What can I do in London for 6 hours?

[Mattg]

I've had a flight change and now have a six hour stopover in London between international flights. Ideally I would like to take advantage of this time and leave the airport, but how long would it take to get from LHR to the city and back? Would I be able to see/do anything in that time - any suggestions?

Would I have any issues with immigration etc? How do you go about saying you're entering the country for a few hours?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm sure those more knowledgable than me will be ale to help

 

[Grogan]

Catch the tube into Westminster, you can spend about 1-2 hours and be back at airport in time. It takes about 1 hour each way.
You will be able to see, Big Ben, London eye, Westminster abby, Buckingham palace, parliament and Trafalgar square plus others along the way if you walk at a reasonable pace.
I have done this on a 6 hour break between flights, got in at 5:30 ish, was concerned about taking too much time, but ended up with an hour spare at the airport.

 

[Mattg]

Thanks for the advice.

What I'm wondering is, is it possible to leave the airport for just a few hours? I would have to go through immigration etc, will they allow that? Also, can I leave considering I will have checked luggage at the airport? (I don't have to pick it up do I?) I'm really know sure how it all works in LHR.

 

[mella2007]

Thanks for the advice.

What I'm wondering is, is it possible to leave the airport for just a few hours? I would have to go through immigration etc, will they allow that? Also, can I leave considering I will have checked luggage at the airport? (I don't have to pick it up do I?) I'm really know sure how it all works in LHR.

Yes I'm pretty sure they offer transit visas airside or landside if you are departing within 48 hours, depending on your passport (I'm assuming Australian?) We nearly did this option but chose to stay in London for a night instead. No idea re luggage...would assume it would go to lost luggage counter

 

[Mattg]

Yes I'm pretty sure they offer transit visas airside or landside if you are departing within 48 hours, depending on your passport (I'm assuming Australian?) We nearly did this option but chose to stay in London for a night instead. No idea re luggage...would assume it would go to lost luggage counter

Yes, Australian. Do I Need to apply for a Transit visa beforehand in that case? Or do I just turn up on the day and get it.

 

[serfty]

I have never been required to pre arrange a visa on entry to the UK.

Just front up with yon Oz PP having at least 6 months validity. (Or was it three?)

 

[medhead]

In general, Australians do not require a visa to enter the UK as a tourism for stays less than 6 months.

 

[Pollywaffle]

How about Windsor and Windsor Castle? It'll take less time to get to than London. On the flip side, cabs are probably the best but will cost more than the tube.

 

[SteveJohnson]

I think a six hour layover is cutting it fine, especially around this time of year with tourists etc? The queues could be staggering. But if you can be fast off the plane and have Fast Lane priority access and are also willing to arrive back at Heathrow with very little time to spare then I would suggest catch the Heathrow Express to Paddington, then catch the Tube line into the city, maybe Oxford Street or Picadilly Circus. Just try to stay on the same line so you don't need to bother with changing lines and trains. Maybe catch the Tube to one of the bigger stations and then have a walking route which takes you to another station on a line that also goes straight back to Paddington. I wouldn't bother with any one specific attraction, just getting in and walking around will be great and give you a real taste of London!

 

[dcm]

Not far to walk to Hyde Park from Paddington. Otherwise, I would suggest buses rather than the Tube as you get to see a lot more.

 

[casanovawa]

Depends, it sounds like you have never been to London before so it will all be new?? In that case then yes a quick walk around the city centre's historic sites would be a good introduction... Probably not long enough to have much of a look around the British Museum etc if you have already seen the historic sites...

When you take the train in that should give you a good idea of how long the return journey should be, you should have your ticket for your next flight and all so all you will need to do is factor in security check line times and how long before the flight you need to be at the gate, that then can let you estimate when you need to jump on the train (which is what i would take) with a bit of lee way built in for the unexpected (say 30-45 mins)...

And are your bags just checked through to your final desination and so don't need to be picked up??? If so it should be fine to not bother about them... Even if they did need to be picked up you could probably just leave them ont eh carousel and the baggage people would take them off after an hour or so and you could collect them at the luggage office when you returned...

And no, no visa should be required, i stopped in London in 2011 with a 10 hour or so transit and was fine to get out of LHR and go to Canary Wharf and have lunch with a friend, not a lot else worth doing as it was raining even though it was the middle of summer there (!!!), so came back and sat in the Galleries lounge with my QC membership back when we were able to do that...

 

[dajop]

I think a six hour layover is cutting it fine, especially around this time of year with tourists etc? The queues could be staggering. But if you can be fast off the plane and have Fast Lane priority access and are also willing to arrive back at Heathrow with very little time to spare then I would suggest catch the Heathrow Express to Paddington, then catch the Tube line into the city, maybe Oxford Street or Picadilly Circus.

If you look at Transport for London website if travelling to somewhere near the Piccadilly tube line the benefit of catching the Heathrow Express can be negligible - in fact last time I visited London (alighting at Green Park) Heathrow express would have saved me 1 minute and cost me quite a bit more!

Transport for London website is a great resource to see how long it takes to get places.

 

[chrisb]

Note that there are some tube strikes coming up over the next month or so.

 

[dcm]

If it is your first visit to London, could I suggest Heathrow Express to Paddington. Then catch Bus 23 which goes along Oxford Street, Regent Street, through Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square along the Strand and to St Paul's Cathedral. Backtrack to Charing Cross, walk through to Leicester Square and catch the undergound back to Heathrow.

 

[KitKat]

Am interested in this thread for more ideas!
Going to get into LHR from a week in BCN at 1135 and leaving about 2100, so my current plan is to get down to London, have some Yum Cha or Asian (may need this after one week of fine Catalan cuisine), then walk hand in hand along the Thames or Hyde Park/St James Park with Mrs KitKat before going back to LHR for the flight home

 

[Mattg]

Thanks everyone who's replied so far, I really appreciate your suggestions. You are correct casanovawa, I've not been to London before. I'm booked on one ticket, BA to LHR and QF from LHR so I would assume bags will connect by themselves.

I quite like the tube to Paddington idea, and depending on time I might get another train from there as suggested. I think I'll allow myself about an hour an the city but hopefully this will be enough time to get a good taste of (what I've heard is) a really nice city. I think that will be one of the quickest hours of my life though!

Thanks for the clarification about visas, that's good to know.

This is why I love AFF; anytime anyone needs help or advice, they're given a plenitude of useful suggestions and tips. Thanks everyone

 

[Mattg]

I just need a bit of clarification on one point; will I be allowed to leave the airport (I.e. go through immigration and enter the U.K.) if my checked luggage is still in transit? Or will I need to collect my luggage and leave it at the airport for a few hours (in a cloakage room or something)?

 

[Newk]

Hiya Mattg

sorry I have come to this thread late. Apologies if I have missed it...will your bags be checked through to the next destination? If so, the bags and those handling them are unlikely to know if you are in or out of the airport. Note though that I am no expert in these things.

What I DO know, after being through LHR several times in the last few years is that there is a great variability in time taken from leaving the plane to getting out of the airport.
So: go with an open mind and if you are still in the immigration line after two hours* and there is no end in sight be prepared to change your plans

(*assuming no fast track pass)

 

[Mattg]

Hiya Mattg

sorry I have come to this thread late. Apologies if I have missed it...will your bags be checked through to the next destination? If so, the bags and those handling them are unlikely to know if you are in or out of the airport. Note though that I am no expert in these things.

What I DO know, after being through LHR several times in the last few years is that there is a great variability in time taken from leaving the plane to getting out of the airport.
So: go with an open mind and if you are still in the immigration line after two hours* and there is no end in sight be prepared to change your plans

(*assuming no fast track pass)

Hi Newk, I am transmitting through LHR on way home to CBR. As all will be on oneworld, I should be able to get my bags checked the whole way. My concern though is that they may not let me enter the U.K. if my luggage is still in transit and not with me. Obviously I will only be leaving for a few hours but I'm not sure how strict U.K. immigration is and/or whether they will be aware that I don't have my luggage. AFAIK you aren't supposed to leave the airport without your luggage.

I'm also aware that queues can be long and I'm prepared to change my plans if necessary. I'm arriving into LHR mid-afternoon so hopefully that's not their busy time!

 

[JohnK]

I just need a bit of clarification on one point; will I be allowed to leave the airport (I.e. go through immigration and enter the U.K.) if my checked luggage is still in transit? Or will I need to collect my luggage and leave it at the airport for a few hours (in a cloakage room or something)?

A few years ago my father and I were flying IAD-LHR-ATH and had a 5 hour transit at LHR.

Luggage was checked through and I arranged a catch up with an AFFer who came to the airport for a visit. From memory you go through immigration at the terminal you arrive and then transfer to the terminal you will depart from. From there you can go anywhere if time permits.