to do in London if given the chance!

Also, we heard there is a place to show luggage for a fee at LGW. We're coming in on a Delta flight and departing on an Easy Jet flight. How much time do we need to recheck our baggage and go through security in the afternoon?

Hi ...

Well I definitely do the London Eye ... pre-book to save time queuing ... also by a guide book if not provided ... so you can see all the sights when on the Eye ... not sure of website??

Buckingham palace & Changing of Guards .. won't bother with hop off-on tour - as long as you know what you want to see.

Mark

The airport logistics:

There are left luggage places at both the North Terminal (where Delta arrives) and the South (whence Easyjet leaves, and also where the station is). So take your bags to the South terminal and leave them at left luggage there.

Observing Easyjet's checkin times is essential, as they're utterly ruthless about denying boarding to anyone who's not at the front of the queue with their bags by cutoff time. You'll then have time for security. Collecting from left luggage needs a bit of added time allowing, since it often seems to happen that staff are, literally, too busy scanning bags being checked in, or arguing with other customers shocked at their prices, to hand bags over instantly.

..you are travelling with a 6 year old..I really don't want to rain on your parade, but please dont underestimate jet lag ect. I would try to get into the city, but please keep your plans really fluid and play things by ear..the plane can be delayed, one of you can just start to fold..I would make it as easy for myself as possible with the Gatwick express into the city and then play it by ear..even an hr on the park bench contemplating the Thames might be all you are up to...

What about……

Go to Trafalgar Sq (Charing Cross tube). Walk from there down Whitehall, past Downing St and Horseguards Parade (home of the famous guards). Then onto Parliament Square, where you will see Parliament and Big Ben. Have a pint in the Red Lion or St Stephens pubs (both are very nice).

Next door is Westminster Abbey – have a quick trip round that, then cross over Westminster Bridge towards the eye (you haven’t got time for the eye), and on to waterloo Station for the Gatwick Express (you change at Clapham Junction).

If you want to eat there are lots of restaurants in and around County Hall, which you pass.

Thanks for all the suggestions. We're looking forward to being there this Tuesday.

I heard a rumor and I'm sure it's just that, but wanted to check. I heard that in order to leave the airport and head out to London, we'll need a visa. Any truth to that? Perhaps everyone could shed light on how to get through customs the fastest way possible.

We're flying in from Atlanta on Delta, then have to grab our bags and recheck them on Easy Jet that afternoon to Cork City. Advice and suggestions would be very helpful.

Easy Jet has a 1:15PM flight for Cork City from LGW. Out of curiosity, why didn't you book that flight? Have a Great Trip!!! Mike

Just to point out that at 6:45am - and for at least 3 hours afterwards - London isn't open.

So don't bother rushing into London, I'd have a leisurly breakfast at LGW & clean up then aim to get into London for about 10:00am.

If the weather is nice then go from Victoria to Westminster Station by Tube & emerge at the Bridge Strret exit which brings you out right under Big Ben. Cross the river for your London Eye ride and then take a http://www.londonducktours.co.uk/

If it's raining take the Tube from Victoria to South Kensington & hit the Science and/or Natural History museum.

Have a late lunch and make your way back to Gatwick

"I heard a rumor and I'm sure it's just that, but wanted to check. I heard that in order to leave the airport and head out to London, we'll need a visa. Any truth to that? Perhaps everyone could shed light on how to get through customs the fastest way possible. "

Assuming you are US citizens then you don't. As for Customs, you actually mean immigration and I wouldn't bother rushing as you have to pick up your luggage anyway

BTW you do realise that Easyjet is EXTREMELY strict on checkin times, checed luggage weight & cabin luggage size. IKf you don't want to have a very big bill I'd suggest reading up on their website otherwise you'll get a BIG shock.

Thanks for more advice. We wanted to see London so that's why we booked the last flight to Cork City on Easy Jet.

In regard to Easy Jet, I'm aware of the STRICT restrictions. We're only taking one bag, that's not heavier than 40 pounds per person. Now I know why it was cheap!

This was the schedule in my head, let me know what you think.

8:00AMish catch train to Victoria Station
9:00AMish breakfast in London

See sites until 3PMish

3:00PMish catch tube back to Gatwick
4:00PMish get checked in at Easy Jet

What do you guys think?

Since Alan mentions cleaning up, may I ask how the showers are at Heathrow? I'll have a similar layover in London in May. I'd like to shower, since I'll be leaving onward to Nairobi that night, but are the facilities OK? What does one do with luggage? (I'll have $$$ photo gear with me.) Thanks for any information and for letting me latch onto this thread!
Sharon

re: the checked left luggage at airport.. they charge per bag.. regardless of size, so if you have a way of putting a couple carry-ons within a larger soft bag that will be acceptable to them.

(at least that's how it was a couple years ago).