Layover @London for 24 hours need recommendations

For stay, do you have a budget?

If it were me, I would make sure to pick a hotel on either the Elizabeth or Piccadilly lines so that I didn’t have to change lines on the tube.

You will have time for one, at the most two, major sites. I would decide what site interests you most and then plan from there. I would probably stay at Heathrow hotel to make departure day less stressful.

Agree with Carol now retired… I’d stay at the airport.

Also concur that you pick one major site, at the most two. That means keeping it pretty central. If you intend to stay in central London and Uber to and from Heathrow you don’t have to be quite as careful to choose a hotel next to the tube (Elizabeth or Piccadilly lines). Otherwise, I would choose the attractions you want to see based on ease of getting there by tube, since you don’t have much time.

Excellent pub a block from Piccadilly Circus: the Devonshire, at 17 Denman Street. Perfect pint of Guinness, excellent food, so this could count as a dinner option, too. This place is higher end than “pub grub” but worth it.

Best fish and chips in London (IMHO) is the Golden Union, 38 Poland Street. A quick walk from the Oxford Circus tube stop.

Perennial faves of many on this board: Dishoom, Gunpowder, the Ivy (any location) or the Ivy Asia. Honest Burger for burgers. Pret a Manger for something healthy and quick. Wagamama, Itsu…

For sightseeing: what are you interested in? There is SO MUCH to choose from - the mind boggles!

Whatever you choose, you’ll have a blast. This city is AMAZING!

Oh - and a quick thought: does the RS guidebook have a “24 hour layover” section for London? If not, it should. This is a frequent question here. :-)

You don't really have 24 hours. By the time you deplane, maybe claim bags, get through
immigration, and get to your hotel, it will be 12:30 or 1pm. If you stay near Heathrow and
go back to the Tube to get into London, maybe 2 or 3. If you're up for staying out late,
then you have a decent chunk of time.

If you are checking luggage, pack some things into a day bag and see if Virgin will check
your bag thru to Miami, so you don't have to pick it up and then stand in a line to re-check
it on Monday morning.

Since your layover is on a Sunday night, I doubt anything will be open much past 5.

Instead of going into London, another alternative is to go to Windsor, see the castle,
wander over to Eton. This is perhaps more digestible and you won't get overwhelmed
with spending time on the Tube, etc. Then go to a pub and get a Sunday roast dinner.

You do have time to get up at a reasonable hour on Monday for your flight, especially
if you stay near the Elizabeth Line (or Paddington/Heathrow Express). But probably
only 2 or 3 hours on Sunday to see anything, and no time on Monday.

There is a left luggage counter at Heathrow if the airline (or airport hotel) won't hang on to your bags.

It's crystal clear that the OP would like to stay at an airport hotel. This topic is discussed constantly - here are the forum search results for Heathrow hotel for the past year:

https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=1y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Heathrow+hotel&utf8=%E2%9C%93

For a photo opp, consider a walk along the south bank of the Thames - many of the iconic sites are in picture-perfect views across the water. With an afternoon and early evening available to you, it would be possible to cover quite a bit of ground - you might consider a walking tour, using the RS audio app: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/england/london-itinerary

A walking tour by London Walks or another similar outfit could also be a good use of your time.

1) Virgin Atlantic uses terminal 3. The Hilton Garden Inn T2 and T3 will be the most convenient for you if you want to stay at the airport. I don’t know the price range for this and I have never stayed there so no personal experience. I personally prefer to stay in London.

2) If you want photo ops and/or a Thames River cruise, a number of the cruises depart from Westminster. I’d take the tube to Westminster station (Piccadilly line to Hammersmith. Cross the platform to change to the District line to Westminster). If you just want to walk, I’d go one station farther to Embankment, exit towards the river, and go up the stairs and over the Jubilee bridge that crosses the Thames. You get some good views from the bridge and also along the South Bank.