Best place to chill in between flights (5 hours) in London...im going to the big international airport?

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caroline1409f1

It depends on the airport you are coming into, but I'm guessing it's either Gatwick or Heathrow? For Gatwick you can get into London Victoria on the Gatwick express (take a look at the website for journey times etc.) From Victoria you can get the tube to Oxford Circus for Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road (take a look at the Transport for London website to plan your tube journey). If you come into Heathrow, you can take the tube to central London - again take a look at the Transport for London website. However, don't know if five hours would give you long enough for the journey AND shopping - it would also depend on what time your flight gets in too... You may just be better off staying at the airport and looking round the shops there - take a look at the airport website for listings of what they can offer. Have fun!

bear

You won't have time to do any of that. You will have to stay in the airport if you are going on another flight. there is plenty of duty free shopping and cafe's in the airport.

teddbrhd

I don't think you can leave in between connecting flights, I think you have to stay within the airport, but don't worry the big international airports in Lond have plenty of shops, restaurants and some have mini amusement arcades.

If you want to have a look at the airport facilities go to www.baa.com, click on the airport you will be flying into and out of and then click on the tab that says shopping and eating.

Have a good trip.

snetterton

London has 4 "big international" airports. Some are as much as 40 miles from the city. Heathrow is nearest. Five hours is probably not enough time but I suppose you could try to make it to Camden Lock. Google Camden Lock and see what comes up. Camden is on the Northern Line. Heathrow is on the Piccadilly and Heathrow Express. It will take 60-90 minutes to get from Heathrow to Camden.
The other airports (Luton, Stansted, Gatwick) are all bus or train rides away.

sedona

If you are in transit you will not be allowed to leave the airport

conranger1

You have no time to do anything after arriving at the airport you have to be there 2 hours before you flight leaves so you have only 3 hours "free".

MinibabeUK73

Why not book yourself into the VIP lounge at the airport - it will cost you aroung Â£20 but all your food & drinks (including Alcoholic) are free to you while there. They have PC's for you to use the net too & most of them have a quiet/chill out room too. What better start to your holiday!!!!

Carrie S

There are a few large international airports in London.

Gatwick and Heathrow are the main ones but there is also Luton, City and Stansted. Firstly check that you are allowed to leave the airport because they may have security restrictions on this so you may have to make do with the duty free shops at the airport!

Let's assume you are flying into Heathrow. You can get the Heathrow Express train which will take you directly into Paddington (west London) in 15 minutes. They run every 15 minutes. www.heathrowexpress.com so the longest it will take you is half an hour from reaching the platform. Do not get the tube from Heathrow as it can take up to an hour to get to central london on it and you might miss your flight.

You can buy a return ticket for this either on the train itself or at the ticket booth at the airport. (if you are travelling to Gatwick the Gatwick express leaves from the South Terminal and goes to Victoria and takes 40 minutes).

Once at Paddington, you have the choice of Bakerloo, Hammersmith and City and Circle lines to choose from. Buy your tickets from the kiosk or from the fast ticket machines. For more information on tube travel visit www.tfl.gov.uk.

Black Taxis are also available ouside Paddinton station should you want to go somewhere nearby. I would not recommend venturing too far as delays on tubes are all to frequent so leave plenty of time to get back for your flight. Also remember that going through security at Heathrow can take up to 20 minutes at busy times. Perhaps best thing to do is to take a Black cab to Hyde Park and just relax with a coffee and watch the world go by or go to Harrods and do a bit of shopping.

thecharleslloyd

Well, if it's only five hours i would stay put. You have to check out and back in again. If you are at heathrow, you could risk a quick trip on the tube. Not wise though. If i were you, change the connecting flight and take a day, book a Hotel and really relax

debzc

Unless it is a stopover, and not a connecting flight that you're on, I don't think you will be able to go anywhere outside the airport. Given the time that you have to be ready for boarding, in between your flights, I don't think you will have time to explore either. There are bars, restaurants, and the Duty Free that will give you something to do.

Have a good journey.

derrtrichard

If you are at Gatwick, you can get a train to Brighton and spend a couple of hours shopping, relaxing in a cafe and/or having fish and chips on the beach.

Kylie M

hmm not really any wheert to go to be honest! im not sure whats near to the air ports but no London airport is actually in London! well not near the city ne wehre although there are direct links to the centre where there are some good shops! to be honest! one flight comes in by thetime u go through arrivals and get ur luggae thatns an hour and then u got to be booked in 2-3 hours prior to most flights in the internation airports so u mgiht not have enoguh time! i would suggest a book and a cup of coffe in a quiet place or the airport!

Kevan M

London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stanstead and London Luton are all approx 1 hours travel distance away from central London and the main shopping areas, so unless you are very quick and can spare the MINIMUM of 2 hours of travelling (if there are no delays and you can find the timetables for precise trains / underground) then I would suggest you choose to travel somewhere a bit closer.
Luton Airport is quite close to Luton Town (10 mins or so) and has a good shopping area.
Gatwick Airport is on the outskirts of Crawley (12mins) and from there another shopping area.
Stanstead Airport is about 25 mins away from the nearest large area of shopping.
Heathrow Airport. A bit more difficult, but I would opt for Windsor which is about a 20 minute Bus trip away for a good experiance, at least if anything you have the river there to chill by.
As for the Airports themselves, I do not rate Heathrow at all for shopping, Gatwicks Not too bad in the South public side and North if airside. Luton and Stanstead are smaller and aimed more at the turn around, so not much there.
Just don't miss your flight!

pinoyscrewer

My bedroom

Diamondbch

just ask people that work at the airport. They know every spot around there and they are use to answering these questions. Someone else might lead you to timb buck too.

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