Comprehensive Guide to London Heathrow Airport Sightseeing

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London Heathrow Airport is one of the world’s biggest and busiest, with over 200,000 passengers flying to or from the airport each day. When you’re visiting London, it’s one of the best airports to fly into, as Heathrow’s terminals are well connected to the main city centre via public transport and road.

If you’re flying into London and want a convenient and comfortable place to stay, you’ll find some great Heathrow hotel deals London. There’s plenty to see and do around the city, from fantastic historical sights to stunning cultural experiences and urban adventures. Read on for some inspiration on what you can see and do during your visit to the capital.

Getting to and from Heathrow

For passengers flying into and from Heathrow, you’ll find plenty of convenient accommodation near Heathrow, where you can stay at ease, without having to worry about making it to the airport in time for your departure flight, or endure a long journey after you arrive. For short layovers of five hours or less, it’s best to stay within or close to the airport, and you won’t be short of options on what to do.

Depending on which terminal you are flying into, there are a variety of great options for food, drink and shopping. In Terminal 5, Heathrow’s newest and glitziest terminal, designed by the renowned architect Richard Rogers, you can take your pick from a huge variety of designer shopping boutiques, where you can find some of the most stylish and covetable clothing, jewellery and accessories around. There are also plenty of great restaurants and bars to choose from, too.

If you’re in any of the other terminals, you’ll still have plenty of shopping options as well as comfortable places to unwind over a delicious meal, or a relaxing coffee. For those staying in a hotel overnight, you might want to start your day fresh with a tasty Park Grand London Heathrow buffet, before you head off on the next part of your journey.

If you have a longer layover and have time to leave the airport, then it’s worthwhile hopping on a train and enjoying a little of what London has to offer. The Heathrow Express is the fastest and most convenient option, and can get you into London Paddington station within a short ride. From there, you can take advantage of the great Tube connections from Paddington, and explore the many sights around the city.

If you’re planning to book the Heathrow Express, it’s worth booking your ticket ahead of time for the day you plan to travel. This will both save time, and can also provide discounts on ticket prices.

What to see in London

Depending on how much time you have, there are a great variety of attractions to explore once you make your way into London. Some of the most famous, and easiest to get to, are the two major royal palaces, Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace. These are both easy to reach from Paddington Station, with several nearby Tube stations, including Green Park Station.

It can be fun to simply watch the changing of the guards ceremony from outside the palace, but if you have more time, you may also like to book tickets for a guided tour inside. This will give you a chance to view some of the most special parts of the palaces from within, as well as see some of the priceless and important historical items on display inside.

As well as the palaces themselves, you’ll also find two of the main Royal parks within walking distance. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are both two of the most beautiful and spacious parks in the city, and are great places to head to for some rest and relaxation in the open air. Enjoy a calming walk or explore some of the renowned monuments and memorials within, including the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain.

If you’re planning a visit and tour within the palace, you’ll need at least two hours, as well as travel time, so ensure you have plenty of time to get to and from the airport.

Big Ben and London Eye

For a shorter trip, you may want to take advantage of some of the great value Heathrow hotel deals London, and enjoy a short sightseeing tour instead. Many of London’s iconic landmarks are within the central part of the city, so it’s easy to get to see them without having to spend long periods travelling around.

Two of London’s most famous sights are the Big Ben clock tower at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, and the London Eye. You can get to see both of them with a leisurely walk along the River Thames, and both of these major sights are close to several Tube stations, including Westminster and Charing Cross.

If you’d rather take a leisurely approach to seeing London’s main features, try a hop on, hop off tour bus instead. These provide fast, convenient travel by road, and stop off at various destinations. This can be a great advantage, especially when you’re travelling as a group or with children, as you don’t need to navigate the complex system of the London Underground. Instead, a single ticket will normally allow you to use the bus during a particular time frame, and get on and off from several marked destinations.

Enjoy a shopping trip

If you want to get some great shopping deals while you’re in London, then head up towards Oxford Circus or Tottenham court Road stations, which will place you in easy walking distance of the main shopping areas around Oxford Street and Regent Street. While these can be busy during major sales seasons, they are still a great place to shop and find the best offers.

Packed with leading brands, luxury boutiques and great department stores, you’ll be able to find everything you could want to buy here – and still make it back in time for your flight at Heathrow.

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