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#THE LAYOVER LONDON HOW TO#
How to Get There: Check out this Google Map for details on public and private transit options, and the associated time required. This does not include travel time between the airport and here. It will generally depend on whether you hope to browse or commit to some serious UK shopping. However, for layover purposes, a few hours should suffice. Time Required: Exploring the entirety of Oxford Street could take days. Conduct a bit of research prior to diving into this region to ensure your precious time is spent in the area that best suits your preferences! Shops along Bond Street are among the hippest and trendiest in the city, while Soho is filled with emerging names in a formerly ‘colourful’ neighbourhood. Essential stops as you wander this massive street include Topshop, Selfridges and Liberty Department Store. Since not all who visit London are there for the architecture and the history, we also thought we’d include the city’s shopping epicenter on this list. This estimate does not include travel time from the airport to here. Should you wish to enter inside of Westminster Abbey, you should account for a long ticket queue (20 – 40 minutes) and another hour for touring the inside. Time Required: Simply observing the outside of these three sights can be done in a half hour to an hour. Be sure to walk to the easternmost part of the Castle to get a glimpse of the still active Big Ben Clock Tower and the city’s stunning bridges. The Houses of Parliament – also known as the Castle of Westminster – is located directly across the street, on the banks of the Thames. Westminster Abbey is the sight of most of the city’s most major religious events, and is otherwise a hugely impressive piece of Gothic-style architecture. Some of London’s most impressive, significant and iconic buildings are all located within a few steps of each other. How to Get There: Check out this Google Map for details on public and private transit options, and the associated time required Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben Photo Credit: alice-photo / Shutterstock This does not include transfer time between the airport and here. Time Required: Visiting the palace and the gardens takes a minimum of an hour – more, if you hope to spend time wandering the perimeter of the palace, or much of the park.
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Highlights here include the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain and Kensington Palace itself – and the chance for a royal sighting! A lucky few may even time their visit right for the changing of the guards! A short walk across Buckingham Gardens carries you out into the expansive Kensington Gardens, and onto hours’ worth of walking trails that run throughout. Spend an entire afternoon wandering around the perimeter of the place that has been home to British royalty since 1837. While the city is rife with iconic sights and landmarks, Buckingham Palace sits uncontested among the absolute most famous. Buckingham Palace and Kensington Gardens Photo Credit: r.nagy / Shutterstock Sightseeing Optionsīelow are a few essential sights. For more information on the airport itself, check out our Heathrow Airport Guide. The downside to this shopping madness is the inevitable havoc the airport wreaks on even the most innocent credit card. As one of the world’s largest and most famous airports, there is no end of glitzy duty-free shopping and dining options to keep you entertained. If you find yourself with a layover in Heathrow of less than five hours, you are likely best sticking around the airport terminals. Leave your bags at the airport and follow the suggestions on what to do and how to do it in the guide below. Whether you’re looking for a culinary adventure, a dose of the monarchy or some retail-therapy, the 15-minute Heathrow Express will scoot you around the traffic and into the heart of the city. Rather than waste away your time, enjoy your London layover exploring the world-famous historical and cultural sights that are packed into this sensational city. Most flight routes will leave travellers with a few hours here – though more often, you’re looking at well over five hours. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is currently ranked as the world’s third busiest airport – meaning you will not be alone on your layover in London.