We have 8 hours, 25 minutes if all goes well. Is it realistic to subtract 1 hour for getting out of the airport (customs) and 2 hours for getting back in and getting through to our gate? Subtracting the three hours that would give us 5 1/2 hours for getting somewhere, seeing it and getting back.
Is that adequate time?


My husband has never been to London --maybe he could see Big Ben--other posts have mentioned Windsor Castle-- any other suggestions?

I suppose we'd need some Euros?

Well since London uses GBP, no you don't need euros

First, you need to find out what time your plane actually lands, versus when it is scheduled. You should allow about an hour to get through immigration, pick up your luggage (or will it be checked in to your final destination and you will have only carry-ons) and get out through Customs. To get into London will take the best part of an hour.

Then you need to find out when you have to check in for your ongoing flight (NOT arrive at the airport - but check in). If it's an hour you need to allow time on line and to get through security - plus an hour to get from London back to Heathrow (I assume we're talking Heathrow). You might end up with 3 or 4 hours in London - or much less if your plane is late. Windsor is closer and interesting.

You may want to have alternate plans ready based on your actual time of hitting the pavement.

NY Traveler and Suze, thank you both. This is very helpful. Actually, I thought Windsor Castle was in London so that shows you how much I know. I will check it out. I suppose it is in WINDSOR.

So, choosing Windsor as the destination, does that give us a lot more time, or a little?

Windsor is definitely doable, but not cheap. Most people will suggest you take a taxi there, but a cheaper way is to take the bus, which takes 30-40minutes to get from Heathrow to Windsor.

I agree with the above, but as noted it's assumed you're going through Heathrow (LHR). If you're going to/through Gatwick (LGW), that's another story and you've got to add more transit time since it's further out than LHR.

It would be rushed, but I am sure that central London is doable. Even assuming it takes you an hour to clear immigration, another hour into London an hour to get back to the airport, then two further hours to check in etc, it still gives you 2 hours to walk around.

In that time you could use a hop on/off bus, or just walk around to see Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham palace. It would be a whistlestop tour, but you would get to see some of the sights.