London for an overnight layover

How are you arriving and departing in and out of London and what are your arrival and departure times?

We arrive 10/12/2023 at 8PM (from Newark leaving at 8AM), departing London 1PM for Barcelona. In an out of Heathrow.

Sorry to burst your optimistic bubble, but you do realize that you can't count on your flight arriving in London on time. Assuming that you don't check any luggage, it will take you at least an hour to get off the plane, get on the Heathrow Express, and get to Paddington Station, let alone going to a different area of London. You will have to head to the airport by 10:30 AM at best-and I don't know that I would cut it that close with all the crowds that will be in London. And these times are a very best case scenario. This plan looks to me like a recipe for frustration.

If it was me (“a seasoned traveler”), I would find a nice hotel with a nice restaurant in or near the airport. I would relax with dinner and then go to bed! In the morning, I would take my time with breakfast and head to the airport. Going into the city sounds way too stressful in the amount of time you have.

Do this:

1.) Right NOW purchase Heathrow Express tix. Its a 15 minute ride on HEX to Paddington Station.
( the new Elizabeth Line also goes to Paddington as well but I’m uncertain how long the ride is)
2.) Make sure you have a tap Credit or Debit card. They can used throughout London. No need to get £’s (Pounds)
3.) Use Carry On Luggage only. That way you can walk off the plane, walk to immigration ( there are people movers as well. If you use them stand on the RIGHT.) Hopefully they’ll be enough staff on duty so the wait for immigration won’t be too long.

4.) Once through immigration its a fairly long walk to the HEX.
5.) Book at the Hilton at Paddington NOW.

The Hilton is outside the Praed Street entrance to Paddington Station.

The Underground at Paddington is a hub. You’ll be able to take the Tube from there. If all is well its a 20 minute Circle line to Westminster Station. Exit at Westminster and follow the signage to Parliament, Westminster Abbey.

Westminster Bridge is crowded in the evening. Crowded but lovely as Parliament is lit up.

You could stroll along the Thames River Path. Or cross Westminster Bridge and meander about Jubilee Gardens and the London Eye.

I don't think you have time to make it worthwhile, IMO. As yours, my flight arrives at about 20:00 when I fly into Heathrow. It looks like you are taking a day flight as well. I stay overnight at the Sofitel just outside of Terminal 5 (a hallway away), have room service and relax. They also have a restaurant, but I've never used it. I then would catch a flight to where ever I was headed the next day...usually between 11:00 and 13:00. So almost your schedule. I love London, but it is more of a hassle for an hour of walking around than it is worth to me. This system allows me to arrive rested with no jet lag. I highly recommend relaxation versus running around with no time and seeing nothing. But if you insist, I'd stay Paddington area...not one of my favorite, but it is something to walk around in.

On the other hand, that's not really answering your question and Claudia knows what she's talking about and I agree with her if that's what you really want to do.

Treat yourself to a nice airport hotel……

I fly to London a few times a year, have been doing it for years, and always the day flight.

Let's look at the reality of your schedule.

You arrive at 8 PM. Depending on which terminal, it will take anywhere from 45-75 minutes to get off the plane, head to immigration and customs, and to any transport into London. Figure another 30 minutes minimum to get into London because you need to wait for the next train.

So let's say you get the Heathrow Express. By the time you get to Paddington it will be around 9:30 PM but probably a little later. Now you have to get to your hotel and check in. It's now at least 10 PM. All of the world class restaurants and shops will be closed.

And let's face it, you just crossed an ocean. You're going to be tired.

The next day, even taking the Heathrow Express, you're going to have to leave for Heathrow no later than around 10 AM.

So your plan to "see" London will be in the dark with everything closed. The tube stops running just after midnight. Your choice is then the night busses, a taxi or Uber.

You decide what you want to do......

Stay at the airport - you don't have enough time to warrant the travel into London

You wouldn't get central until 2200 and aside from a walk around and maybe a drink, you won't be able to do anything. There aren't lots of night time options.

And to be at the airport by 1100 for the 1300 flight means leaving the centre by 1000 latest.

Someone suggested using the Heathrow Express - handy if you want to go to the dull Paddington area, but otherwise you still need to connect.

One option for the nice walk in the morning might be to stay in Windsor the night before

Treat yourself to a nice airport hotel. Getting from the hotel to the airport by bus can talk a half hour and at that time and night after you get out of Heathrow it will be around 9-9:30.

Having had a layover, do yourself a favor and stay at a hotel near the airport.

It is sad but you really don’t have time to see London. You would be lucky to arrive at your hotel by 10pm and you’ll have to leave first thing in the morning for your flight to Barcelona.

Book the Hilton Garden Inn between Terminals 2 & 3 and spend the night. Get your rest and resume your journey the next day. All you need is for the flight to be delayed etc. to put your plan in jeopardy. Save London for another time.

I see two issues with what has developed as a consensus on the thread - either an airport hotel or go to Paddington. One is that the idea of a nice airport hotel at Heathrow is an oxymoron. No doubt the few hotels attached to terminals are comfortable enough but for atmosphere you might as well be in Philadelphia. The second is that there is no way that Paddington is the sort of happening neighbourhood that the OP is seeking.
For me it’s easy but dull to stay at the airport. It’s a bit less easy but just as dull for me to go to Paddington.
What I would do if you really want to see something of London is take the Piccadilly line tube to Hammersmith or Baron’s Court, step across the platform for a District Line train to Westminster. Walk out to see the Elizabeth Tower in front of you (it’s where Big Ben is). Turn left and cross the Thames to the South Bank. There are hotels here and you’re next to the London Eye.
Or stay on the tube to Embankment. You come out on the banks of the Thames and you walk north on the Strand with again plenty of hotels and you can carry on to Covent Garden, which is packed with bars and restaurants which will just be starting to get lively. A bit touristy but you don’t have time to get to the more interesting neighbourhoods further east.

What date are you traveling? The tube stops running around midnight on weekdays. If it is a Friday or Saturday night, you have some options with the night tube. However, to do what you want to do will likely be costly. A hotel in central London will cost significantly more than a hotel at Heathrow. For me it would not be worth it but YMMV.

I typically take a flight that arrives about 9pm and usually get to my London hotel between 10:30 and 11pm. By the time you get to central London it will be close to 10pm. There are not many restaurants open late on weeknights. On a weekend, you are more likely to find some places open until 11pm or midnight. The tube stops running around midnight on weekdays.

These are the options that I can suggest if you are traveling Friday or Saturday:
Option 1: Take the tube to Covent Garden and stay in a hotel in that area. There are several restaurants in that area open late on the weekends. Dishoom is popular and open until midnight on Friday and Saturday. https://www.dishoom.com/covent-garden/
In the morning, be on the tube no later than about 9:30 to head back to Heathrow. Get a coffee at Monmouth Coffee for breakfast.

Option 2: Take the tube to Westminster. Stay in that area or across the river on the South Bank. Premier Inn County Hall would be a good choice. Take the tube to restaurant that is open late for dinner. In the morning, take a walk along the South Bank where you will have great views of the Houses of Parliament, the dome of St Pauls, etc.

For all night dining options, Duck and Waffle is open 24/7. I’ve never been, but it could be an option for you. The closest tube station is Liverpool Street.
https://duckandwaffle.com/london/

postscript: I just saw that you are arriving on a Thursday night so that limits your late night tube and dining options. You could still take the tube to central London and stay there, butfew restaurants will be open at that time.

Thank you all for your advice - this forum is an amazing resource! In the end, after having tracked traffic at various times of day via Apple maps app, we have decided to to book a room in the village of Marlow, a half hour west of Heathrow. Since we have the advantage of enjoying city life on the regular here in Philly, it isn't necessary to try and jam in a visit to London (we will get there another time). Marlow appears to have a charming village vibe, plus we booked a room at a hotel with a 24 hour restaurant right on the Thames so even if we run into SNAFUs and can't get out to explore that evening or early in the AM, we will still be able to grab a bite - in an historic property to boot!

Either way, I will circle back after our trip to you let you all know how this plan worked out.

Thank you all again - love hearing from experienced travelers!

That's somewhere a little bit different for the overnight stay. And if you're at a riverside hotel, very nice. A lot of those villages/small towns along the Thames are very nice places. Great for an early morning walk before heading back to the airport.

Marlow is a nice village, but also consider Windsor. It is nearer the airport and you could have a lovely walk in the morning along the Thames seeing Eton and the castle or heading out the Long Walk before a taxi back to the airport.

I used to live in a village a bit upriver from Marlow and would never budget only 30 min to taxi to LHR for a flight that I couldn't miss. Budget 45 at a minimum and more if there are issues on M4 or M25 that morning.

I think you’ve come up with an excellent plan, although I would prefer Windsor too.

You didn’t say if you are night owls or early birds. I am most definitely not a night owl at any time, and especially after a transatlantic flight. So I would be way too tired to do anything the night I arrived. I generally have no problem getting up early, although in your circumstances, I might like to sleep in a bit to start my vacation well rested. However, if I had never been to London, I would be tempted to rise early and spend a couple of hours walking around. I’d probably choose the area around Parliament so I could see some of the iconic London sights. Windsor Castle would also work as a less stressful option.

As you seem reasonably confident you will make it to London soon, an airport hotel — or your plan — works well and definitely involves less stress.

Can anyone offer some advice for the OP on the return trip to LHR from Marlow? We were in both Hillingdon/Uxbridge and Ealing area in May and had some difficulty getting a cab back to LHR in a timely manner. We also ran into the issue that the cabs called by the hotels wanted cash as opposed to credit cards. I’m not sure if that would apply to the situation in Marlow.

What about staying in the Premier Inn in Longford, right by Terminal 5? Village like giving a flavour of an olde English village, which has
a couple of pubs. You can go to the big smoke when you have time another visit. The crowds can really slow you down, none moreso than when you really want to get somewhere in a hurry.

Hi, from another Philly traveller. I typically opt for the Sofitel, LHR 5, when I have an earlyish flight the next day. I am looking forward to your report of Marlow, getting there, staying there, etc. Have a great time.

Another vote for the Sofitel which is attached to terminal 5 LHR. Good hotel, restaurant is good enough for a jet-lagged dinner.