Windsor-Heathrow Conundrum
 

After spending several weeks in the north we were planning to stay in Windsor for a night (after Oxford) then on to Heathrow. However, the flight is now at 8:30 AM (meaning a 5:30 arrival) so this will not work.
Does anyone know where we could store our baggage in Windsor for the day? We would then catch a cab to an airport hotel.
In 1996 all of the RR station lockers were sealed because of the IRA.
David

No perfect solution-just thoughts

Assuming you won't have a car (otherwise you could leave the luggage in the car, parked, for the day) Windsor is so close to Heathrow, don't change your plans-stay in Windsor & get up 15 mins earlier for a pre-arranged taxi. It's only 8 miles away & at that hour there will be no traffic. Also, you should double check with your airline about check-in. While they say 3 hrs ahead, what time will they actually open? Sometimes not before 6.

Alternatively, pick a place in Windsor ahead of time for lunch and/or dinner & find out if you can leave luggage with them for the day. OR, contact one of the Windsor hotels & ask what they would charge. The Sir Christopher Wren House is considered the nicest hotel in town.

I agree w/ mclaurie. I have shown up at LHR for early flights only to find the check-in desks not yet staffed and most of the shops not open. 6 a.m. should be plenty early.

I'd stay in Windsor. It won't take much longer to get to LHR from Windsor than it would using the Hotel Hoppa bus from the off-airport hotels. These buses usually stop at 2 or 3 hotels so it can take 15 or 20 minutes to go 2 miles. It would take less than that (by cab) directly from a Windsor hotel. This would cost a little more of course - but it would solve you luggage storage problem.

Just happened on this post by accident. If you want a last night nice meal, try here. Or, someone has recently raved about a pub meal in Windsor (if you do a search).

Author: PMB
Date: 01/21/2004, 01:41 pm
Message: We had an excellent meal at The House on the Bridge in Windsor. We had a beautiful table next to open French doors overlooking the river and the castle.
We stayed at the Christopher Wren House, but local people that we talked to suggested the House on the Bridge for dinner instead and we were glad that they did. It cost 29 pounds each for a 3 course prix fixe French menu.

And further to what Janis is saying, you'd best check what time the hotel shuttle to the airport starts running in the am. It may not start until 7, in which case you need a taxi <i>anyway</i> unless you stay at a hotel from which you can walk to your terminal.

Thank you all. I'll leave our hotel booking as is.
The restaurant suggestion will be checked out!
David

Instead of spending the night in Windsor you might consider the small town of Egham and the Great Fosters country-house hotel, formerly a royal hunting lodge. It's a delightful place and reasonably close to Heathrow to go by taxi.