When it comes to travel to Europe, Asia and Africa, London Heathrow Airport (Airport Code LHR) is a major international hub, and also a top spot for taking a long layover excursion. I remember the first time I had a long connection in London: 8 hours. I had been toying with the idea of leaving the airport for quite some time, and London is a great option. Here’s why…

1. The Heathrow Express– This is a game changer because you can get from the airport to Central London in only 15 minutes. The Heathrow Express allows you get a jumpstart in your layover adventure for between $28-33 for a one-way ticket, or $50 for a round-trip ticket. It drops you at London Paddington Station which puts you an easy walk to Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and even Westminster Abbey. If you are trying to do this adventure on the cheap, it’s an easy walk to the iconic sights (Even Big Ben). But you can also jump on the London Underground (also called the Tube) and get there a little quicker and also check off experiencing this app for your list.
2. The London Pass– This is a game changer that gives you one pass that will help you see a ton of sites. The London Pass may feel like a hefty investment at first at $95 for a one-day pass, but it also includes a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. The major benefit is that it gives you access to over 80 attractions, and you don’t have to wait in any lines to get tickets because you download the ticket to your smartphone right into the London Pass app! If you use it for the bus tour and only one or two sites, you easily have earned your money’s worth. Plus, there is an option with the London Pass+ to add an Oyster Card for transit on any of the London transport networks. This can easily be the best hack for your transit day in London.
3. Great Iconic Fish & Chips– Part of the adventure of any country is their food. And at the risk I f being cliche, you can’t do London without eating some Fish & Chips! People that know me will say that even though I may not have been a fan of fish for most of my life, if you dip it in batter and deep fry it and add french fries (aka-“chips”) I will have a change of heart. A great place to get some delectably wonderful Fish & Chips for a great price is The Laughing Halibut. They are conveniently located near Westminster Abbey, and you will have a happy belly as you travel back to the airport to catch your next flight.

As I mentioned in the previous post, you want to make sure that you leave plenty of time to get back to the airport, get through security and to your gate for the connecting flight one hour before it’s scheduled departure. They are not going to hold your airplane for you because you failed to gauge how much time it would take to get back. If you are trying to save a little, the Tube takes an hour to get back to the airport from Central London. It almost makes the Heathrow Express look a little more enticing. Whichever path you choose, enjoy your whirlwind tour of London and may you get some great sleep on your next flight…