8 hour LHR layover with kids
May 25, 2015, 11:11 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2014
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Presuming this is daytime? How old are the kids?
Enough time to take the tube central and see some sights. Legoland, Thorpe Park and Chessington are in the area, thought dont know how good public transport to them is.
There is a petting zoo near The Green Man. Visit the famous pound shops of Hounslow and top it all off with a cheeky Nandos
Enough time to take the tube central and see some sights. Legoland, Thorpe Park and Chessington are in the area, thought dont know how good public transport to them is.
There is a petting zoo near The Green Man. Visit the famous pound shops of Hounslow and top it all off with a cheeky Nandos
May 25, 2015, 12:22 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2014
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What age are the kids? Would a quick trip into London be feasible? Something like National History Museum. Asuch as Legamd may be possible given transport times and being back at the airport may not be too easy.
Could do a visit to each terminal using underground and a trip through the secret passageways.
Could do a visit to each terminal using underground and a trip through the secret passageways.
May 25, 2015, 3:20 pm
#7
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I would highly recommend going into London…
Massively cheaper than doing Lego Land.
Even with 4 adult travel cards (if your children are over 11) will work out a lot cheaper, and if you jump on the Piccadilly line straight from T5 into central London, you can see most of the big sights in a few hours and have a nice lunch/early dinner somewhere before heading back to the airport for your next flight. Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and The Palace of Westminster, Tower Bridge, The Tower of London and a whole host of other things… You never know, if the children have not been to London, it might be that they never get the opportunity to come back! Make the most of it…
Massively cheaper than doing Lego Land.
Even with 4 adult travel cards (if your children are over 11) will work out a lot cheaper, and if you jump on the Piccadilly line straight from T5 into central London, you can see most of the big sights in a few hours and have a nice lunch/early dinner somewhere before heading back to the airport for your next flight. Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and The Palace of Westminster, Tower Bridge, The Tower of London and a whole host of other things… You never know, if the children have not been to London, it might be that they never get the opportunity to come back! Make the most of it…
May 25, 2015, 3:27 pm
#8
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What time of day are we talking about? How old are the 'kids'? What do you as a famiy want to do?
Yet another post asking for advice that does not include important information.
May 25, 2015, 3:28 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Peak District
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Another vote for a trip into London from me. You'll be surprised how quickly a 8hr layover will soon disappear once you take into account leaving the aircraft and exiting the airport and then leaving enough time to arrive back at heathrow for your next flight. Despite all that the science and natural history museums are a stones throw away from south kensington tube station and are easily doable.
May 25, 2015, 5:53 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 397
8 hour LHR layover with kids
Sorry, thought I had put that in. Kids 6 and 8, will be 8 hour layover (so obviously less time with immigration/security), but enough time where kids will go crazy if we camped at airport all day.
I will check out the UK/Ireland group - I actually didn't realize their were destination groups.
Thanks all!
I will check out the UK/Ireland group - I actually didn't realize their were destination groups.
Thanks all!
May 25, 2015, 6:17 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 1,713
Sorry, thought I had put that in. Kids 6 and 8, will be 8 hour layover (so obviously less time with immigration/security), but enough time where kids will go crazy if we camped at airport all day.
I will check out the UK/Ireland group - I actually didn't realize their were destination groups.
Thanks all!
I will check out the UK/Ireland group - I actually didn't realize their were destination groups.
Thanks all!
Into London on the Heathrow Express and get straight down to the London Eye. On the way back stop off at Paddington station and go to the Paddington Bear shop and have photos taken with the bear statue (platform 1).
That's four hours killed with minimial gripes from the kids, which should take care of all the spare time you have. The biggest problem you'll have is immigration and security, which are both a bind whether you're 6, 8 or 38!
May 25, 2015, 7:07 pm
#13
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Assuming the 8h is morning to afternoon
It's not really 8h. When you land you have to get out of the plane, clear immigrations, collect luggage, toilet breaks. That's 1h
Then you want to be back to LHR 2h latest before departure, add time for travel between London and LHR, 1h in total. So you have 4h to spend in London.
Maybe after arriving to Paddington with Heathrow Express take the tube to Piccadilly, do some shopping, sightseeing and finish with a lunch at Rainforest Cafe. I know it's tacky but children seem to like it. http://www.therainforestcafe.co.uk/
Then head back to LHR
It's not really 8h. When you land you have to get out of the plane, clear immigrations, collect luggage, toilet breaks. That's 1h
Then you want to be back to LHR 2h latest before departure, add time for travel between London and LHR, 1h in total. So you have 4h to spend in London.
Maybe after arriving to Paddington with Heathrow Express take the tube to Piccadilly, do some shopping, sightseeing and finish with a lunch at Rainforest Cafe. I know it's tacky but children seem to like it. http://www.therainforestcafe.co.uk/
Then head back to LHR
May 25, 2015, 8:42 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
You've probably got 5-6 hours realistically (1h through immigration/faffing around, get back 2h before departure). Considering it will take you close to an hour to get from LHR to central London and back again I'm not sure I'd bother, unless you really want to just tick off the main sites in central. 6 and 8 year old children may not take kindly to being hurried around central London streets after a long flight 
Personally i would stay in West London. There is a fairly kid friendly climbing wall by the Westway, or you could visit Westfield if you want to just keep them entertained and fed. Hampton Court Palace is also nice but I'm not sure how interesting it is for children.
Personally i would stay in West London. There is a fairly kid friendly climbing wall by the Westway, or you could visit Westfield if you want to just keep them entertained and fed. Hampton Court Palace is also nice but I'm not sure how interesting it is for children.
May 25, 2015, 9:12 pm
#15
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At what time are you scheduled to arrive and from where? What timezone will your kids be? Will they be tired or well-slept? What are their interests? When will you be there (i.e. what climate)? And so on.
You're a parent. You have the responsibility of thinking these things through. You can't just put a two line post on a chat board and hope for the best.
You're a parent. You have the responsibility of thinking these things through. You can't just put a two line post on a chat board and hope for the best.