Attention all Londoners!

[geneva2010]

Hi friends:

I need some quick advice. I will be in London Heathrow for a 6 hour layover on Friday, starting in mid-afternoon. I'll be arriving from the US, and leaving for Africa.

Will I have time to actually go to London or to see anything? I would assume I'll only have about 3 free hours when you take into account getting back to Heathrow for the international flight out, and any customs stuff I might have to do. Also I expect to have my luggage with me, but maybe I'll check my small suitcase...

Any comments you might have, if you know anything about London, would be appreciated. I have never been anywhere near there before!

Comments

[amorette.livejournal.com]

Oooh, have a safe and great trip!

When I went to the UK, I realized the airport was about an hour away from the city by train, which is much cheaper to take than a cab all the way there. I took the train to the Picadilly stop, which is in the heart of the city and is very touristy and bustling and busy, and Chinatown is walkable from there. If you wanted to spend an hour on the train both ways, you could potentially do that? I'm assuming you'd want to get back to the airport in time to get to your next gate (the airport is huge and it takes forever to get from one place to the next, especially if you don't know it, and there is a shuttle to get from one terminal to the next which is not walkable). I would give myself an hour before my flight to just be safe.

So, maybe you'd have 2-3 hours in the city?

[geneva2010.livejournal.com]

Many thanks - this is really helpful. I am hoping to be checking out a bit of the city by tomorrow late afternoon.

[amorette.livejournal.com]

Have a great time! I adore London and you will enjoy Picadilly. I feel like it will be busy and tiring, but sooo worth it :) Take lots of pictures!

[birdsofshore]

Yes, Marianna's right, it would take about an hour to get into the middle of London, and then there would be plenty of things nearby to do. What do you most fancy seeing? It sounds like it could be tight for time, but not impossible.

[geneva2010.livejournal.com]

This is so helpful, thanks. I am at work now and leaving for my flight right after! I'll let you guys know what I saw, if anything.

[geneva2010.livejournal.com]

I had seen the train schedule, and that makes sense. I would like to see some big sights, I think - the Thames, Buckingham Palace, anything really! Just soak up the atmosphere. When is it getting dark in London these days?

[ashindk.livejournal.com]

I would go to Covent Garden. It's right on the piccadilly line which goes to Heathrow. It's a sight in it self and also a nice place to have some food and do a bit of shopping. If you want to see Buckingham Palace, just get off the tube at Hyde Park and walk through the palace gardens. But it might not be that great with luggage...
A good tip is to find out which terminal you'll be leaving from before you leave the airport so you can get off the train at the right station on the way back. Heathrow is huuuge and not that easy to navigate.

[geneva2010.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I hope to take your advice. T minus 8 hours until my flight!

[ashindk.livejournal.com]

Have a nice trip! Africa! Wow! I've always wanted to go to Africa...

[geneva2010.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much everyone! I am leaving in a few hours and will figure it out when I get there...I hope to see some of the sights (we'll see!)