24 hour layover in London (Heathrow) 5pm--5pm. where to sleep, what to see?

[Anonymous]

Arrive at 5pm, depart at 5pm.
Basically we can do something in the morning. Its a Saturday.
Where would you sleep and and what would you do?
2 people: teenager and adult

[Anonymous]

Are you coming from the US, where the time difference is such that your body will want to stay up late?

[Anonymous]

And where are you going after, time wise?

[Anonymous]

We are laying over from Greece on our way back to the US (2 hour time difference).

[Anonymous]

It’s very easy to take the train (Heathrow express) from the airport into central London, it goes to Paddington Station. Loads of hotels nearby, pick one, and then do a pub or local place for dinner that night. In the morning I’d probably just hop on a city bus (the 148 will take you to Westminster Bridge and you can get out and walk along the River, see the “major” things) and just take in the city sites for a few hours, then go back and check out of hotel, leave the luggage and go to the Kensington Gardens for a bit, then take the train back @1:30 to get back to Heathrow by 2:30. If you want to give more details as to interests and time of year I can give better recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s very easy to take the train (Heathrow express) from the airport into central London, it goes to Paddington Station. Loads of hotels nearby, pick one, and then do a pub or local place for dinner that night. In the morning I’d probably just hop on a city bus (the 148 will take you to Westminster Bridge and you can get out and walk along the River, see the “major” things) and just take in the city sites for a few hours, then go back and check out of hotel, leave the luggage and go to the Kensington Gardens for a bit, then take the train back @1:30 to get back to Heathrow by 2:30. If you want to give more details as to interests and time of year I can give better recommendations.

Sorry - the heathrow express is only 15 mins so you can leave at 2 and be fine.

Also, be prepared for long queues in Heathrow arrivals.

[Anonymous]

Hilton paddington to stay - its a 15 min direct train ride to and from heathrow

Tell me what you like to do and i can recommend. London has everything so its your choice

What i would do is as follows:
For first evening maybe catch a show or do an evening tour. Walk along the southbank

Next morning
Spend morning in visiting museum/ church
Pub lunch
Shopping

If you havent been to london before try a hop on hop off london tour, or duck tour

[Anonymous]

Personally, I would spend the night in central London -- maybe somewhere near Paddington so you can take the Heathrow Express (not the cheapest, but the fastest) and easily store your bags for the next day until you return to LHR. If you are in that neighborhood, you would be close to the Portobello Road street market on Saturday morning (if that is of interest) and within a relatively short Tube ride of whatever else might interest you. (Museums? Westminster Abbey? Changing of the Guard? Shopping on Oxford Street (always an adventure on Saturday!), etc.)

[Anonymous]

Have a nice dinner and then visit the tower of London sat a.m.

[Anonymous]

The airport needs one of those sleeping pods like they do in Japan and other countries near there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The airport needs one of those sleeping pods like they do in Japan and other countries near there.

The airport does have hotels, but there isn't much point staying at one of them because of your timings. I agree with the other PPs about getting into London on the Heathrow Express and then stay near Paddington station so you can leave your bags there and collect them before returning to the airport. I'd go see a show and a great meal. In the morning I'd start with a really good breakfast somewhere (the Wolseley for reliably delicious, Aqua Shard for the view, Chiltern Firehouse for nearish to Paddington) and then pick one thing you want to see and go there, or do the hop on bus tour to relax and see the sights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The airport needs one of those sleeping pods like they do in Japan and other countries near there.

They have hotels but those are useful for short layovers, not 24h! Maybe if they were arriving 5pm and leaving 5am but with 24 hours there’s plenty of time to go into London and see some things!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s very easy to take the train (Heathrow express) from the airport into central London, it goes to Paddington Station. Loads of hotels nearby, pick one, and then do a pub or local place for dinner that night. In the morning I’d probably just hop on a city bus (the 148 will take you to Westminster Bridge and you can get out and walk along the River, see the “major” things) and just take in the city sites for a few hours, then go back and check out of hotel, leave the luggage and go to the Kensington Gardens for a bit, then take the train back @1:30 to get back to Heathrow by 2:30. If you want to give more details as to interests and time of year I can give better recommendations.

What are the odds that we would run into Paddington Bear if we follow this itinerary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s very easy to take the train (Heathrow express) from the airport into central London, it goes to Paddington Station. Loads of hotels nearby, pick one, and then do a pub or local place for dinner that night. In the morning I’d probably just hop on a city bus (the 148 will take you to Westminster Bridge and you can get out and walk along the River, see the “major” things) and just take in the city sites for a few hours, then go back and check out of hotel, leave the luggage and go to the Kensington Gardens for a bit, then take the train back @1:30 to get back to Heathrow by 2:30. If you want to give more details as to interests and time of year I can give better recommendations.

What are the odds that we would run into Paddington Bear if we follow this itinerary?

He’s all over Paddington station, so very good I’d say!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The airport needs one of those sleeping pods like they do in Japan and other countries near there.

The airport does have hotels, but there isn't much point staying at one of them because of your timings. I agree with the other PPs about getting into London on the Heathrow Express and then stay near Paddington station so you can leave your bags there and collect them before returning to the airport. I'd go see a show and a great meal. In the morning I'd start with a really good breakfast somewhere (the Wolseley for reliably delicious, Aqua Shard for the view, Chiltern Firehouse for nearish to Paddington) and then pick one thing you want to see and go there, or do the hop on bus tour to relax and see the sights.

Also, if you book 90+ days in advance, the express train is very reasonable - 5.50 pounds/adult each way, kids under 15 are free