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Adraco · 07-14-2010, 04:18 PM

Go for the nine hour layover!

Ten years ago I worked at Heatrow for a travelling company, as a transfer agent. Helped people from one flight to the other. Immigration can be a pain, especially since you probably don't have a European citizenship, you will be placed in group 4, "rest of the world" and those lines are usually quite long.

If you're arriving from another European contry, you should not have to worry, since port of entry into the European Union is your first European country and then you're free to travel within the union. That would cut down on immigration lines.

If you can have your bags checked all the way, so you don't have to carry them with you that'd be great. There are no safety boxes to store bags in at the airport due to security concerns.

There is a dedicated airport-city center train between Heatrow and London. It's expensive but fast, safe and will be on time. That is very important on your way back to the airport, you do not want to get stuck in London traffic which can be really bad, especially out towards the airports. For you, I'd say it's worth spending the extra few pounds on the train, forget about taxis or busses.

Have a few Pound Sterling notes handy to buy train tickets and subway tickets once in London. Do not rely on credit cards, even though you will be able to use them everywhere. Inside the city I can recommend a cab to go to the places you want to see, cab fares are decent and will take you point to point quickly.

I would recommend "The cabinet war rooms", Prime Minister Winston Churchill's bunker during the Second World War. Very interesting and not easily experienced via the Internet or pictures. They let you go down in the actual bunker, and even if much is behind glas walls, you still can see everything and experience it.

Anchored on the river Themes you'll also find the HMS Belfast, the ship which fired the first round on D-Day. Or if you really like the imperial Brittain, a visit at the Imperial War musem is a must. Earwin Rommel's tank and many other real life busses, trains, airplanes, tanks and so on are on display there. All have their history neatly documented on signs beside them.

Forget about The Tower of London and the wax cabinett, they can be extremely crowded and long, long lines to even get in. The crown jewel's at the Tower you are even standing on a flat escalator, just to force the crowd to move.

Trafalgar Square, 10 Downing Street, Hyde Park and the Big Ben are easy enough. Maybe St Paul's cathedral , which survived the German bombs.

I would prioritize to see a few things, and eat something easy. You can eat everywhere, value your time in London higher and use it. Alot around 2-2,5 hours to get back to the airport and be ready to let them know at the security checkpoint if you're running late and they will fast track you back into the terminal, just remember which terminal you will be flying out of so you get off the train at the right platform when coming back.

That's only a few quick pointers. Hope you enjoy London, I always do!

07-14-2010, 04:18 PM
Adraco Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: May 2009 Location: Onboard an airplane around the globe Posts: 3,733	Go for the nine hour layover! Ten years ago I worked at Heatrow for a travelling company, as a transfer agent. Helped people from one flight to the other. Immigration can be a pain, especially since you probably don't have a European citizenship, you will be placed in group 4, "rest of the world" and those lines are usually quite long. If you're arriving from another European contry, you should not have to worry, since port of entry into the European Union is your first European country and then you're free to travel within the union. That would cut down on immigration lines. If you can have your bags checked all the way, so you don't have to carry them with you that'd be great. There are no safety boxes to store bags in at the airport due to security concerns. There is a dedicated airport-city center train between Heatrow and London. It's expensive but fast, safe and will be on time. That is very important on your way back to the airport, you do not want to get stuck in London traffic which can be really bad, especially out towards the airports. For you, I'd say it's worth spending the extra few pounds on the train, forget about taxis or busses. Have a few Pound Sterling notes handy to buy train tickets and subway tickets once in London. Do not rely on credit cards, even though you will be able to use them everywhere. Inside the city I can recommend a cab to go to the places you want to see, cab fares are decent and will take you point to point quickly. I would recommend "The cabinet war rooms", Prime Minister Winston Churchill's bunker during the Second World War. Very interesting and not easily experienced via the Internet or pictures. They let you go down in the actual bunker, and even if much is behind glas walls, you still can see everything and experience it. Anchored on the river Themes you'll also find the HMS Belfast, the ship which fired the first round on D-Day. Or if you really like the imperial Brittain, a visit at the Imperial War musem is a must. Earwin Rommel's tank and many other real life busses, trains, airplanes, tanks and so on are on display there. All have their history neatly documented on signs beside them. Forget about The Tower of London and the wax cabinett, they can be extremely crowded and long, long lines to even get in. The crown jewel's at the Tower you are even standing on a flat escalator, just to force the crowd to move. Trafalgar Square, 10 Downing Street, Hyde Park and the Big Ben are easy enough. Maybe St Paul's cathedral , which survived the German bombs. I would prioritize to see a few things, and eat something easy. You can eat everywhere, value your time in London higher and use it. Alot around 2-2,5 hours to get back to the airport and be ready to let them know at the security checkpoint if you're running late and they will fast track you back into the terminal, just remember which terminal you will be flying out of so you get off the train at the right platform when coming back. That's only a few quick pointers. Hope you enjoy London, I always do! __________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The truth is not affected by the beliefs, or doubts, of the majority.