London for Overnight Layover

With those timings I would go into the city on arrival and stay as centrally as you can. Staying at the airport means you will have precious little time to see anything, as you will need to be leaving to go back to the airport around 12pm.

Firstly I assume you’re flying into Heathrow and not one of London’s 5 or 6 other airports (depending on whether you count Southend or not)?

Paddington isn’t the answer - whilst you can get there fairly quickly from Heathrow it’s not very central for a very quick visit so you will need to take the tube or a cab as well.

I would aim for a hotel close to the river in say Westminster or the South Bank. That will allow you to get to a lot of iconic sites fairly quickly. However, if you particularly want to see a specific site that could change things.

Assuming that this is a layover on the way back to the US, and you are coming from
somewhere in the EU vs somewhere else in the UK, and you have checked bags
(these things matter), then you are looking at a late dinner in any case, as you would
have to clear immigration to enter the UK, claim bags, and then make your way into
London. But I would agree that your best chance to see at least something is to
stay in central London somewhere.

If you follow Johnew52's advice and not stay around Paddington, then I would say you
would want to consider staying somewhere near an Elizabeth Line stop, as it is a faster
service in/out of London than the Piccadilly Line. A cab might work fine coming into
London around 20:30 or something like that, but I probably wouldn't chance the traffic
heading out midday the next day. Being in Upper Class might buy you a little extra time
for check-in and security clearance.

You essentially have the morning to do whatever sightseeing you can, and most museums
don't open until 10. Staying around Tottenham Ct Rd would give you access to the British
Museum and Covent Garden, for example.

We will be flying Upper Class with Virgin Atlantic if that changes anything.

This might be of interest: https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/upper-class-cabin-and-seats/clubhouse-airport-lounge/london-heathrow-clubhouse/upper-class-wing.html

Upper Class Wing has its own private dedicated security line, no waiting.

Simple advice when traveling anywhere, never assume.

You’ve mention Hilton Paddington. Is that choice of where to stay based on points?

Although I don’t fly VA’s Upper Class I do fly the airline’s Premium Economy. Virgin Airline planes arrive and depart from Terminal 3

Reality is you will arrive, then have to clear security. which can take time. It’s a bit of a jaunt ( walking and riding the people movers ) to get to security. I’ve gone through security in 60 minutes, 45 minutes and in 10 minutes…seems dependent on staffing and how many other planes landed at the same time.)

My flight is nearly always the same arrival time as it’s the VA overnight flight on LAX to LHR.

If you are staying at that Hilton you can board the Elizabeth Line or well in advance like December 2024 book and pay for Heathrow Express tix.

Elizabeth Line is newer, cheaper and takes 30 minutes to get to Paddington Station. The HEX takes 15 minutes. Given my flight time and I love London I always opt for the HEX. It’s my comfort zone. That and the reality that where I stay is a 15 minute stroll from Paddington.

As far as what to see that’s up to you.

From Paddington you could board a Circle Line Underground train that would get you to Westminster Station in 20 minutes. Its well signed when you get off. Exit onto the street and you’ll be in the shadow of Elizabeth’s Tower with the Big Ben bell. About as iconic as you can get.

Johnew52 and Shoeflyer have some great advice. Staying at the Hilton London Paddington for one night is great if you're headed to Heathrow first thing in the morning. My advice would be to pick whatever you want to see most on your morning in London and stay close to that. Also, for such a short visit, minutes matter. We can help you with the fastest way back to Heathrow once you have a hotel selected. Often when we stay in Covent Garden, the best (not cheapest) option is a cab to Paddington and the Heathrow Express.

Please find someplace besides the Hilton Inn Paddington. Hilton apparently knows that they have a captive audience so actually investing in keeping that hotel clean and well-maintained is not going to happen. I’ve stayed in the past but my last visit showed me that apparently management has decided just to let it go. The rooms were not well-maintained. They were not clean. The elevators were problematic and the staff was surly.

And if you’re departing in upper class, give yourself time to enjoy the lounge. It is probably one of the best lounges you’ll ever go to.

Thanks Carol. I appreciate you letting all of us know that Hilton London Paddington is not at the level it once was.

it was really disappointing, because I’ve stayed at that Hilton several times in the past and always had a good stay, but after it reopened from Covid it has not been the same

I am staying at the new premier inn in the area on my next trip. The Hilton loyalist on Flyertalk recommend the Hilton Metropole, which is not far from there. (I considered it, but I used all my points for an upcoming stay in New York City so I decided to go with the cheaper option)

I think for the OP Paddington doesn’t make much sense. S/he will arrive in central London between 9pm and 10pm. Staying at Paddington they are unlikely to want to then catch a tube to see some sights that night. The morning after they will need to take a tube or taxi to see something and have to go back to Paddington to get their bags before they can head back to Heathrow (assuming that’s the airport).

If they were to choose a hotel by the river they can be there almost as quickly* and can catch some iconic sights on arrival and would have more time the following morning. You can go to Westminster tube station and come out with Parliament and Big Ben right in front of you. Walk over Westminster Bridge to stay at the Marriott County Hall (high end) or the Premier Inn County Hall (cheaper in the same building but no river views), or any one of a number of other places e.g. Club Quarters by Trafalgar Square, St Ermins by St James Park tube on the north side of the river etc etc. There are lots of other choices if you want to see something specific. If you want to see the Tower of London and Tower Bridge just stay on the tube for a few more minutes to Tower Hill. Or do that the following morning and get a river boat back.

• Getting to Westminster via Paddington makes no sense to me, especially for someone with no experience of London. Whether by HEX or Elizabeth Line it will take about 52/53 minutes going that way. Taking the tube will be 6/7 minutes longer but much much easier to navigate as it will only need a cross platform change at Hammersmith or Barons Court. Changing at Paddington or Bond St both longer. And if you miss the HEX at Heathrow it’s 15 minutes to the next one.