Suggestions for spending 12 hours in Heathrow area

Blarg!

My flight home leaves Heathrow at 7:55 am on Thursday.  The last coach leaves Bristol around 6:30  pm, putting me in Heathrow about 8:30 pm.

I thought I'd check in, unload my suitcase and then venture somewhere for the bulk of the evening.

Any suggestions for my options or limitations? 

thanks!

Didn't you just get here?!

Can you afford to take the train or bus into London? Heathrow itself doesn't have a lot of options that don't involve the pub or sitting and reading as far as I recall... long airport waits suck.

You can sleep at the terminal in a YoTel http://www.yotel.com/  

Catch the Picadilly line right outside the airport and venture to London.

Shop! Eat, shop some more...

Living Well health club used to be 2 mins walk from Terminal 4, spa baths, saunas ect..(not sure if it is still there )

 

You're staying in a hotel that night, right?  Or are you not going to sleep at all?

Didn't you just get here?! 

This trip was to secure accomodation for my permanent move (with cats and furniture) in late September.

You're staying in a hotel that night, right?  Or are you not going to sleep at all?

 

No hotel.  I wouldn't be able to sleep soundly under these circumstances, so I might as well cat nap and then save it up for the flight.

I like the sound of shopping, but do the stores close at 5:30 p? 

 

Heathrow is one of the biggest airports in the world and its in the middle of sod all knowhere on the edge of London - The shops are in the Airport itself and they are open very late...you will be fine.  Shop till you drop!   

Central london shopping is a possiblity, Selfridges (a very large department store) is open till 9:30 M-Saturday.  I think thursday is one of the later nights shops are open on Oxford Street, but 9:00-9:30 would be the latest.

Like other people have said, not much going on around Heathrow.  Do you know what terminal you are in or what airline you are flying?  I know you can purchase one day access to American's lounge for like $50 - I would assume you have to be flying with them, but not sure.  The one in Heathrow terminal three is nice and has showers and snacks and comfy chairs.  A bit nicer than just being out in the open terminal. 

Also - I am not sure all airlines will let you check in 12 hours before a flight.  There really is nothing interesting in the terminal before you go through security.  So if you can't check in, you can't go through security and you will have all your bags with you etc.  Might be worth a call to the airline.

You can take the tube into central london, but if it is this Thursday, there is a Tube Strike planned for that day.  Often times it doesn't disrupt anything or is cancelled at the last minute.  But I would check the TFL website on Thursday and adjust your plans accordingly. The Heathrow express may be a better option.   More expensive, but less worry.

So you will leave your luggage at left luggage then?

There is a Gordon Ramsey restaurant at T5 that has had mixed reviews.

Coming into London might work, otherwise there isn't a huge amount in the Heathrow area.  Perhaps look around West London...nice pubs in Chiswick and Hammersmith along the Thames.  Shopping in Richmond, though they might be shut.

I wouldn't venture too far into town though.

Vicky

You can purchase access to the SAS lounge on a 3 hour  basis but I wouldn't necessarily rate it, it was under remodelling about a month ago and had about 5 chairs, no hot snacks and NO internet, which was a real pain. And it's a about £18 for 3 hours.

i find Heathrow a bit rubbish for shopping. It doesn't have a good combination of shops imo, just makeup stuff/gucci designer stuff/and dixons which isn't that good for wasting time (for me!)

Have you thought about getting a later train? You could leave bristol about 10pm, arrive heathrow at 1am and you'll only have a 5 hour layover at the airport. Check yourself into a lounge for 3 hours, then go for some breakfast and get on your plane.

I agree.  I'd actually spend more on a later train.

Just checked - the 22.33 from Temple Meads, gets to Paddington at 1.49, and then you'd have to get a coach to Heathrow as there are no tubes or Heathrow Express that late.


Vicky

Yes, I would definitely do what Vicky has suggested.  Spending that long in the airport just seems unbearable to me.  I have never stayed overnight in an airport before either!

Yes, I would definitely do what Vicky has suggested.  Spending that long in the airport just seems unbearable to me.  I have never stayed overnight in an airport before either!

I've done it at Gatwick...and unless you like sleeping couches and playing arcade games, it's pretty crap.  Even Burger King didn't open until about 5am.  There is literally NOTHING to do other than the arcade and entertaining yourself.

Terminal 5 is great on the airside but rubbish landside so unless you want to go through security and spend all night in there it's probably not the best idea. But if you do there are loads of shops and good restaurants. As well as the Gordon Ramsay place there is a Giraffe and a Wagamamas and I forget what else.  I am not sure how late it is all open though.

Otherwise you could get the tube into the West End and do some late night shopping or a movie or whatever you are up for. Just be sure to get on the last tube back to Heathrow or else check if there's a nightbus that goes there.

Have you looked at National Express?  They run coaches throughout the night.

Vicky