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20-Hour LHR Layover(s)

Posted by (Atlanta, GA, USA) on

Hi, this October, we’re traveling to/from Greece via LHR on BA, and have ~20-hour layovers each way. We look forward to these “mini-vacations” and I’d love some feedback. It’s four of us, with my daughter turning 13 on the first day we’re in London (my son is 11). The times below are arrival / departure.

  • 1st Layover, Oct 6-7: Fri @ 11:35am —> Sat @ 9:05am
  • 2nd Layover, Oct 15-16: Sun @ 8:50pm —> Mon @ 4:10pm

My kids have never been to London, so we want to see the quintessential sites (literally, just looking at them) and ideally my daughter would get some boutique shopping and/or tea time on her birthday. I’m unsure if we can achieve that during the same layover, since the appealing shopping areas (South Kensington, Chelsea) are removed from the main tourist corridor.

1st Layover
We booked the Heathrow Express and Premier Inn Paddington. After dropping bags, I thought we'd tube to Green Park, then walk our way east until Tower of London. I know there are lots of sights along the way, so I'll have to pick a few. I'm hesitant to enter any paid attractions, because I worry we wouldn't have enough time to warrant the expense (although Tower of London may still be worth it?). In the evening, if we aren't zombies, we could take advantage of late museum hours at either British Museum (8:30pm), National Gallery (9pm) or Victoria & Albert (10pm). Then an early wake-up call on Saturday, to get to LHR for our 9am flight.

2nd Layover
Many have recommended Windsor Castle over London (again), especially since this layover would have less "useful" time. But I haven’t made any plans yet, in case Layover 1 falls apart, or we don’t accomplish much. I'll book a hotel once we know how the first leg goes: near the airport for Windsor Castle, or back to London for Monday morning sightseeing (incl. Changing of the Guard).

P.S.: My post about Greece is here: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/greece/mykonos-santorini-in-october-family-trip.

Posted by
13946 posts

I stayed in Windsor a couple of nights before my return flight to the US in May. I would probably recommend staying there over staying at Heathrow. The only downside was that there was incessant flight traffic...literally every 60 seconds starting around 6A and lasting until 10P or so. I had the hotel arrange a taxi to go to the airport and it was about 35GBP. There is a 5GBP fee the taxis must pay to drop passengers which the guy helpfully pointed out (like sign after sign, lol).

Do give yourselves plenty of time at Heathrow before your flight back to the US. My flight was cancelled between the time I left for the airport and arrival. I'd planned to arrive early based on hotel check out time, lol so didn't have any problem with the flight Delta has already re-booked which left 30 minutes before my original flight time.

Posted by
5767 posts

Green Park to Tower of London is a fair walk.
I remember doing that once, admittedly with cruise luggage, and it took me about 90 minutes- Victoria Coach Station to Fenchurch Street. I did it just to kill time, with a 0645 arrival, and no need to leave Fenchurch Street until the first off peak train.

Posted by
8675 posts

Arrive LHR. Deplane. Use restrooms enroute to Immigration. Hopefully you will all have carry ons.

Once through passport control follow signage to the Heathrow Express. Board a train. If first train is horribly crowded simply wait for another. Sign boards above your head will designate arrival time. Arrive Paddington Station. Follow the crowd towards the station’s large opening. Walk to accommodation. Let your senses adapt to the hustle and bustle. Check in. Freshen up.

Tower of London will be crowded by then.

So I suggest this option instead.

Ask the kids if they are hungry and would like to experience a pub lunch.

From the Paddington Basin PI walk over to see if the Rolling Bridge is still working….From there take a 15 minute stroll to the Victoria Paddington pub. Good food served upstairs. Most likely you’ll see a pub dog and regulars at the bar.

After your meal its a short stroll to Hyde Park and The Serpentine. Be on the look out for the green parrots. You’ll hear them before you see them.

Maybe the kids would like their pictures taken at the Peter Pan Statue.

Check energy levels. By October it will start getting dark by 4pm.

Personally I’d head off towards the Natural
History Museum and South Kensington. Its a great museum… good gift shop….

Then? If everyone is still excited, take a Circle Line of District Line tube train to Westminster station.
Be sure to realize that trains will crowded with commuters from about 4:30-7pm. You could always use the tfl.gov.uk app to see which bus you might be able to board to Westminster and Parliament Square.

Fun city to explore. Are kids adventurous? They could climb the O2 or would they prefer shopping in Liberty or eating in Harrods Food Hall… or taking the London Walks ghost walk?? www.walks.com

Have fun.

Posted by
2344 posts

My two cents, on layover 1 the plan asks a lot of two jet-lagged kids (and adults) to press ahead into the evening hours on a whirlwind layover stop, especially when you will need to be up VERY early to catch your onward flight. I'd save your ambitious plans for layover 2.

Posted by
83 posts

Thank you for the great advice! I've followed one suggestion above, and for the 2nd layover, booked a hotel in Windsor (about a mile from the castle) rather than near LHR. The next day, that does seem more efficient than dealing with stored bags at an airport hotel.

As for the first layover, per the advice here, I'm thinking that instead of walking from Westminster all the way to Tower, I'll just walk far enough east that we get can get the iconic views / photos. Would you suggest walking about as far as the Tate Modern, or maybe London Bridge? That would hopefully allow enough time for the following, in TBD order.

  1. Pub or other nice meal (late lunch or early dinner)
  2. Walk from Buckingham/Westminster to TBD point, then tube (vice-versa may be more efficient)
  3. Stroll through West End, St James and/or Mayfair
  4. If we're awake enough, a museum at night (depending on where we are, either British Museum or V&A)

If flights are on-time, we should have a bit more time on Layover 1.

  • 2pm ~ 8pm for Layover 1 (depends on bedtime)
  • 9am ~ 1pm for Layover 2 (assumes LHR 2 hrs in advance)

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