LondonElite

With eight hours to kill, I'd get on the HEX and into London. Hounslow is a bit of a dump and I can't imagine there's much in the way of a good restaurant there. Given the choice, I'd stay airside for food. But central London offers the world of choices.

Efrem

Ditto to that. Your flights from the States will probably be early, if anything; schedules are padded enough to allow for more than normal contingencies. You'll have several hours to walk around London, gawk at Buckingham Palace, visit Westminster Abbey, and have a bite in a pub with some English atmosphere or anywhere else that suits your fancy. If you prefer, you can head a few miles in the other direction to visit Windsor Castle. There are several threads in the UK forum here about what to do during a long Heathrow connection.

If you don't want to drag your carry-ons with you, every Heathrow terminal has a Left Luggage storage facility landside. Their downside is that you'll have to get from T3 to T5 at LHR, either when you arrive (to leave your bag at T5 where you'll want it) or when you depart (to retrieve it from T3 where you left it when you came in). If you can carry everything with you, you'll avoid the terminal transfer: just leave from one, return to the other. If you take the Heathrow Express into London, you can use the Left Luggage facility near Platform 12 at Paddington. If you get into London a different way or go somewhere else, I can't help you.

Indelaware

I consider the HEX to be quite overpriced and would never advocate it; the Tube works just fine -- and one gets to interact with more Londoners. If one doesn't have the time for the Tube, I'd say stay near the airport.

I find visiting places which are "a bit of a dump" a fundamentally important part of visiting any country. Besides while Hounslow is not fancy, it is far from being really dumpy.

There are several quite good Lebanese restaurants in Hounslow; I can't speak to other fare.

BearX220

This is one of those rare cases where time is of the essence and HEX defends itself. OP has, effectively, five hours' street liberty between flights; does he really want to spend 2.5 of them sweating on the Piccadilly Line?

If he springs for HEX to Paddington he'll have time for a spin round Notting Hill and a fine, unhurried pub lunch. I recommend the Ladbroke Arms, in behind Holland Park Avenue. About a 15-minute walk from Paddington.

LondonElite

Yes, HEX is overpriced, but what are you going to do? A taxi will cost more.

Taking the Piccadilly line with those time constraints will be challenging. And I'll let you in on a little London secret; no one wants to talk to you on the tube. Besides, few people on the Heathrow to London route will be Londoners, you might get a few from Hammersmith or Barons Court onwards.

Hounslow is a dump. There's no polite way to say it. There may be a decent Lebanese place there but seriously, if you have London at your doorstep, why settle for Hounslow?

drminn

What is it with all you gourmets wanting to go for lunch in London? I thought in hell the cooks were British. I'd save the money for a nice dinner in Nice and maybe tie myself over with a pint or two (or three given that you have eight hours) at the airport.

DangerM55

I know it's off topic, but hopefully I can chuck a quick question in here... If I'm going (on one ticket) DUB to MIA but connecting in LHR do I do the US Immigration stuff at Dublin, or does it wait until MIA?
I believe it's the latter (MIA), but just double checking!

BearX220

It waits until MIA because there is no preclearance going on at LHR. The US immigration staff at DUB services US-direct departures only.

theshortfinal

Ditto this^

As a side note, I went through CBP pre-screen in Aruba last summer and the officers were in incredible spirits. Said it was a dream of theirs to get that assignment

beckoa

Welcome to Flyertalk mhankosky.

As this is specific to a destination, we'll relocate your post to an appropriate location.

~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk

LondonElite

Who's talking about dinner at the Ritz? Just suggesting that a leg-stretch and better food, even if it's just a curry, is preferable to eight hours indoors at LHR.

lhrsfo

And, if you misbehave in Hell, you then get given the American cooks. But get with the real world. Life has moved on. French cuisine is now disappointing and formulaic so, whilst time is on your side for research in Nice, don't expect a particularly high standard of cuisine unless you pay a fortune. Do expect to have the same 19th century menu given you at each little bistro.

Clint Bint

Is the poster American ? If so,my understanding is that quantity rather than quality is of the essence.

Swanhunter

So very true. The lack of variety beyond the formulaic bistro menu or uber expensive Michelin starred meal makes France disappointing after a while. London, NY, Melbourne, Tokyo all offer significant more interesting, diverse and exciting dining scenes. Paris is rather ossified by contrast.

LondonElite

Nice has cleaned up its act after many years of neglect, both gastronomically as well as physically. It's much cleaner and 'tourist-friendly' than it used to be. But I agree about France generally resting on its heels.