London Heathrow connects most of Europe’s flights, so it is one of the busiest airports. If you find yourself killing time during a London layover, you have a lot of options. With so many things to do in London, you might wish your layover would never end. Even with a short break, you can make time for some culture, food and sightseeing. Before you get started, store your luggage, so you can experience the city without toting around your gear.
Then, consider some of these world-renowned locations to spend a few hours.
Windsor Castle
Do you want to catch the Royal Family? It’s possible when you visit Windsor Castle. This is one of the closest attractions to the airport so you can arrive in just twenty minutes by car. If you prefer, look into one of the Windsor layover tours offered from Heathrow.
Trafalgar Square/The National Gallery
To get to the historic Trafalgar Square, you will take the tube train to the Piccadilly Circus exit. Then, take a short walk toward Leicester Square and make a right. Not only will there be plenty of bakeries to choose from, but you won’t lack sites to look at.
While you are here, you want to visit the National Gallery. This art museum houses more than 2,000 paintings by some of the most famous creators. Find your favorite from Van Gogh, Rembrandt or Monet.
The British Museum
This museum is free and open every day. You can spend hours looking through the collection of more than eight million artifacts. Learn more about human history or explore a special exhibit that celebrates culture and art.
The London Eye
It doesn’t matter how young or old you are; the London Eye is sure to take your breath away. Of all the things to do in London, this is one of the more popular options for families. It’s located near the London Bridge and is best seen at night.
This is Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel. What could be better than seeing the city at 443 feet in the air? Because it sits on the South Bank of the River Thames, you should be prepared for quite the view. Sit in one of the air-conditioned capsules, each of which can hold up to 25 occupants.
If you prefer, you can walk around your capsule to get a view from every angle. One loop of the Eye takes about 30 minutes, so make sure you allow for plenty of time during your London layover.
Palace of Westminster
If you happen to have a layover on a Saturday, you want to visit while Parliament isn’t sitting. These are the days that visitors are permitted to have a guided tour. At the end of this event, you also get to enjoy afternoon tea while visiting the banks of the Thames. You will sit just below the famous clock tower of Big Ben.
Having British high tea is the ideal way to enjoy the local culture. Walk in the footsteps of Kings and Queens as you take your tour. Then, enjoy the best cakes, scones, sandwiches and English tea to complete the visit.
London Transport Museum
Head to the Covent Garden where you will find the London Transport Museum. While this is popular with visitors of all ages, kids are especially fond of this stop. The LT Museum shares the story of the transport system in London during the last two hundred years.
Not only is the museum completely free, but it offers plenty of room to explore. Even if it’s raining, you will get to adventure into Covent Garden, because it’s completely protected from the elements.
Take a Walk in a London Park
If you need to get out some of that energy before picking up your bags at LuggageHero and heading back to the airport, consider visiting a local park. St. James Park is located next to Buckingham Palace and near the British Parliament. This is a magnificent location if you want to take a stroll.
You might also consider Hyde Park. This green space is one of the Royal Parks and includes Speakers Corner. Because this area is dedicated to free speech, you might hear something interesting while visiting. The only rule is that visitors don’t use obscene language, so it should be family-friendly.
If you want to see something reminiscent of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, you will enjoy the Kensington Roof Gardens. There are seventy full-sized trees on-site, along with a stocked flowing stream and English Woodland garden. In fact, it’s rated as the largest rooftop garden in all of Europe. You don’t have to pay anything to get in, but it can be booked for a private party, so you might want to check before making a special trip.
When you’ve finished visiting all of the sightseeing locations, you will wish that your London layover was longer. There’s always next time!
