Heathrow to London and Back during a 5 Hour Layover

If you really want to get out of the airport, you are better off going to Windsor and it's famous castle. It borders the airport and you can there quickly via taxi. But flights to Egypt usually have extra security screenings which take extra time, I wouldn't risk leaving the airport.

If you are willing to spend the money and can be certain you won't have problems getting through security for the flight to Egypt I'd take the Heathrow Express into Paddington Station. (about 15 mins) Then take the Underground (I think it's the Circle Line) to Westminster. Exit at Westminster. The Houses of Parliment and Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben are right there. You can stroll over to Buckingham Palace as well. A quick jaunt but well worth the cost of the Heathrow Express if he REALLY wants to see some of London. You can store luggage at every terminal at Heathrow. Just go on the Heathrow website to find out where.

I think that 5 hours is far too short to head into London and would not attempt anything more than a quick visit to Windsor.You may be able to pick up a coach tour right at Heathrow but bear in mind that you will have to go through Immigration and Customs both out and return and Heathrow is one airport I try to avoid because you have to walk for miles or take a bus between terminals and it can be slow a molasses....

I don't understand why you would have to stow luggage - aren't you checking it all the way through to your final destination in Cairo? Or are you only intending to take carry on luggage?

If intending to go into London, then I suggest checking your bags all the way through to Cairo so you are not burdened with them.

Now is this 5 hours while waiting, not counting the 2 hours they want you to be there before the flight? Or is it 5 hours total, meaning you would still have to spend time to go through security, etc again....

Five hours is too short for going into town and back. Keep in mind the time to find a place to stow your luggage (why?), take transportation to town and back, and leave plenty of time for picking up your luggage and again and going back through security. There's no way I would risk it.

We had a layover in Heathrow of just a few hours and took a "Layover Tour" to Windsor. There was a private tour guide and driver for me and my four kids. It was great!

I'll jump on board and add my voice to the "Not enough time crowd". Heathrow is a notoriously slow airport for through-transit. It relies on a very inefficient system of buses to shuttle passengers from their plane to the terminal and between terminals. Security queues are also particularly slow. Although I've moved through in as little as 30 minutes, I have also waited as long as 90 minutes. You can't predict it, much less plan for it.

Transiting LHR may very well take a lot longer than exiting through immigration, going to another terminal and checking in.

If Terry is willing to take the risk I say go for it. She can be in London in about an hour, have an hour to 90 mins to look around and be back with 1 hour to pass through security again. It all depends on her 'risk tolerance'.

If you have 5 hours this is the most likely situation- 1/2 to 1 hour for customs/immigration. IZf you can check your bags through-and that is best-do it. Then taxi or bus to Windsor- 1/2 hour. 2 hours for Windsor. Taxi or bus back- 1/2 hour. You arrive 1 hour before flight- really that is TOO TIGHT! Heathrow is infamous for lines!!!!! There is lots to do at the terminal. Window shop and relax. You don't want to risk messing up the rest of your trip. Save London/Windsor for another time.

The taxi ride from Heathrow to Windsor is only 15 minutes. 1/2 to 1 hour for customs/immigration, 15 minute taxi ride to Windsor spend an hour and half, 15 minute ride back to Heathrow and you can be back 2 hours before your flight.