I'm going to Europe in October and I have a LONG layover in London -- long enough to zip into town from the airport and have lunch. I haven't been there in 14 years, so I am not very current on the restaurant scene. Does anyone have any suggestions? Price is not an object as I am willing to consider anything for a great meal, and usually even the priciest places are less pricey at lunch, anyway!

What would you like to experience?

If you want an extraordinary lunch, skip London - and go to The Fat Duck in Bray - their food is unique, and out of this world.

If you want something more traditional, any of Gordon Ramsay's piles will suffice. Perhaps you might like to try Sketch, which is a little pretentious, very expensive, and a bit hit and miss.


Or maybe you'd like Indian - The Cinnammon club is the finest in London.

I am arriving at Gatwick at 10:00 a.m., and my flight out leaves at 7:00 p.m. Ideally I would like find a great place to have lunch in an area where afterward I might do a little shopping or go to a museum. I don't have a lot of time so I need to limit my tube time to simply getting in from the airport and getting back to the airport. I have no particular type of food or atmosphere in mind; just something good and a little special: maybe something I wouldn't find just "anywhere." I know London has supposedly the best Indian food in the world, so that sounds like a good option. Thanks for your advice.

"Price is not an object"

Then why on earth are you wasting time taking the tube?

i assumed the tube would be the fastest way to get around. I wouldn't have to worry about traffic as I would if I relied on taxis. If I am incorrect, I'd appreciate any input. Thanks.

Presumably because Nolagirl has more sense than to spend money sitting in an A23 traffic jam when she could be spending a quarter of that on a Southern train that gets her to the same place in quarter of the time.

Anyone even hinting Nolagirl should get a car OUT to Gatwick from Westminster at 4pm is is serious need of help.

Though it's a novel way of dealing with a Gatwick layover. Even a small delay at Immigration, and the whole of the remaining 10-7 period could be spent driving in and out.

I'm unclear how much time you have, but if you don't have time to really visit London, how about taking a taxi to Petersham, a beautiful old hotel with fantastic restaurant overlooking the Thames near Richmond? It will give you some British atmosphere and a great meal. And if you have a little more time, walk it all off with a good stroll along the river or in Kew Gardens. I can't see fighting the traffic and spending time going into London just to have a meal even though I LIVE for food.

Use the Gatwick or Heathrow Express then a taxi - much faster than a tube!

Does the tube even go to Gatwick? I was under the impression it did not?

This thread has become confused. If the airport is Gatwick, then there is no tube to London, and it's nowhere near Petersham.
From Gatwick, it's a half-hour train journey to Victoria (the Southern trains take five minutes longer than the Gatwick Express which is not significant).
It may be better to head the other way - perhaps to Brighton which is also a half-hour train journey and also has good restaurants and shops.

OK nolagirl - WHICH airport are you using?

there isn't any tube from LGW - but the Gatwick Express only takes 30+ mins to get to Victoria station - at least 60% faster than taking a cab.

The tube does go to LHR - but the heathrow express takes only 15 mins to get to Paddington from where you can take a taxi to any restaurant you like.

You can get a travel card for the Gatwich Express (go to the train station, which is in the South Terminal, and look for the Gatwick express counter--make sure to ask for a travel card). This costs you 15.30 pounds (about $27.5)for a return trip INCLUDING unlimited use of the tube in London. The Gatwick Express leaves every 15 minutes and take 30 minutes (it makes no stops between Gatwick and London Victoria). I use it to get up to the city--its somewhat quicker than the regular trains, a little bit more expensive but worth its price in gold for comfort, frequency and ease--when you're hurrying back to the airport at the end of your day you'll be happy to be able to just wander over to the Gatwick Express tracks and get on a waiting train. Southern trains make frequent stops, and quite crowded.

For a many restaurant recs (browse or do a search), I'd check out:
http://forums.egullet.com/index.php?...act=SF&f=9

I am flying into Gatwick and planning to take the Gatwick Express to Victoria Station. I don't necessarily have to stay in that area; I am willing to tube somewhere else as long as it is not too far and would not cut too much into my time. Thanks very much to everyone who is reading this!

A few thoughts. Toptable.co.uk allows you to search for restaurants in many ways including by tube station, by tourist attraction etc. They also have reviews.

If you're interested in shopping before and after eating, I can suggest the Enterprise on Walton St. It's a good lunch place (not haute cuisine)sort of a gastro pub. Walton St. is filled with great boutiques and is not far from Sloane St. Nearest tube stop South Kensington but also not far from Sloane Square.

For a grander meal, The Capital in the hotel of the same name on Basil St has a set price 3 course lunch and is quite near Harrods.

If you want to "museum" I highly recommend the Wallace Collection in the Marylebone area as a good smallish gem for paintings, sculpture, porcelain--you name it. It has it's own elegant looking cafe (I haven't tried it) or there are many places in the area. One I know is Michael Moore (no relation to the film guy) near the Bond st. or Baker St. station.

I always go to the Tate Modern and have lunch there. Its not haute cuisine but its good for lunch and the view is nice plus you can go look at some wild modern "art". I don't remember which tube station you get off at but I'm sure others will. One thing you better keep in mind though is that you need to leave yourself plenty of time to get back to the airport. The so called express train between Gatwick and Victoria can take an hour if they are working on the lines.

For good nosh to travel on with the chance of seeing the odd celeb - try the ivy just between Covent Garden and Leicester Square.

Getting a table can be hard ,particularly at the weekend

Try Incognico on Shaftesbury Avenue. It is not pricey, if you have the set lunch, and you are right near to Piccadilly and Covent Garden and Soho. You could get there by taking the Tube to Leicester Square.
I second getting the Tube/Gatwick express pass descibed below. Yuo will need to get a return ticket, allowing you to get back to the airport. In the UK, buying 2x single tickets (1 way is how you say single) is usually more expensive than getting a return.

Have you seen this thread? Another Fodorite doing the same thing

Great restaurant near Victoria Station
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34522435

Maybe you should first decide which museum you wanted to see, then find a restaurant close by to eliminate uneccessary travel.