Hello All
My flight arrives at Heathrow at 6:30AM local time - on a Sunday. Should I travel to Windsor Castle first since it is so close and I cannot check into my hotel in London until after 3:00PM? I am hoping to sleep on the flight. Thanks for your help!
How are you planning on traveling to the castle? Train? Rental Car? Bus?
I think you'd be happier if you drop your bags at your hotel first. Less stuff to lug around that way.
Most hotels will allow you to leave your bags at the hotel earlier in the day, even though you will not have access to your room until 3 pm (15:00). Check this with your hotel.
If you go straight to your hotel, drop off the bags, you can then start exploring London. Leave Windsor for another day.
Kate,
Believe it or not, even with a "6:30am" arrival, you may not be free and clear on the "land" side of the airport until 9:30-10:00; especially if you checked bags versus carrying them on. If there are any flight departure delays (there will be) or there is any "weather" in London (there will be), you will probably be at least 30 minutes (likely more) late arriving. It's just the nature of things these days... I have not had an on-time arrival into Heathrow yet...
There are a surprising number of international arrivals hitting LHR at that time of the morning. Queuing for Border Control can be quite lengthy. If you check your bag, the wait can easily be 30 minutes or more.
If you decide to take the tube, there's the time needed to get a ticket and then a wait for the train. If going into the city (you didn't specify where in London you were staying), the fasted option to Paddington is 30 minutes while the cheapest takes closer to an hour. Then you still need to transfer to whichever tube line gets you to your hotel...
With that "0630" arrival, don't expect to be at your hotel much before noon. Chances are, as stated previously, you can drop your bags at their "left luggage." Then, you can go find some nice activity to help in fending off your jet lag.
As for Windsor Castle... It's a marvelous place to visit but it can be physically and mentally demanding. I recommend being well-rested before your visit.
You did not say whether your trip is next week or next year. So, I don't know if you have made your hotel reservations in London yet.
One alternative is to fly into Heathrow, cab to Windsor, check into a hotel there. It may be lunchtime before you arrive there. Drop your bags at your Windsor hotel, then go see Windsor Castle. Later, walk around the villages of Windsor and Eton. Spend the night in Windsor, then head into London the next day.
Thank you for all the great advice!
My hotel is near the Tate Modern so I think I will go into London and drop my bag, "get the lay of the land" and travel to Windsor when I am well rested. I knew I could count on RS travelers for help!
