Saturday, May 28, 2005
Handling a long layover in London
Have a long layover (read 7 hours plus) at Heathrow/London? You don't have to "airport window-shop" that entire time, or try to catchup on your sleep "half slid-down" in an uncomfortable chair. Why not take a quick jaunt around a selected London neighbourhood?
Here's one way of doing just that:
After going through passport control (which might take you an hour or more depending on this "thing" called luck), head towards the Heathrow Express station at any of the terminals - 1 through 4. Take this much vaunted fast train to Paddington station. Just buy a roundtrip 2nd class ticket - no need to buy 1st class unless you don't have any place to keep you're money (all it buys you is a shorter walk from the boarding station entrance). The roundtrip price is £26.
Buy a day pass for the London transportation system. Fare for a 1-day Travelcard good for all types of transportaion (buses, tube, trams, etc.) in zones 1 & 2 is £6. Walk out of the station towards the post office. In front of the the Post Office building, board bus# 7, 15, 23 or 36 to Marble Arch. Its the fastest way and also more scenic. Get off @ Hyde Park - cross the street using the underground walkway - you've transported to Speaker's Corner by the Arch.
Using the "direction posts/markers", take a walk through this infamous London landmark of a park, to Kensington Gardens.
There you can take in sights such as Royal Albert Hall/Place & the beautiful statue in front
Princess Diana Fountain with its huge swans lazing in the waters and/or sun
Kensington Palace and Orangery Gardens
You can also check out the Princess Diana Gardens.
From there walk to the nearest London Underground stop - Queensway or Lancaster Gate on the Central line. Then switch to the on the green/yellow Circle/District line at Notting Hill Gate station. 2 stops and you're back in Paddington. Using your return trip Heathrow Express ticket, you're on your way back to Heathrow in no time.
There's a train every 15mins. The ride takes 15mins on the Express (add another 8mins if you're travelling to/from Terminal 4), 10 mins to wait for the bus & ride to Marble Arch - a total of about 45mins - 1 hour. Leave about the same time or a little bit more maybe (to be on the safe side) for the return trip back to Heathrow. It will take 1.5 - 2 hours for the walk mentioned above, depending on how fast you want to walk.
Overall you get to spend time in London rather than being holed-up in an airport (however glamorous it is or not), use the very well-connected London Underground (and proudly wear your "Tube/Underground" logo'd shirt after actually riding on it), get a decent workout while taking in some nice sights, and hang out with Londeners' as you troop about town or get an exhorbitantly Euro priced cup of coffee in a local cafe or maybe Starbucks. There are always the shops near Marble Arch or Queensway, including interesting restaurants, like a dim-sum on the same pavement as Queensway station - if you can get in of course (I saw a huge queue in front of it).
Happy London "layover-ing"...
Here's one way of doing just that:
After going through passport control (which might take you an hour or more depending on this "thing" called luck), head towards the Heathrow Express station at any of the terminals - 1 through 4. Take this much vaunted fast train to Paddington station. Just buy a roundtrip 2nd class ticket - no need to buy 1st class unless you don't have any place to keep you're money (all it buys you is a shorter walk from the boarding station entrance). The roundtrip price is £26.
Buy a day pass for the London transportation system. Fare for a 1-day Travelcard good for all types of transportaion (buses, tube, trams, etc.) in zones 1 & 2 is £6. Walk out of the station towards the post office. In front of the the Post Office building, board bus# 7, 15, 23 or 36 to Marble Arch. Its the fastest way and also more scenic. Get off @ Hyde Park - cross the street using the underground walkway - you've transported to Speaker's Corner by the Arch.
Using the "direction posts/markers", take a walk through this infamous London landmark of a park, to Kensington Gardens.
There you can take in sights such as Royal Albert Hall/Place & the beautiful statue in front
Princess Diana Fountain with its huge swans lazing in the waters and/or sun
Kensington Palace and Orangery Gardens
You can also check out the Princess Diana Gardens.
From there walk to the nearest London Underground stop - Queensway or Lancaster Gate on the Central line. Then switch to the on the green/yellow Circle/District line at Notting Hill Gate station. 2 stops and you're back in Paddington. Using your return trip Heathrow Express ticket, you're on your way back to Heathrow in no time.
There's a train every 15mins. The ride takes 15mins on the Express (add another 8mins if you're travelling to/from Terminal 4), 10 mins to wait for the bus & ride to Marble Arch - a total of about 45mins - 1 hour. Leave about the same time or a little bit more maybe (to be on the safe side) for the return trip back to Heathrow. It will take 1.5 - 2 hours for the walk mentioned above, depending on how fast you want to walk.
Overall you get to spend time in London rather than being holed-up in an airport (however glamorous it is or not), use the very well-connected London Underground (and proudly wear your "Tube/Underground" logo'd shirt after actually riding on it), get a decent workout while taking in some nice sights, and hang out with Londeners' as you troop about town or get an exhorbitantly Euro priced cup of coffee in a local cafe or maybe Starbucks. There are always the shops near Marble Arch or Queensway, including interesting restaurants, like a dim-sum on the same pavement as Queensway station - if you can get in of course (I saw a huge queue in front of it).
Happy London "layover-ing"...
Comments:
There is just so much to see in London, and a lot of it is free as well. A great way to fill in a number of hours or days.
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