Bray
 

You don't necessarily need to break the bank with Heston Fat Duck. You could try the other two Heston experience in Bray at 'The Crown' or 'The Hinds Head'. Easier to book, more relaxed and still great food.

The problem with Bray is there not much to do other than eat.

Windsor gives dining and drinking along with history, a bloody great Castle and insight into warts and all modern Britain. There is - I think - a bus from T5. If not, arrange a minicab.

This map shows the public buses you can get from Heathrow. If you want to slum it you could get the 111 to Hampton Court Palace, which would take about 60 minutes by bus (which I accept may be too long......). It's a nice day out.....


Actually, there is another better bus map for Heathrow

We go to London all the time. In fact I’m going at the end of this month for work. We are not obsessed with waiting rooms/lounges. What we are is not wanting to trust getting back to the airport on the famous British transportation system (strike, rain, heat delays). The original plan was to go into the West End on the Piccadilly line and meet some friends for lunch at Randall and Aubin but decided we would rather just stay at Heathrow to avoid the hassle. I do like the idea of Windsor though and will suggest it to my traveling companion.

I agree - or go to Kew Gardens - that is lovely too.

Reviving this old-ish thread. For my coming trip, my spouse and I would’ve been on the road quite a bit before this last 8 hour layover at T5 before our final segment to Asia.

We’d be quite spent by then hence may just while away our time in the CCR. But, say we suddenly have a surge or energy post whatever delightful delicacy they serve at CCR and decide to venture out to Windsor - is it even possible? (Meaning leave the secure departures area to go airside, if so how? I assume we need to go downstairs via arrivals immigration?)

Hi,

This will be awkward.

The best way would be to take the transit to C gates , stay on then head back to the A gates and immigration and exit ( you will be then mixing with arrival pax from C to A)

However on your return to T5, your ready to fly status will be , messed up ( as you will have already been airside) and will need to be reset by BA staff

Probably best to go landside first ( arrivals lounge if applicable), go to windsor first then go to the T5 CCR

Regards

TBS

I thought I'd throw something into the ring... If you've got a long layover, there are also things to see that are much closer to the airport, for example:

• The Crown and Treaty, Uxbridge - built in the 16C and where Charles 1 signed a treaty with Cromwell
• Iver, a quaint village with old buildings
• Osterley park and house, a National Trust site with historical park and buildings

These are some examples of some interesting things to see that don't normally scream "visit me!" if you're an international tourist, but can be well worth the trip

Thanks. How cumbersome is this resetting? Is it something simple that check-in at the First Wing can sort out (with some explanation from us) or would it requirement involvement of UK immigration and other powers that be?

Hi

You would have cleared immigration when entering the UK to leave t5.
as i understand it can take a few minutes by the check in agent. The main risk us potentially losing your seat choice.
I have not done this so cannot fully comment on the process

regards

tbs

Runnymede, where the US airforce memorial is, but more importantly, the Magna Carta was signed there. Some good pubs around there as well.