London Layover

[kpenglish]

I have a 9.5 hr layover at London/Heathrow on my way to S. Africa. Considering a trip into town or maybe Windsor. Any suggestions/recommendations? I'm factoring in traffic, immigration, etc. which essentially whittles my time there to a few hours.

 

[dobber]

i thought about doing the same when we were in Munich, the fear of something going wrong and me missing my flight with such a short window kept us at the airport. A flat tire on a vehicle could mean the difference
But there is a lot to see in London thats for sure, but a gamble

 

[ScottG]

A lot to do, but not enough time to do a lot. Could tour Holland and Holland, Purdey, or Rigby. Have a great time. You could do the Anthony Bourdaine thing, lots of great food and plenty of adult beverages.

 

[Wheels]

There are many things to do in London, and you can easily spend two weeks there seeing the highlights. Without knowing your interests it is hard to make recommendations.

A typical tourist jaunt you can do in the time frame you have is:

Don't take the express because it drops you off a couple of miles from most places you want to see. It also costs a lot more.

Heathrow is in the bottom left of the tube map. Take the blue line to the Gloster Rd or the South Kensington stop and change over to the green line. Continue to Westminster and get off. ( This will take you apx. 1 hour) You will be across the street from Big Ben and Parliament. You will be 300 yards from Westminster Abbey. (A lot of important dead people in here including David Livingston) Buckingham Palace will be a half mile away across St. James Park.

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5006105,-0.1331815,16.31z

Get back on the green line at Victoria station. Take it to South Kensington, change to the blue line and return to Heathrow.

As a side trip if you have time from the South Kensington station is walk two blocks north and you will be across the street from the British Museum of Natural History. The museum is a typical NHM, but you do get to see the Kilimanjaro bull. This will take apx. 20 minutes to see the ivory.

If your interests are different from this let me know and I might be able to help. Our UK members certainly can.

Have a great trip.

Hope this helps.

 

[JimP]

In my opinion it isn't worth trying to go anywhere other that inside the airport with only 9.5 of a hour layover. By the time you get out of the plane and out of the airport it will be down to 9 hours and if you figure that you need to be back at the airport 2.5-3 hours before your flight out leaves only around 6 hours to do anything. One little problem and you will be trying to rebook your flight out.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I have a 9.5 hr layover at London/Heathrow on my way to S. Africa. Considering a trip into town or maybe Windsor. Any suggestions/recommendations? I'm factoring in traffic, immigration, etc. which essentially whittles my time there to a few hours.

Just went into London myself.
It took me nearly an hour to get through customs to enter the UK.
Security coming back in was actually pretty short maybe 25 minutes. (T5)

It was 35 sterling to get into town and back Heathrow Express. T5 to Paddington. Worth it.
You can see my walkabout in the report linked below.
Worth it to get some fresh air and see the grass in London.


If you grab a cab ($$) you'll get to Windsor in no time.
It's not cheap (at least to me)
Although Traffic can be a bitch at times.

http://www.africahunting.com/thread...uthern-africa-kmg-tms-paw-print.23265/page-15

 

[Spooksar]

When my Wife and Son came to Africa with me we had a 14 lay over. My wife booked a tour it a lady and we spent 8 hrs touring London. I actually didn't mind it and I hate any citys.

 

[BRICKBURN]

When my Wife and Son came to Africa with me we had a 14 lay over. My wife booked a tour it a lady and we spent 8 hrs touring London. I actually didn't mind it and I hate any citys.

Jumping on a tour bus is a good idea to be able to just see the sights.

 

[Wheels]

Jumping on a tour bus is a good idea to be able to just see the sights.

+1

The hop on /hop off tours can give you a good feel for a city in a day.

 

[vinnymbogo]

Unless you're in business class, it's pretty hard to sleep on the plane (unless you have some good drugs...and then you feel dopey when you wake). I'll just find an airport lounge, have a bite, shower, and a nice snooze (and all the booze you want if you have the need for "artificial joy"). I think I paid about $80 CDN for 6 hours, but it's free if you have an American Express credit card. If I want to see a city, I'll book a layover and not have any stress, but that's only if I'm not traveling with rifles.

 

[Rob404]

If you were a Beatles fan you could takes that Famous walk across the street

 

[The Bongo]

As a countryman who was forced to work in London, I hate every inch of the place. The noise, heat, bustle and stress is amazing.* I found Cairo more relaxing BUT if you are used to big cities it great. The world comes to London and there are 1000's of years of history so peruse the internet and if you can figure out all the tube maps and timetables go for it. If you get lost and are in a rush, hail a black cab, an experience in itself!

*I was a despatch rider for a year or so when the casualty rate was WWI combatant...

 

[DCN]

Imperial War Museum. Free admission. 5 min walk from the tube. This is how I spent a good portion of my 9.5 hour lay over in May. A must see if you haven't already.

 

[BWH]

There's stuff..... Sherlock Holmes museum, Thames River cruise, London eye, Hyde park, Big Ben, tower, etc.... It's just time & money.

 

[CAustin]

Good advice Wheels. The trains (tube) can get you anywhere.

 

[wesheltonj]

You don't say what airline you are flying, so hard to give advice on terminals. But I am guessing BA, T5 now has a priority pass lounge. What I usually do is get a hotel for the day and sleep. But I have, gone into central London. You can either take the tube, which will put you closer to the sights, but is somewhat slower or heathrow express. I have done both and prefer heathrow express as it's faster and you can pick up up in T5. It is more expensive. If it's not too late, I would add a layover on the return to see the sights and get the hotel and sleep the afternoon get back to the airport and head to the lounge to wait for the fight.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Good advice Wheels. The trains (tube) can get you anywhere.

Just remember, KEEP LEFT!

For what's it worth, my recommendation would be to go to a business lounge or get a day room at a hotel (especially if available in the secured area of the airport). I do a day room in the Joberg airport, if I am not overnighting there. I usually have a 5-6 hour layover in JNB and $100 for a dayroom at the Protea in the main terminal is worth it. A shower, nap and check your email and you are good to go.

 

[UKHunter]

You have plenty of time to see some sites. What would you be interested in doing/seeing? The Natural History museum is very good.