Stop in London on my way to India

mvwaling

I am off to India soon. My flight from the US stops in London for about 7 hours. Is there anything close to the airport that would be close enough to see during the time we are there? I was thinking about possibly going to Wimbledon because my son plays tennis.

On the way back we stop in London for 5 days. Do any list members have suggestions on what sights to see during that visit?

Finally, are there restricted items that we cannot bring into India? I am planning to bring a few gifts. Should I leave them unwrapped?

Thanks,
Michelle

clivington

What date, what time, which airport?

And do your tickets allow you to pass through immigration in the UK?

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mvwaling

I will land at Heathrow in early June at about 7 am. I have no idea if my tickets will let me pass through immigration. I wonder how I could find out? It might be too much of a hassle to go anywhere depending on how difficult it is to get through the immigration line and then to be rescreened to get back on the plane to India. I am assuming I will be able to go through immigration on the way back as I am staying for 5 days. It will be a long 5 days if I have to spend it in the airport!

clivington

Well, it'll probably be 10am before anything touristy opens, possibly 11am if it's a Sunday, so major tourist attractions are out. Given the vagaries of the roads around Heathrow you'd be best going anywhere by train. You'd need at least two hours to check back in so you need to get back to LHR by mid day. I think you're pushing your luck really. You might be able to get to Windsor and Eton for a wander around the towns, a coffee or a look at the Thames but, if it was me, I'd prefer to play safe. How about plane spotting from one of the terminal roofs? Really, anything more might be a bit fraught and exhausting. Sorry not to have any flashes of inspiration! Anyone else...?

doIhavetoReally

I agree..five hours is too short. You have five days to enjoy on the return...IMO it would be stress free and enjoyable.

davef22

You will need a transit visa should you leave the airport and this has to be obtained in US.

RWeHavingFunYet

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With a US passport you basically walk out of the terminal through immigration. No visa required. London is 14miles away and it takes ~50mins ride to get to the downtown. Take the subway (remember to say 't u b e') from Heathrow airport terminal to downtown (Earl's Ct/South Kensington.) or to Wimbledon (another 7miles, south). C l i k .. o n .. t h i s .. m a p:

Read a guide book for what to see in London. There're a whole bunch of books on London. H e r e 's .. i s .. o n e.

mvwaling

Thanks for the good London web site Noriko. I spent the afternoon planning that part of my trip. I think I will just stay in the airport on the way there. They have good shopping and food in the new terminal. Hopefully that will keep us entertained for a while.

I leave for Bangalore in just 21 days!

Happy2Travel

I have booked something similar, I'm taking British Airways on my way to India. I land at Heathrow at 9am and my flight for India leaves at at 10pm.

I've been researching how to go about this, any advice on places to visit (with kids) is appreciated. I'm not sure if I should book a hotel for few hours. Your suggestions/comments?

mvwaling

Happy2travel,
I too am traveling with 2 kids ages 9 & 15. If had a layover from 9 am to 10 pm I would take them someplace. The map web site that Noriko posted had many good ideas. I can give better feedback on what the kids liked in London after we spend our 5 days there in July.

I will also have very good India for older kids suggestions soon. So far we have planned to visit the Jungle Retreat near Ooty www.jungleretreat.com. Also we will do the Delhi, Agra, Jaipur route. Our home base for the month will be Bangalore. One thing I know for sure is that a month sure does go quickly once you start making plans!
Michelle

RPG

There is no such thing as tickets that allow or do not allow you to pass through immigration.

Happy2Travel

We are doing Mumbai, Benares, Delhi and Agra.

Haylo

If time is tight, and you want to go to central London, go for the Heathrow Express instead, a direct train that takes only 15 minutes to get you to Paddington Station. From there you can directly access four lines on the London Underground tube network, District, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Bakerloo lines.

To find out how long it will get from place to place in London, whether by tube, bus, car or on foot, use the Transport For London (TFL) Journey Planner.

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RWeHavingFunYet

I don't think you need a hotel. Heathrow has baggage storage. Freshen up at the airport and get to the downtown Victoria station and take a hop-on, hop-off double-decker bus tour. There are two companies:
Here's is one ==> The Original London Sightseeing Tour.

The 2-hour bus tour drives by all the famous sights; this way you get to see atleast the biggies. If the guide sounds funny, get off the bus and take the next one. You get a bus every 10-15 minutes. Most museum admissions are free. You can get off the bus and see St. Paul's Cathedral or Westminster Abbey and get on the bus, later on. Your ticket is valid for 24-hours.

Click here for bus tour map attractions. (view the pdf-file at 100%)

Happy2Travel

Thanks RWeHavingFunYet, the bus seems to be a good idea.