Layover in Heathrow (London) - What to do?

[reesestewww]

Or should I say where to drink and eat?

My buddy and I land in Gatwick then have an 8 hour layover before our flight out of Heathrow to Johannesburg. I've never been to London so with a just having a few hours where must we go to eat and drink?

Thanks!

[creaturecat]

British Museum?
Tate Modern?

[stomachmonkey]

Gatwick to London is 1- 1 1/2 hours by car.

Express train to Victoria Station is 1/2 hour and they run regularly so under an hour.

Give yourself 2 hours round trip and you want to be back at Gatwick at least an hour before boarding so I'd say all in you have 4 solid hours to spend in London.

Make a list of things you are most interested in seeing then check proximity of them to each other.

Stopping in a proper pub for a pint is great, eating, meh, the Brits are not renowned for their cuisine so you won't miss much there.

[jcommin]

SM is right. You probably have 3 - 4 hours at best. Don't forget you need to go thru security too.

It would be good to tire yourself out before you get on the plane. The flight from the London to Joburg is long.

[oldE]

As stated above, express train into Victoria station. There are lots of pubs and restaurants just a block or two south of Victoria. As for English cuisine these days, you can find almost any of the world's foods in the city.
A creative taxi ride can take you the long way 'round Buckingham Palace and Hyde park up to Paddington Station. Train from Paddington takes about a 1/2 hour to Heathrow.
The wife and I did almost the exact pass-through London last spring, but had time for a walk about.

Best
Les

[jhc]

For the price of 2 round trip express train tickets plus cab or subways to where you want to go you can rent a car. We had a similar layover on the way to South Africa and we rented a car (Audi S3 cab) and went to Blenheim Palace and Oxford town for lunch. You can also consider Stonehenge, Bath or Windsor Castle. Going to the city for a half day could be pretty hectic.

[oldE]

Best
Les

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by oldE

......As for English cuisine these days, you can find almost any of the world's foods in the city.....

Yes, exactly, it's not English cuisine.

[pegasus9]

There are tons of great restaurants in Soho around Picadilly Circus.
Another vote for Hyde Park. What a beautiful park and check out the statue of Prince Albert while you're there.

I always found myself at Covent Garden during my stay in London.

[tevake]

The double decker busses are a good way for a quick relaxing look around.
They narrate on board with lots of info. If it's dry go upstairs.
The tube/ underground is a good way to cover distance within the city quickly.
Mind the gap.
The museums are so vast that a quick run thru may be frustrating or a little taste of future delights

Cheers Richard

[Craig T]

I would take the Victoria Station option and just find a good pub in the area.

I lived just outside London for two years. London traffic is worse than LA. In morning and evening rush hour, a taxi driver couldn't get you from Heathrow to Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Hyde Park, and back to Heathrow in time for your flight unless he's driving the cab Bruce Willis drove in "The Fifth Element".

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by tevake

The double decker busses are a good way for a quick relaxing look around.
They narrate on board with lots of info. If it's dry go upstairs.
The tube/ underground is a good way to cover distance within the city quickly.
Mind the gap.
The museums are so vast that a quick run thru may be frustrating or a little taste of future delights

Cheers Richard

Nice idea for an overnight layover, but not for just 8 hours. Figure 1 hour through customs, 30 minutes to catch the train, 45 minutes into the city on the Express Train from Gatwick (if timing is right for fast train)…than 30 minutes back to Heathrow on the Tube 90 minutes before his flight. Account for walking time to and from a Pub and he'll be lucky to have 3.5 hours in London.

I would do it for sure, but know the train schedules in advance and try to google the in-city destination.

[Otter74]

I'm not clear on something - are you flying into LGW and then out of LHR, or in-out from LGW? Gatwick is a bit of a hike from the city.

A real-British-pub experience, if that is your thing, is going to be really tough to find in the city. In towns and the country it's a lot easier, but they're dying there.

If I had that kind of layover and wanted to focus on food, I'd probably go to Borough Market, which is near London Bridge. It would put you in a good spot to see other points of interest since you've never been.

[HardDrive]

If your going out of Terminal 5 at Heathrow, there are some decent places to eat and drink right in the terminal. Kind of fun to chill with a drink and watch the jumbo jets coming and going.

Restaurants A-Z

[recycled sixtie]

Be very wary of possible heavy traffic around Gatwick and Heathrow. Being an ex resident of the UK I know. For example I rented a car from Gatwick but was supposed to fly out of Heathrow. Traffic got so bad on the way to Gatwick I turned round and dropped the car off
at Heathrow.

Also be careful of driving ( the other side of the road) after a flight. 8 hours is not a lot time to do much travelling. I am not familiar with transit out of Gatwick. It is an intense uncomfortable air terminal and not as nice as Heathrow. Be on the cautious side and be at the airport at least 2 hours before departure. There are hotels close to Gatwick if you need a day room to hang out.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Craig T

....Figure 1 hour through customs....

Yeah that's right.

Depending on volume of travelers that could put a damper on things.

You might be better off buying a day pass at one of the airport lounges. Take a shower and change clothes to start the second leg refreshed.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

You might be better off buying a day pass at one of the airport lounges. Take a shower and change clothes to start the second leg refreshed.

+1. With only 8 hours to work with I'd rather not deal with the stress. Heathrow has some good food and pint options.

[Ayles]

I'd hit Green Park station. There is so much to see, do and eat within few blocks. Piccadilly Arcade, Shepherd Market, Buckingham Palace to name a few.

[MFAFF]

Just to get an idea of the time you need to get between LGW and LHR during the day...

From landing at LGW you should allow 2.5 hours to get to Victoria....by Gatwick Express. This allows for time to get out of the plane.. through Customs; catch a train and the journey.

To get to LHR from central London the fastest way is the Heathrow Express from Paddington Station, allow 45mins for that trip, 'cos the central train station is a walk to get to T1/T2/T3, T4 and T5 are different... So call it an hour.

LHR Security etc needs 90mins from bag drop. So another 2.5 hours gone..

So you'll be good for three hours in London including time from Victoria to Paddington...

If you want to see London then the top deck of a double decker is the best place.. from Victoria take a 38 bus from outside the station towards Soho, goes past Wellington Arch, and the corner of Hyde Park, Past Green Park to Piccadiliy Circus and then up Charing Cross Road, Jump off for Covent Garden trip about 25mins... or a 11 takes you past the Houses of Parliament, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, again about 25 mins.

Loads of interesting places to eat in Soho...

Then head up to Tottenham Court Road and New Oxford Street.. say 15 mins walk and then a 390 westwards towards Lancaster Gate.. Allow 30 mins for that trip..

Gives you 80 mins in town.... just enough for a swift pint and a bite to eat....

The Citymapper app is brilliant for London...gives pretty accurate times and routes for subway, buses walking etc...

[oldE]

At last! Someone from London chimes in!




Great knockers!
Best
Les