LHR layover 8 hours. Can we leave the airport?

[ellen10]

We are flying in to LHR arriving T3 at 6.50am and depart for Milan from T5 at 3pm.
My husbands sister & brother-in-law live in London. We suggested that they come out to Heathrow for a catchup but they don't think they would be able to go airside.
Can we go landside and meet them and then go back through immigration? I assume our bags would be checked through to Milan as all on the one ticket.
Would we have time, do you think to meet somewhere in central London?
Not sure how this would all work.

 

[OATEK]

Once you clear immigration you can be at Paddington station within 30mins on the Heathrow Express. So provided they through check the bags, nothing to stop you. Just be aware that the Tube while cheaper than the Heathrow Express the trip to/from Central London could be 45mins to 1hr in peak hour, and you will need to be heading back out before lunch is over.

We have had children meet us at Heathrow for brunch. There is a Carluccio cafe landside at T5 that is not too bad as airport cafes go, so the relos could come out to you.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

They are correct that they can't go airside, but you of crose are free to enter the Uk (assuming you meet all entry requirements).

however i would not take the Heathrow express... for the 15 minute saving the $50 extra in fare is not worth it... plus the Piccadilly line will take you to far more interesting places to meet!

 

[ellen10]

Thanks for your replies.
I thought this may be a possibility. So if we decide to head into the city, we just walk out once we have gone through immigration and then coming back just go back through security with our boarding passes for our next flight?
So we would go through immigration at T3 terminal and then check back through security at T5.
I seem to remember doing the trek from T3 to T5 but this is airside?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for your replies.
I thought this may be a possibility. So if we decide to head into the city, we just walk out once we have gone through immigration and then coming back just go back through security with our boarding passes for our next flight?
So we would go through immigration at T3 terminal and then check back through security at T5.
I seem to remember doing the trek from T3 to T5 but this is airside?

spot on, you will follow the signs for arrival rather than transfer on your way in, and on the way out head directly for T-5. You must enter security not later than 35 minutes prior to departure, so allow time for that.

 

[Pierre_a]

Save yourself the trouble of trekking into central London - it'll be a horribly stressful experience after a long haul flight.

Instead meet halfway somewhere nice and only a short tube ride away, Richmond down by the riverside, the National Trust property at Osterley Park, Chiswick.

I'm sure your relations could suggest somewhere pleasant that doesn't involve either them slogging out all the way to Heathrow or you slogging into grimy old London.

 

[leadman]

If you don't want to pay the Heathrow Express go the Heathrow Connect. Its just three more stops and runs the same line and much cheaper. I find the Piccadilly line too slow and crowded.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Are you confident that your bags will be checked through?

If so there's plenty of time to leave the terminal and head into London.

 

[Mal]

There are a number of landside coffee shop type places in both T3 and T5. So that's possible (Personally I'd chose T5 - just a nicer range)

I like Hammersmith as a catch-up location. From Heathrow it's about 40 mins on the tube, but is a decent location (the ones closer to Heathrow are a bit sketchy!) with the full range of shops and restaurants you'd expect from a well developed area.

If catching the Heathrow Connect, I'd suggest Ealing Broadway. Again a lovely functional area. Around the 35 mins mark by Heathrow Connect - but as they aren't as frequent as the tube, the tube to Hammersmith will be much faster.

 

[24601]

+1 for skipping London and just going to Richmond. Nice place, mix of town and nice parks, even Kew Gardens nearby.

 

[dajop]

Agree that places like Kew Gardens and Richmond are good ideas .... depending on the weather of course. However they aren't really that much quicker to reach by tube than say Leicester Square (50mins ... same as Richmond, whilst Kew Gardens can be reached in 40 mins).

The good thing about being through checked is you don't have to worry about check in cutoffs - just need to present boarding pass at security gate about 45 mins before departure (actually I think it's 35 but I always mentally add some time). Not that I'd necessarily advise getting back to airport at that time, it does give extra time for contingencies.

 

[ellen10]

Great suggestions everyone. Richmond does look nice and Kew Gardens.
Must admit I am always a sucker to see ole London town, but wouldn't like the stress if we were cutting checkin time too fine.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Great suggestions everyone. Richmond does look nice and Kew Gardens.
Must admit I am always a sucker to see ole London town, but wouldn't like the stress if we were cutting checkin time too fine.

that early in the morning I would probably head into London proper. you should have a good two-three hours.

 

[leadman]

that early in the morning I would probably head into London proper. you should have a good two-three hours.

I'd be looking at 4 hrs! I'm disliking airports at every trip (have to be at BKK in 6 hrs time!!!!) so any good layover I'm out to the city. I will do SIN, BKK, HKG, AMS, CGD, LHR with 4 - 5 hr layover, but KUL you need 6 hr as I nearly stuffed up recently. I've even cut SIN to a 3 hr once following my travelling hobby of either numismatics or beer drinking!

If I'm going for a "city-run" the first indicator is the line-up at passport control, second one is if you want to store any bags. HGK can be a pain with bags and consume "run-time"

 

[Mattg]

I've entered the UK and gone into the city during a 7 hour layover at LHR. I had to convince the immigration officer that I was a legitimate tourist and that I was aware I would need to allow plenty of time to return to the airport, but otherwise didn't have any problems. I took the Heathrow Express and had enough time for dinner and a walk around the city.

I'd do it again, but probably wouldn't bother paying the extra for the Heathrow Express.

 

[kpc]

I've entered the UK and gone into the city during a 7 hour layover at LHR. I had to convince the immigration officer that I was a legitimate tourist and that I was aware I would need to allow plenty of time to return to the airport, but otherwise didn't have any problems. I took the Heathrow Express and had enough time for dinner and a walk around the city.

I'd do it again, but probably wouldn't bother paying the extra for the Heathrow Express.

3 days ago, I had an 8 hour transit at Lhr...immigration (only) gave me a 48 hour visit stamp..after a nice hot shower and breakfast at the AA arrivals lounge at Lhr T3, went to Kew Gardens for a couple of hours as it was a nice sunny day in London...took about 45 mins each way by tube.

 

[pagingjoan]

We've made quick visits into London in similar timeframes quite often - sometimes for a Gallery exhibition or a catch up with family or friends.
Assuming an on-time arrival, there should be no problem at all. Some good suggestions in this thread. Plenty to choose from.
Have never had a problem at Immigration but keep your onward boarding passes at the ready, just in case.
And have fun.

 

[leadman]

I've never had problems with "In Transit" on the paperwork, but I was once told by an officer when you have a 64 pager full of stamps its a bit of a no brainer for them.

 

[24601]

If I'm going for a "city-run" the first indicator is the line-up at passport control, second one is if you want to store any bags. HGK can be a pain with bags and consume "run-time"

This was one thing that made me not want to bother on my recent 9-hour layover at CMB, that plus the boring 3rd world "visa on arrival" etc. I'd avoid Indonesia for the same reason having also experienced that. But if it is easy like in the UK, definitely. Airports are often in quite nice rural or semi-rural areas where, even with less time, you can at least head out into the fresh air for a pleasant stroll. No one on this forum would object to a bit of aircraft noise, I assume

 

[Austman]

This was one thing that made me not want to bother on my recent 9-hour layover at CMB, that plus the boring 3rd world "visa on arrival" etc. I'd avoid Indonesia for the same reason having also experienced that.

I did CMB twice recently. UL will even give you a hotel with meals and transport for >8 hour transits. VOA was fast and free. The hotels and transport were fine.

Australians don't requite VOA for Indonesia any more.