What to do outside of Heathrow or in London for a long layover?

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Dennyisthepisslord@reddit

Depends on your budget and interests. Windsor is 20 minutes away with plenty of hotels and although you can't go into the castle at that time a walk around the outside, along the river, or the long walk and a old pub meal in the castle shadows with lots of hotels nearby might be preferable to going into London itself

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Connect-Relative8481@reddit (OP)

Okay we will be there in August so I’m not sure how late the sunset will be. What are there things to do in Windsor if the castle is closed?

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Current_Mongoose_844@reddit

Check out The Swan, ranked one of the best pubs in the country. Ask for Mickey.

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Nooms88@reddit

Sunset is almost 9pm 1st of August and closer to 8pm 31st August, but it's still going to be relatively light as twilight lasts till around 2am, we are much further north than anywhere in the continental usa, much closer to Anchorage than seattle.

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Dennyisthepisslord@reddit

The castle is in the middle of the high street so you can"see" the outside of the castle very easily it's literally impossible to miss 🤣

A few old pubs, little cobbled street area, Windsor great park will be open until sunset which is about 8.50 at the start of the month and hour earlier towards the end

Horse and groom literally across from the castle gate, shambles bar inside the crooked house next to the guildhall where Elton John got married as did the current king and Queen and 500 yards down the road the two brewers at the gates to the long walk will do you for an evening imo

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GUBEvision@reddit

sunset will be about 8pm, castle will be closed, but it's a pleasant place with restaurants and pretty streets and parks.

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Limp-Attitude-490@reddit

I was about to suggest the very same.

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cutluv@reddit

Came here to offer the same suggestion, Windsor is lovely.

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AndrewHinds67@reddit

Stay in a hotel near Heathrow that has a minibus to take you to the airport, and then go into London.

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Free_Ad7415@reddit

Yeah this is what I would do to avoid hassle on the morning of the flight

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ContactNo7201@reddit

There are some evening walking tours or you can do a personal walking tour on your own.

Also, book ahead and have dinner at some iconic places or rooftop restaurants are great.

There are also some public bus routes for sightseeing in London that are regular, affordable Transport for London (TfL) services that offer top-deck views of iconic landmarks, with routes 11, 15, 24, and 159 being top choices. They’re really amazing and you can see major sights like Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London - for just £1.75! Or if you buy a travel card, covers tube too, it’s all included.

There are also water transport (clipper, uber) along the Thames for great views of London - they run until midnight weeknights and just after midnight on weekends. There is a cafe on board too you could sip g&t while looking at all the I uni. London sights lit up at night.

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rhrjruk@reddit

Lots of people on here mentioning Windsor, which is fine and perfectly picturesque, esp if you care to see the castle exterior and cute streets of Windsor & Eton. It’s very historic and quaint and Olde England. (40 min taxi from Heathrow due to local traffic)

However, if this is your very first trip to London and you’re eager just to set some eyes on Big Ben, Trafalgar Sq , the West End and the River Thames in the few hours you, that will work, too: (50 min Eliz Line tube from Heathrow) 1. Check in and drop suitcases at your Heathrow-adjacent hotel 2. Take the Elizabeth Line (important!) from Heathrow to Tottenham Ct Rd. 3. Mosey down Charing Cross Rd to Tralfagar Sq to Whitehall to Houses of Parliament / Big Ben / River Thames. 4. If you have time & interest, you might cross the pedestrian bridge and go up in the London Eye. 5. Tube back to Heathrow (1 hr)

In the morning you have all the time you need to navigate the miserable check in rituals of Heathrow without stress.

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Tugga68@reddit

Windsor, Windsor and Windsor.. You won't regret it.. take an Uber there, have cocktails, have a nice dinner, spend the night, lovely places for breakfast..

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Connect-Relative8481@reddit (OP)

Thank you! I would like some tips if we happen to be there. What are there things to do in the evening if the castle is closed? And any recommendations on the restaurants?

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Tugga68@reddit

Depends on what kind of food you're looking for.. There's Italian, Moroccan, French, steakhouse,good sit down Chinese, Japanese, Turkish, etc.. There's upscale dining as well as simple pub dining, Windsor is not massive but there's a bit of everything.. If the Castle is closed, there's an awesome cocktail bar ( Incognito)that you need reservations and you can only keep the table for 1:30hr but their drinks are so good and creative.. There's a tapas bar, there a comedy club, Windsor Theater Royal, for a play.. For Italian Sebastian's is awesome (closed at the moment for refurbish) A La Russe for French, 1423 China kitchen for Chinese, Al Fassia for Moroccan, Misugo for Japanese, for more upscale there's the Ivy or the restaurant of Sir Christopher Wren hotel, known for famous people staying there... There's Cote across the bridge in Eton, great location but to me food could be a lot better..

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Connect-Relative8481@reddit (OP)

Okay thank you so much for the recommendations. We’re looking forward to it!

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f8rter@reddit

Yes completely doable

What would you like to do ?

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JohnCasey3306@reddit

The tube train goes direct from Heathrow (all terminals) to central London. 50 minutes each way, approximately £15 each for the return tickets. The trains run very frequently between 5am and 11pm.

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NewGuyCH@reddit

Most definitely go to London, arguably the best city in the world. The last train from London to Heathrow is 11:57PM and takes 15min. Ok, so I would get a hotel at the airport, leave your bags there and take the Heathrow express to Paddington. Takes maybe 15 min and you are in central London. Go to Soho, go see a West End show, plenty of pubs, bars, restaurants of every cuisine and budget. Easy tube system, easy to get back and so much to do. For those saying to go to Windsor at 6PM on a random day, don’t, you are better off seeing Buckingham palace, Oxford Circus and more in London at night and getting back and forth is probably more complicated. No idea why anyone would recommend that, someone said go to Richmond 😂😂😂😂

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Peteat6@reddit

I’d book a hotel next to the terminal you’re flying from (the Hilton has a walkway to terminal 3 — very useful.) Then in the evening walk up to Harmondsworth. There’s a quiet road leading there next to the Sheraton. Its may 15 minutes walk from the Sheraton. It’s a quaint old English village, which they’re going to knock down for the third runway. It has an excellent pub (they used to do a lovely steak and kidney pie), and a very historic barn.

Good exercise (a short walk) and good pub food. Stagger back to your hotel and sleep well.

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Past-Obligation1930@reddit

Get todaytix for good deals on a show

Cabaret is good

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Rude_Rhubarb1880@reddit

I would stay in the hotel, have a meal, go to bed, have a good sleep and then a nice lie in in the morning

Nice and relaxing

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romoladesloups@reddit

I'd mostly do that but I'd go for a nice curry in Hounslow instead of eating at the hotel

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romoladesloups@reddit

Have a curry in Hounslow

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maceion@reddit

REMEMBER, it may take you two to three hours to clear security on returning to Heathrow; please allow enough time. Check with your airline and ground staff.

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AkihabaraWasteland@reddit

That's not long. Remember to subtract wait times for security and check in and immigration.

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MiddleAgedDread123@reddit

I wouldn’t bother going into central London, unless it’s likely to be the only time in your life you’ll get the chance to visit. By the time you get there it’ll be time for dinner and bed and then back to the airport after breakfast in the morning. Windsor is a closer option that might be worth an evening wander.

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TheyStillArentReal@reddit

Definitely worth going into London as long as not exhausted! If you go into Waterloo/Westminster area you can see 75% of the tourist attractions in foot in no time. Houses of parliament, big ben (the clock tower), walk along the thames in embankment, London eye (go up in evening and get great views of the city lit up, or even better time it with the sunset!), lots of bars and restaurants on south bank. If you look it up there may even be late night events at the London dungeon or aquarium which are all there! I used to work in Westminster and was always amazed how many cool things were right there next to each other!

I would just pay the extra and stay in central London. That way you can stay out as late as you want and enjoy the night! There is a premiere inn hotel above the aquarium which may be cheaper. Or park plaza nearby if you want to treat yourself!

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Icy_Wolverine_8236@reddit

As 5 pm is in time when you clear to get Hesthrow tube and ticket get a multiple one each. Saves ticket offices each time. Book a hotel now online for the night as check in and out at 9am. I do that. Booking.com gives room rates and where the tube is. You could do an open top bus tour or go on a Thames Cruise. I take my US guests to Westminster and get the cruise there and London Eye there. And taxi takes us to where we want to go. I took mine to Harrods next day in Knighbridgr staying in a hotel near the tube station. Sandwiches to go and coffee. I would book a show and dinner for the evening and taxi to the tube line or walk as traffic will not get you there. I will check things out later for you.

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Horror-Kumquat@reddit

It depends how tired you are with the jet lag. It won't take long to get into central London on the Elizabeth Line, and the dining options will certainly be better than at or around Heathow. But you'll need to be back at the airport before 10 (maybe even 9) the next morning.

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Clear-Security-Risk@reddit

Back at 10. This time of year Heathrow is EASY to get through, especially if checked online

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Lonely-Job484@reddit

It's doable for sure. Depends what you're after/up for, but dinner/drinks/maybe a show in the west end are all doable.

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MissKellieUk@reddit

Go into town!! Have delicious dinner and even if you ride the top deck of a bus and just do nighttime sightseeing it will be lovely. Also-light until late

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Akash_nu@reddit

Just wanna call out that London doesn’t really provide much in terms of tourism late at night. Everything closes pretty much by 11pm except for some bars and clubs.

So my suggestion is to stay near the airport, explore Windsor or Richmond in the evening, have dinner at a good pub / restaurant rather than venturing into central London.

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