9 hour transit in LHR - London visit?

[Nick85]

Hello,

So, I am going to Germany in a few weeks and am transiting LHR T5 on the way. I arrive on a BA flight at 0450 and depart to FRA on another BA flight at 1345 same day - hopefully bags will be checked through.

With the long connection time, is it worth/possible to leave the airport and get a train into London to kill a few hours? Not sure what the customs/immigration requirements are in the UK, and whether you can leave the airport on a transit stop? I have a UK passport if that is any help?

If it is possible, what is the best train to catch in and out? I beleive the Heathrow express is the quickest option, but when I was there last, it doesnt operate early morning??

Thanks for your help

 

[drewbles]

HEX is great, but not cheap. You can find plenty of discounts for it though (google "heathrow express discount 2012" and you'll find various offers).

It's a very quick trip in, and if your bags are through-checked, you might as well head into town.

I'm in a similar position in a few weeks, arriving on a trans atlantic flight around 9:30am and a very late evening flight out the same day (although i'm able to go to my office there to kill time and get some work done).

There's plenty to do wandering around downtown London to burn many days

 

[Joy6328]

I would defintely head into London - maybe Oxford Circus? Unless there were things in particular you wanted to see or do.
Heathrow Express is great - pretty sure the tube starts running 4-430am?
Make sure your bags are checked through so you don't need to worry about them, and allow plenty of time to return - London can be full of "incidents" that can slow public transport but I think - from memory - a black cab was about GBP45 from Oxford Circus in non-peak hour?

 

[vetrade]

Clearing customs at LHR can take ages - took 2 hours for me last October. Maybe they've improved things in the past few months because of the Olympics and maybe there won't be too many people going through at the early time you arrive but you should allow for a fair amount of transit time to and from London - even if you get the express. Allowing for contingency time just in case of delays I wonder if it's really worth it especially, as it seems, you are unfamilair with getting around London.

 

[amaroo]

I'd head straight to the Covent Garden Hotel for a hearty English Breakfast & then walk if off over to the London Eye (assuming you haven't done it before) then a pint or two before heading back to Heathrow.

 

[TheFergus]

Nick,

We too have a long layover at Heathrow and so I wonder what you did in the end and what advice you would offer in hindsight?

Cheers,

S.

 

[KitKat]

*bump*

Any further advice for this thread?

Will be in LHR at 1140 from BCN and leaving later in the night from LHR to SYD at 9.15pm. So what should I do?
Plan to go down to the city and then back for a shower before the flight. Plan to get luggage checked through to SYD.
What should I do? Any advice on activities/sights appreciated.
What is the best way to get into the city? Flying BA so would be at T5

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mal]

Been to London before?

Something new is the "view from the shard". Pretty expensive for a timed ticket but people do seem to enjoy the view.

If you haven't been here before, I don't think you can beat the walk from Westminster tube station past Westminster abbey, big Ben and parliament, over the river and down the path going past London eye to tower bridge, over tower bridge, seeing tower of london and then back to tube.

Of course from Victoria or green park tube stations you can walk past Buckingham palace and everything that goes with that or start there and complete the walk in the previous paragraph (would be a long walk though)

shopping in oxford street or regent street.

But depends on weather (spring has been pretty poor so far) and whether it is raining. (Last few days have been rain).

 

[Mal]

Also getting into London... I dont mind the tube for all of its foibles. Heathrow to Westminster you are looking at around 50 mins plus a bit of walking by the most direct route. An off peak (used after 9.30am) Day travel card zones 1 to 6 which covers everything you would want to do as a tourist (except Heathrow express or Heathrow connect) is about 9 pounds.

 

[Skyring]

If your bag is checked through and you have your onwards boarding pass, then it's just a matter of going through immigration, allowing (say) three hours to begin heading back before your flight time, and seeing what you can do with the five hours or so you'll have in central London. You won't be bored.

Heathrow Express if you can afford it, otherwise take the tube. With HLO you'll have no trouble. The walk from Westminster down to the Tower Bridge recommended above resonates with me - some truly iconic sights along the way. A pub lunch somewhere near the Tower and grab a double decker bus to Trafalgar Square, hop on the tube to Heathrow. Fabulous day trip and a camera full of great photographs.

Or you can sit around at Heathrow for nine hours. Even in one of the First lounges that can get old.

Another possibility, if you need some sleep, is the Yotel in T4. A room there can be booked for a few hours. Think of it as a First Class suite without the premium food and drink. I spent a midnight to dawn transit there last month, had a nice secure sleep, a shower, shave and so on and strolled into my next lounge ready for action.

 

[Mal]

Heathrow Express if you can afford it, otherwise take the tube. With HLO you'll have no trouble. The walk from Westminster down to the Tower Bridge recommended above resonates with me - some truly iconic sights along the way. A pub lunch somewhere near the Tower and grab a double decker bus to Trafalgar Square, hop on the tube to Heathrow. Fabulous day trip and a camera full of great photographs.

Do agree.

Only issue with airport express (or its much cheaper and not much longer timewise cousin, the Heathrow connect) is that it drops you at Paddington. Unless you really want to see the Paddington Bear monument, staying in Paddington or connnecting to a train from Paddington the benefits over tube to most real London tourist spots are minimal. Tube certainly can get busy, stops frequently etc and is nowhere as near comfy but overall time spent travelling is probably similar.

I live very close to Tower Bridge (10 mins walk). I've lost the "wow" factor for it, but really that walk is to me is one of the most iconic London things to do. Buckingham Palace also rates up there, but timing with guard changes and fighting the tourist throngs make it not as special. And likewise, Oxford Circus and Trafalgar Square are very interesting to visit, but in peak tourist season a lot of the wow is replaced with "ugh".

But every tourist is different. Having all of these in close proximity to me does make me under appreciate them.

 

[Skyring]

My first time in London, I would stop every so often, look around and just quietly and internally jump for joy.

I don't mind the Tube for travel to and from Heathrow. It's great value, and the only downside is humping bags up and down the steps with so few stations having lifts. With just a carryon bag or rollaboard that problem disappears.

Another way of spending a few hours is to look into one of the art galleries or museums. There's enough fabulous stuff in the British Museum to keep me on a high for hours.

 

[Mal]

I don't mind the Tube for travel to and from Heathrow. It's great value, and the only downside is humping bags up and down the steps with so few stations having lifts. With just a carryon bag or rollaboard that problem disappears.

Another way of spending a few hours is to look into one of the art galleries or museums. There's enough fabulous stuff in the British Museum to keep me on a high for hours.

The TFL (transport for london) website is good at identifying routes where there are step free and lift only access. Certainly I've managed some amazing luggage feats with the tube! Yes travel with bags is doable to some stations, others... yes very problematic. But TFL / the underground are improving things all the time.

Definitely agree London has a huge number of good museums with great collections. I keep finding new museums all the time! And with good proportion of them being free (but not all) it is easy to find free entertainment in London.

 

[KitKat]

Thanks Mal and Skyring. Leaning towards a museum/gallery. Have been to London twice before and will be back over Xmas again. So main aim is to take a walk, stretch the legs before the long flight home, have a simple decent lunch. Your replies have given me some ideas

 

[sage]

My vote would be to eat some food around Covent Gardens then go spend some hours in the British Museum...it is just amazing what they have in there...and its free to get in!
Plus a pint or 3 would be a good idea considering its so much cheaper than Oz!

 

[Mal]

Another option might be a meal here... http://duckandwaffle.com/

Menu isn't that extensive but is innovative. The main draw card is the glass elevator journey up and the view from the restaurant...

I'm hoping to head there soon but TripAdvisor reviews are positive.