The Elizabeth line puts Hyde Park, the British Museum and the City within 30 to 40 minutes of the airport, and Windsor Castle is 20 minutes away by taxi. London's big national museums, including the British Museum and the National Gallery, are free.
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Short answer
On a 5 to 6-hour Heathrow layover, take the train to Paddington and walk through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. With 6 to 8 hours, Windsor Castle by taxi fits from Thursday to Monday. With 8 hours, see the British Museum and Covent Garden in central London. With 12, add Westminster, the South Bank and St Paul's. Be back at Heathrow 90 minutes before departure.
Every plan below starts and ends at London Heathrow Airport (LHR). The times in London assume about an hour to get out of the airport and that you’re back 90 minutes before departure, with your onward boarding pass. If you still need to check in or drop a bag, allow longer.
First make sure you can leave the airport: most visitors need a UK ETA or a visa, arranged before they fly. Then check the day. On Sundays Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s are open only for worship, Windsor Castle is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and Borough Market is closed on Mondays.
5 to 6 hours: Paddington and Hyde Park
You’ll have about 1.5 hours in London on a 5-hour layover and 2 to 2.5 hours on a 6-hour one.
- Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express to Paddington.
- Walk 10 minutes south to the Italian Gardens at the top of Kensington Gardens.
- Follow the Long Water and the Serpentine through Hyde Park. If you have a little longer, wander canal-side Little Venice, just north of the station.
- Back to Paddington and the airport.
6 to 8 hours: a Windsor half-day
Windsor is closer than central London, and a castle visit fits a shorter layover well. Allow about 6 hours in all, or 7 to be comfortable.
- Leave your bags at Heathrow. Windsor has no left luggage, and the castle may turn away large cases.
- Take a taxi from the terminal, about 20 minutes and about £35 to £40 if you pre-book. First Bus route 8 from Terminal 5 is cheaper but takes up to an hour.
- Spend about 2 hours in Windsor Castle. An audio guide is included, and advance tickets (£32) are cheaper than on the day (£36). GetYourGuide also sells a Windsor Castle admission ticket (opens in a new tab).
- With time left, walk 20 minutes across the river to Eton, take a 40-minute boat trip from Windsor Promenade, or have lunch near the castle.
- Taxi back to Heathrow.
Pick your day. The castle is open Thursday to Monday. Changing the Guard is usually at 11am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, weather permitting, and never on Sundays. So Thursday and Saturday mornings are the only times you get both. The schedule changes by month, so check the Household Division’s dates before you go.
8 hours: the British Museum and Covent Garden
About 4 hours in town, enough for the British Museum and a walk through the West End.
- Elizabeth line to Tottenham Court Road (about 35 minutes), then 5 minutes’ walk to the British Museum. It’s free and opens at 10am. Give it about 2 hours, and leave big bags at the airport.
- Walk 15 minutes through Seven Dials to Covent Garden and its market hall.
- If there’s time, carry on to Trafalgar Square and the steps of the National Gallery.
- Elizabeth line back from Tottenham Court Road. Leave central London about 2.5 hours before your flight.
12 hours: museums, Westminster and the river
About 8 hours in town: a full loop from the British Museum to St Paul’s.
- Elizabeth line to Tottenham Court Road (about 35 minutes), then 5 minutes’ walk to the British Museum. It’s free, opens at 10am and needs 2 to 3 hours. Leave big bags at the airport.
- Walk through Covent Garden to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery (also free).
- Down Whitehall to Westminster: Big Ben, Parliament and, Monday to Saturday, Westminster Abbey (Westminster Abbey tickets (opens in a new tab)).
- Cross the river and walk the South Bank to Tate Modern, then over the Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral (Monday to Saturday, last entry usually 4pm; St Paul’s tickets (opens in a new tab)).
- Elizabeth line back to Heathrow from Farringdon or Liverpool Street.
Short on legs? The Uber Boat river bus runs from Westminster Pier along the Thames to Tower Pier. Tap a contactless card to pay, or buy online, where singles start at £7.20. GetYourGuide also sells single river tickets (opens in a new tab).
Private layover tours with pickup
Several companies sell private tours that start and end at Heathrow. A driver or guide meets you after you clear the border, shows you the sights and drops you back in time for your flight. They take the timing and navigation off your hands, which suits first-timers and families.
- What’s on offer: GetYourGuide lists private London layover tours from Heathrow (opens in a new tab), including a 6-hour version, and Viator lists a private London tour from Heathrow (opens in a new tab) and a whole layover tours category (opens in a new tab). There are Windsor versions too, where castle entry may not be included.
- Prices: a private tour costs far more than the train. Windsor tours can cost more than London ones, so check the price for yours. Check whether a price is per person or for the whole group: a group price is better value shared.
- Layover needed: add about 2.5 hours to the tour’s length, an hour to get out of the airport and 90 minutes to be back before your flight. A 4-hour tour needs a layover of about 6.5 to 7 hours, and a 6-hour tour about 8.5 to 9.
- Check before booking: what’s included, the cancellation terms, and what happens if your flight lands late.
24 hours: stay over
- Store your bags or check into a hotel. At the airport covers Aerotel, the walkway hotels, day rooms and left luggage.
- Start early at the Tower of London (daily 9am to 4:30pm, last entry 3pm, adult tickets from about £37). It has no left luggage and doesn’t allow suitcases. GetYourGuide sells Tower of London tickets (opens in a new tab).
- Take the river bus from Tower Pier to Westminster, then follow the 12-hour route in reverse. On Tuesday to Sunday, Borough Market near London Bridge makes a good lunch stop.
- Finish with an evening in Soho or a West End show.
- Or do Windsor Castle in the morning, ideally a Thursday or Saturday for the guard, on the way back to the airport.
Tips that make a London layover easier
- Pay by contactless on trains, buses, river buses and almost everywhere else. Use the same card to tap in and out.
- Weather: rain is possible on any day of the year. Highs range from about 7°C in January to 22 to 23°C in July.
- Tipping: many restaurants add a 12.5% service charge. If not, 10 to 15% is normal.
- Safety: London is generally safe. Keep your phone out of sight on busy streets. The emergency number is 999 or 112.