Greetings:
My husband and I are on a layover in London on our way to Croatia. We will be staying at the Holiday Inn Heathrow Ariel. We arrive mid-day 5/22(noon) from an overnight from Denver and will not depart until 11am the following day 5/23... We thought if we slept a few hours and then went out to dinner later we might be somewhat recovered from the flight. So, if you had an evening to spend in London, would it be worth it to go into the city centre or environs? We have travelled extensively throughout Europe, but have not been to London. Trains and the Tube would not bother us- but I don't want to spend 1-2 hours each way trying to find a place to dine and sight see in the evening. Any suggestions?

Well from LHR to the west end, it will be an hour or more. We often stay near LHR but generally don't go into the city unless we have at least six or seven hours. It's doable, though - Hotel Hoppa to LHR tube station, then Picadilly line into town. Not physically difficult, but not super fast. You could take the Heathrow Express ("HEX&quot train in, much faster, but a lot more expensive. The hotel can give you details.

If you know from previous overnight flights to Europe that you can readily nap, wake well rested, and enjoy an evening out, then I suggest you have a simple dinner and spend the evening at the theatre.

If your primary objective is to see a few of the main tourist sites, then fight jet lag by staying on your feet all afternoon, eat dinner, and return to your hotel for an early lights out.

In either case, I suggest you buy one-day travelcards for zones 1-6 (6.30 GBP) which will get you to central London and back on the tube plus unlimited rides on the tube, bus, DLR, and National Rail trains within those zones.

So if we didn't want to go into central London what areas around Heathrow within 15-30 minutes travel would you suggest- smaller, quaint, pubs and an area to walk around- small village like- I don't think we will be up for the big city experience after all- Thanks!

There is local bus service from Heathrow to Windsor (about 30 minutes). You could see the castle and also check out Eaton which is right "next door."

Oh but why not go into London? For example, take the tube from Heathrow (it's the Picadilly line) to Hammersmith where you've reserved a hotel bed in walking distance. Don't be too fussy about the hotel, just pick one that's close is what I suggest. Make sure your nap is a short one, or you'll get turned around for the rest of the trip.

Head on out, there are nice pubs in the vicinity of the station; it's also a bus hub on the upper level, and a shopping centre at ground level, and being such a transport hub, you'll go off in any direction you wish for an evening on the town, and you'll come back no problem.

Don't know about the theatre being a good idea, though, that's where the lack of sleep catches up with you something terrible. I'd rather suggest to keep moving, take the District line from Hammersmith to The Embankment or thereabouts, take a walk by the river, maybe go to the Tate modern and walk across the pedestrian-only bridge and gallivant, or take a late-afternoon boat cruise with commentary down past the London Bridge and another back up, the evening will be long and balmy at the end of May.

Make the most of it, and set two alarms for the next morning...

WK

I think we have decided on Windsor Castle and Old Windsor..Hubby pitched a tent on a bicycle trip 25 years ago right near the castle and remembers it not being far from Heathrow-He was there during a air trafic controllers strike and actually pitched his tent for 2 nights in the airport at the Concorde desk area which was of course closed! (I am glad I missed that one!) Although I would love to see London I will save it for another trip...I like the suggestion of staying awake and doing something during the day and going to bed early. Thanks for the suggestions!
Cheers!