long layover in London

[franjelley]

a friend is flying BA Sydney to Stockholm with 12 hours in Heathrow. It is years since i did this route. So she checks luggage thru to Stockholm and gets both boarding passes, we hope. and then she goes thru immigration and takes train into town and has a nosey. then she comes back and goes thru immigration. that works, i think? australian passport. inexperienced traveller. the only hazard i can see is that she doesnt get second boarding pass. any ideas?

 

[dajop]

Sounds like the plan. Main thing I see as incorrect is "she comes back and goes through immigration" is wrong. No outbound immigration as such, she goes through security and the boarding pass scan gates .

 

[franjelley]

oh thanks for that..great

 

[andye]

This article from Head For Points gives info on Heathrow Express discounts

Heathrow Express raises peak time fares by 10%

 

[franjelley]

thanks, that was interesting.. the discussion at the end is good

 

[dajop]

This article from Head For Points gives info on Heathrow Express discounts

Heathrow Express raises peak time fares by 10%

Whether it is worthwhile using Heathrow Express, depends largely on where you are headed in London, and whether you continue on from Paddington via taxi or tube(or bus). For example if heading to the Westend or Trafalgar Square area, it is just as quick to get on the Piccadilly Line straight to Leicester Square rather than changing at Paddington and spending more money on HEX + taxi or HEX + tube to get from Paddington.

 

[Mattg]

I've left the airport and gone into the city on a ~7 hour LHR layover in the past. It took a little bit to convince the immigration official that I knew what I was doing and would return to the airport in time to take my QF flight back to Australia. But they were okay with it in the end. I took the Heathrow Express and then spent a few hours walking around the city, having dinner etc.

 

[clifford]

Whether it is worthwhile using Heathrow Express, depends largely on where you are headed in London, and whether you continue on from Paddington via taxi or tube(or bus). For example if heading to the Westend or Trafalgar Square area, it is just as quick to get on the Piccadilly Line straight to Leicester Square rather than changing at Paddington and spending more money on HEX + taxi or HEX + tube to get from Paddington.

This mightn't work for a short layover, but when travelling to/from Heathrow I try and maximise my travel on the London Bus network (the red ones!), as the cost is capped to GBP 4.50 a day (using an Oyster Card or contactless payment card). Of course, the amount you will be able to carry on is limited too. It also helps if you are not in an extreme hurry.

For example, you could take the 111 or 105 to Harlington Corner (free), then the 81 or 222 to Hounslow West station, then the H91 to Hammersmith Station and then the 10 to the West End (eg Oxford Street). It would probably take at least 1.5 hours each way, but it's a good way to meet locals and see some sights (such as Marble Arch) on the way. And you could stop over in Hammersmith itself, which has lots of interesting shops and restaurants, etc.

Just for a bit of fun....

 

[dajop]

try and maximise my travel on the London Bus network (the red ones!), as the cost is capped to GBP 4.50 a day (using an Oyster Card or contactless payment card).

Sometimes do that within central London (4.50 cap), often buses are just as quick by the time you wind your way in and out of stations and much more scenic than being underground. Never thought about it to/from LHR!

 

[clifford]

Never thought about it to/from LHR!

And for all the night owls, you can get the night bus N9 direct from Heathrow T5 and T2-3 to Central London (and vv) between approximately midnight and 6 am. A journey from Heathrow to Trafalgar Square (for example) takes just over an hour and costs GBP 1.50. Caught it myself several times for early morning departures.