Long Lay-over in London: One Iconic Tourist thing to do?
Apr 19, 2018, 1:54 pm
#1
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Long Lay-over in London: One Iconic Tourist thing to do?
We are arriving @ LHR at noon. Our connecting flight doesn't leave until 7 AM the next morning. We are staying at the LHR Sofitel. Once we drop our bags if we are not too tired I guess we have the opportunity to do something that afternoon. At 62 years of age I have never been to London before...only passing through LHR. Looking for suggestions for one iconic thing to do that afternoon and how to get there. We love art, history and gardens.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Apr 19, 2018, 2:06 pm
#2
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Assuming you want to leave the airport/hotel area, you can easily stroll through Hyde Park, past Buckingham Palace and end at Westminster Abbey (and everything else around it) within an afternoon.
Apr 19, 2018, 2:07 pm
#3
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If you want to see the Elgin Marbles, go to the British Museum.
If you want to hear sublime choral music in a majestic high gothic setting, go to Evensong at Westminster Abbey (no cost).
If you want to see as much of London as you can efficiently, take the local buses, not some tourist hop on hop off bus. In particular, consider Bus #11 and sit on the upper deck at the front of the bus.
You can do all of the above on this visit.
Here is more info about taking the bus as an efficient way of sightseeing if you only have an afternoon/evening.
If you want to hear sublime choral music in a majestic high gothic setting, go to Evensong at Westminster Abbey (no cost).
If you want to see as much of London as you can efficiently, take the local buses, not some tourist hop on hop off bus. In particular, consider Bus #11 and sit on the upper deck at the front of the bus.
You can do all of the above on this visit.
Here is more info about taking the bus as an efficient way of sightseeing if you only have an afternoon/evening.
Last edited by Analise; Apr 20, 2018 at 4:21 am
Apr 19, 2018, 6:25 pm
#5
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Apr 20, 2018, 6:55 am
#7
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The Victoria and Albert Museum should have enough art and history to keep you occupied...
From Heathrow, you take the tube to South Kensington (~40 mins), and it's a 5-minute walk - you don't even need to go outside.
From Heathrow, you take the tube to South Kensington (~40 mins), and it's a 5-minute walk - you don't even need to go outside.
Apr 20, 2018, 3:35 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2002
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So, assuming you are arriving from the US, you will be a little pooped. But if you are up for some walking I would suggest:
- Drop bags off at hotel
- Piccadilly line to Hyde Park Corner
- Walk east towards Buckingham Palace. Continue on in that general direction to the area of Big Ben/Westminster Abbey
- Maybe cross the bridge and then go east down the Thames, maybe stop for a beer/coffee
- Cross back over the river, maybe at the next walkway/bridge and keep going that direction and you are at Trafalgar Square.
- It would be dinner time, so you could get something nearby or further towards Leicester Square
- Get back on the Piccadilly line at Leicester Square and back to the hotel.
All that presumes it's not pouring down rain. If it is, the Victoria and Albert is a good choice as mentioned since it is "attached" to the tube stop. I wouldn't suggest a bus ride since if it were me I would just nod off.
Enjoy your trip!
- Drop bags off at hotel
- Piccadilly line to Hyde Park Corner
- Walk east towards Buckingham Palace. Continue on in that general direction to the area of Big Ben/Westminster Abbey
- Maybe cross the bridge and then go east down the Thames, maybe stop for a beer/coffee
- Cross back over the river, maybe at the next walkway/bridge and keep going that direction and you are at Trafalgar Square.
- It would be dinner time, so you could get something nearby or further towards Leicester Square
- Get back on the Piccadilly line at Leicester Square and back to the hotel.
All that presumes it's not pouring down rain. If it is, the Victoria and Albert is a good choice as mentioned since it is "attached" to the tube stop. I wouldn't suggest a bus ride since if it were me I would just nod off.
Enjoy your trip!
Apr 21, 2018, 5:09 am
#10
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Landing at noon it may be as late as 2pm before you get settled in your hotel. Figure another hour to get into central London and that doesn't leave you much time in the city. Starting out at 3pm, I'd suggest one of the hop on/hop off bus tours which should give you enough time to see the sites before the sun goes down. Find a nice pub for dinner.
Apr 22, 2018, 2:36 am
#11
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Personally I find being outside is the best way to cope with jetlag, so I would avoid museums which can be very sleep-inducing in the circumstances. For me the best itinerary is to get off the tube at Hyde Park Corner, head to Buck House, then through Green Park to Whitehall and Parliament and perhaps Trafalgar Square and then head back - or sit in the park reading about what you have just seen.
In that area there are so many amazing things to explore more deeply but perhaps the most interesting that can be done in less than an hour are the Churchill War Rooms.
Apr 22, 2018, 3:07 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2013
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Personally I find being outside is the best way to cope with jetlag, so I would avoid museums which can be very sleep-inducing in the circumstances. For me the best itinerary is to get off the tube at Hyde Park Corner, head to Buck House, then through Green Park to Whitehall and Parliament and perhaps Trafalgar Square and then head back - or sit in the park reading about what you have just seen.
Not clear from OP when they're travelling - if it's today then weather is obviously great but of course the London Marathon may disrupt things a bit - no strolling down the Mall for sure. Tube stations around the parks will likely be packed but are running.
