London Heathrow Airport

Hi Judy,
Is that 7 hours after you take into consideration the time it will take you to get through immigration et al, and the 2 hour check-in that is recommended for your flight to Rome?
And are you flying in and out of the same terminal?

If you have 7 hours clear, then you could get into London and see some of the sights.
Failing that, Windsor castle is often mentioned here for folks with your question.
I don't think there's much around Heathrow itself, but then again, I've never looked!

Instead of heading into London, go to Windsor instead. It borders the airport and is only a short cab ride away. Along with the famous castle there is lots of shopping and dining opportunities. Rick's London guidebook has a chapter dedicated to the town and an excerpt can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/5thhw9

Thanks to both of you...I will look in to your suggestions.

Our 7 hours is total ground time between flights.

Again thanks everyone.

I like the suggestion about visiting Windsor. There is a hop-on-hop-off bus that tours around the area and includes the periphery of the Great Park, Eton, Windsor (town) with a view of the castle; I think the entire loop takes about 45 minutes. You would probably have time to tour the castle; I recommend that tour. There is a bus that runs from Heathrow to Windsor, but with 4 people it would make sense to take a taxi. If you leave the airport you will probably have to go thru passport control and then reenter the airport thru security. This takes away from your time available.

Windsor makes sense.....look at the time...7 hours total

1+ hours to clear passport control and customs (could be less but lets be on the safe side)

1 hour tube into London

1 hour tube back to the airport

2 hours before flight for check in, security, etc.

That leaves a whopping two hours max for London.

I'd take the advice to see Windsor. Lots of history.

Or, if didn't sleep much on the plane, get some rooms at the Yotel and rest, shower, etc.

Hi again everyone.....
Swan you mentioned passport control and clearing airport security again..about how long will this take? I know it will be an esimate but I do want to make sure and leave enough time to do so. I know here where I live it can take a little or a lot of time to clear airport security at DFW airport.

I think we will definitely do the Windsor thing and I would like to do the "Hop on Hop off" bus too to give my son-in-law a glimpse of England, I am sure it will wet his appetite for a return visit.

I'm guessing that your flight to Rome is on a British airways flight out of Terminal 5. If that is so you'll need to be in line to check in at the airport 2 hours ahead. This does away with all that stress of barely making your flight. Other terminals can be really screwed up. If you're there 3 hours ahead you sail through, 1&1/2 hours ahead and the security line is out the door...there is no rhyme or reason. Windsor would be a great side trip. Screw the pooch and take a cab to save on time.

We had less time than you (I can't remember exactly but I know it was less!) and we did Windsor with no problem at all. I arranged for a private tour for me and my four teenage/adult children. It was wonderful! We had a driver and a guide. I can't remember the company, but it was easy to find with a little searching on Google: layover tours, day trips, Windsor tours, etc.