Note that if you buy the combined ticket for the Eye and the Tower, you travel between the two on Thames Clippers' boat which runs just once an hour (www.thamesclippers.com). If there are delays and you miss the boat, it would be quicker to make your own way between them.

We went in October, 2003, and are going back in September. When we were there in 2003, the weather was horrendous, rainy and cloudy. But unless there's a ground fog, you can still see plenty, even if visability is poor compared to a clear day (which are rare moments in London anyway).

I liked the flight on the Eye first thing after we arrived, because it gave us an opportunity to get the lay of the land, seeing Westminster and other sights around the city. We scheduled at dusk so we could be there during daylight, and see the lights of Parliament come up just as we started our descent.

It doesn't take much time, and it's a unique structure that is fun to go on. I think if you had kids with you, they'd be fascinated by it.

We're going back in September, and since we only have a couple of nights in London before going on to Paris, we've booked our flight already for Friday night at dusk again.

Happy travels.

Jules

If the kids are under 16, the Tube is actually quite a bit cheaper than the other modes, because you qualify for a Family Day Travelcard that will get you from Heathrow to London and all around on the Tube and bus for £4 for adults and £.80 for the teens.

The Underground is also faster than anything except the Heathrow Express. Go to thetube.com and use the Journey Planner to figure your routing.

(Not a reply to Duck-- a general observation.) For what it's worth, three weeks ago on a Monday morning, there was a 35-minute wait to buy tickets to the Eye and about a 10-minute wait to get on, once tickets had been purchased. A sunny day.

My kids (10 and 13) thought that it was o.k. We spent a day at the Tower, and I hope -- and believe-- that they'll remember that far longer. They were unimpressed by the jewels but completely taken in by the history.

w/ a 10 hour layover you will have approx 6.5 hours free time. In 6+ hours you want to drive into central London, "fly" the Eye, take a boat down river to Tower Pier, tour the Tower of London, go to Camden Town and/or Piccidilly Circus and drive back to LHR.

The Tower is always crowded but on a weekend afternoon it will be especially so. You can't really do a "quick" tour of the Tower on a weekend. The line just to see the Crown Jewels usually runs to an hour or more. Plus there are lines to get into the White Tower. With your pass, you will be able to skip the entrance queue, but that won't help you once you are inside the Tower grounds.

Sat a.m. arrival makes it a little better since you won't be fighting commute traffic.

The Eye takes 30 minutes. Count on at least 30 minutes to the Tower because you will probably have to wait for the next scheduled boat. The Tower takes an absolute minimum of 2 hours to see even the basics and that doesn't include queueing for the Jewels. Add in two 45 - 60 minute cab rides. That totals 6 hours w/o any time to eat. And if your flight is even 30 minutes late you may not get to the Eye by 1:30.

My point is that your plan is just BARELY possible - and any minor glitch means all bets are off.

(BTW - the tube is often faster into central London than driving)

Sorry, I meant that if we have time, we will do Picadilly and then naturally underground it back to the airport since we will be on the underground at that point any. If the line to see the Jewels is an hour even with the new moving walkway, we might not be seeing them on that day. I have seen the Tower thrice and relished its many facets. If it takes us more than 3.5 hours to land, get through customs and get to the Eye, we will just have to throw our plight onto the mercy of the keepers of the Eye or purchase new tickets. The point about the family card on the underground is well-taken. I still wonder how much faster the Tube will be (after getting the tickets, etc.) to the Eye then a cab from Heathrow. We are going to be on a long-haul journey to the wilds of Africa so the idea of slipping into a cab curbside still sounds appealing but if we are in a pinch for time, we may have to Tube it.

Just a point re the Tower/Crown Jewels. The "new" moving walkway (not so new BTW) you mention is only w/i the vault where the main crowns/jewels are located. The lines to get to that point are where you will spend an hour or more. They have set it up sort of ala Disney - a long winding queue w/ lots to interest you and take your mind off the long wait. So lots of displays and video programm - but it is still just a line to get to the Jewels.

You will likely be able to change your Eye tickets if you get there late -- but you'll have to stand in line to do it. I think your whole plan is sort of frantic/ill conceived (having to be somewhere 20 miles away at a specific, pre-paid, time) for a layover between such long flights - but never mind . . . . .

Meant to add - there are LOTS of other things one could do w/ 6 hours w/o having to travel across all of London twice.

Yeah but you are the one who first told me it would take too long to get to the Tower from the Eye. Hmmmm. I know there are tons of things to do in London but that was not my question. I am not certain any of our plans to your liking--sorry but it is our trip and I was looking for specific information on our planned itinerary.

And you HAVE received all sorts of specific information.

Granted---it is crazy. The chances of actually pulling it off sounds nuts when you put it that way. If I had only had your travel aptitude to guide me, we would not be in this dire predicament of trying to do the Eye and the Tower with pre-paid tickets. "Frantic and ill-conceived".....This is too hilarious for a travel forum.