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Heathrow Layover Tours

Our Heathrow layover tours are the perfect way to make the most of your airport transit time. Our most popular tour is a 5-6 hour highlights tour of London. Travel in an iconic London Black Taxi or executive vehicle which seats up to 6 passengers accompanied by a driver/guide. You can book this directly on our booking page. We can also arrange layover tours for larger groups or visits to Stonehenge and Windsor Castle.

All our layover tours are designed to give you the best experience possible during your short time in London. We offer pick times throughout the morning and can pick up from all Heathrow airport terminals, as well as Heathrow hotels.

Heathrow layover tourS 5-6 Hours

Highlights of London

Our 5-6 hour tours from Heathrow are perfect if you have a layover and would like to use this time to see London.

5-6 Hour London Highlights Tour:

• Pick-up from your terminal at Heathrow Airport
• Travel to London in a London Black Taxi or executive vehicle which seats up to 6 people
• Enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of London.
• See many of the main sights in London including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the River Thames and more!
• Your friendly driver/guide will provide knowledgeable insight into the city

You can book this layover tour of London directly on our booking page.

5-6 Hour Layover Tours – Alternative Destinations

• Another way to make the most of your Heathrow Airport layover is by visiting Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace or Stonehenge
• Windsor Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in the world! It is one of the official residences of the British Royal Family. Windsor Castle is located just a 20-minute drive from Heathrow Airport.
• Stonehenge is around a 90-minute to 2-hour drive from Heathrow Airport. See the UNESCO World Heritage site with the most famous stone circles in the world! Stonehenge was built around 5,000 years ago, although nobody is sure why it was constructed and what purpose it serves.
• Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace located approximately 30 minutes from Heathrow Airport. Highlights include seeing its beautiful gardens, Henry VIII’s apartments, Cumberland Art Gallery and more.

If you would like to book one of our alternative 5-6 hour layover tours from Heathrow, please get in touch..

• Our Heathrow layover tours pick up from all terminals at Heathrow Airport as well as nearby hotels
• At the end of the tour we will drop you back at your Heathrow Airport terminal or nearby hotel
• Our Heathrow Layover tours are also suitable if you are continuing your journey from a different airport or seaport. We can drop off at all major London airports including Gatwick Airport, Stansted Airport or London City Airport. We can also drop off at Southampton Cruise Terminal, Dover Port or Harwich Port.
• Our layover tours are also a great option for travellers who are arriving at Heathrow early in the morning and are looking for a tour before checking into their London hotel.
• All layover tours can be arranged with an early morning pickup or a late evening dropoff
• Tours are planned according to the amount of time you have available between your flights.
• We use an iconic London Black Taxi or executive vehicle for groups of up to 6 people.  We can also offer for larger groups a range of different vehicles according to your size and luggage requirements. This includes sedan vehicles, MPVs, 16-seater minibuses and coaches.
• It takes approximately 1 hour to get through Heathrow Airport after landing
• We aim to return you to the airport 2 hours before your flight departure

Tour Booking

Heathrow layover tours – full-day tours.

Our full day-day tours are perfect for longer layovers at Heathrow Airport. With 9-10 hours you can spend a full day exploring London or visit some beautiful spots located near Heathrow Airport in the English countryside. All full-day Heathrow layover tour includes comfortable transportation and can be arranged with or without a guide.

Full-day Heathrow Layover Tours

• Spend a full-day day sightseeing in London. We’ll meet you at your Heathrow terminal and drive into the capital. There are many ways to enjoy a private guided tour of London, and highlights could include watching the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace, visiting the Tower of London and seeing Big Ben.
• Another popular Heathrow layover tour includes visiting Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and the city of Bath. We can also arrange private versions of most of our group Stonehenge tours .
• Alternatively, head to Oxford on a full-day layover tour from Heathrow. The city is home to one of the most famous universities in the world. Highlights include going inside some of the ancient university colleges, seeing Bodleian Library and enjoying the extraordinary architecture. From here, we can also drive into the English countryside to a region known as the Cotswolds. Stop in charming English villages and admire the green rolling landscapes.
• Finally, we can arrange a themed-tour from Heathrow Airport. Visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter on a day out from Heathrow. Alternatively, discover the magic of Downton Abbey with a visit to Highclere Castle and the nearby locations used in the filming of the TV series.

Please get in touch if you would like to book one of these full day tours

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 Erin London Tours

LONDON LAYOVER TOUR

Layover Tours from Heathrow Airport

Long London layover? Nothing to do at London's crowded Heathrow airport? Meet Erin - your private tour guide!

I offer private London Layover Tours from Heathrow airport for solo travellers, couples, families and small groups up to 6 people.

Stonehenge tour from Heathrow or Windsor Castle private tour, t here are many more to choose from.  Your London layover tour experience can be customized to your choice, whether you enjoy visiting medieval castles and villages, the skyline of London city or having a pint of beer in the same pub William Shakespeare did. 

London Heathrow Layover Tours, day or night!

I will meet you at the airport and take you to the most fabulous places of London or countryside of England, then take you back to the airport on time to catch your connecting flight.

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If the place you are looking for is not mentioned on the list, you can always contact Erin and ask to make arrangements that suit you.

Booking is easy and immediate, please click  ENQUIRY  button, provide your arrival and departure flight details and write a short description of what you would like to see. You will receive a possible custom made itinerary and prices for your London Layover Tour from Heathrow airport.

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Home » Europe » England » Seeing London on a Long Heathrow Layover

Seeing London on a Long Heathrow Layover

By Author Lance Longwell

Posted on Last updated: July 18, 2022

Imagine you’ve booked a vacation and you end up with a connection through London’s Heathrow airport (LHR). And your long Heathrow layover is over 6 hours. Welcome to the world of long-haul travel. If you’re wondering what to do during a long layover in London, the answer is get out of the airport!

You could spend those hours wandering around Heathrow, but why not get out of the airport, get some sunshine (hopefully), and see a little of London, England? This London layover guide contains everything we learned and everything you need to know to make the most of your time in the city, including a breakdown of options by length of layover.

Make the Most of a Long Layover in London

Getting from heathrow airport to london, underground, heathrow express train, layover tours, self-guided london walking tour, london layover options based on time, less than 6 hours.

Whether you have 5 hours or 20 hours in England , your layover will all start the same way–the arrivals area of the airport. When you get off the plane, you need to clear immigration and there can be a considerable wait here. U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter the UK, but residents of other countries may need a LHR transit visa.

However, we were required to produce three documents: a valid passport, the boarding pass for the flight we just got off, and proof of onward travel (the boarding passes for our next flight and a printed itinerary).

Depending on how your flight was ticketed, it is likely your checked baggage will remain checked to your final destination. However, unless you want to take any hand luggage or carry-on bags with you, you’ll want to drop them off for the day (the British call this service “left luggage” but it is “baggage storage” for everyone else). Once officially admitted to the UK, drop any access baggage off at the Excess Baggage Company counter on the ground level. The cost to store a bag is £12.500 for 24 hours. From there, you will need to get into London.

There are four options to travel from Heathrow to London:

Inside the arrivals hall, follow the signs to the Underground just across the terminal lobby from the Excess Baggage Company storage counter in Terminal 5. You will need a one-day travelcard valid for zones 1-6. If you have a pin-and-chip credit card, you can buy directly from the machines. Otherwise, you can purchase from a teller. The cost for us on a Saturday was £17 and was valid for the Tube and all buses.

Follow the signs to the Underground, take the escalator down two levels, and get on the Piccadilly Underground line. If you follow in our footsteps, you’ll be going to the Green Park station. This will take approximately 50 minutes and a large part of it will be above ground so you’ll get to see some of the suburbs.

There is another faster option than the Underground. The Heathrow Express is the most direct train option, but it is quite a bit more expensive than the Underground. The Heathrow Express drops you off at Paddington Station, which means you need to take a second metro to connect to the self-guided tour provided below. The Underground, despite being slower, saves you from needing to change trains at Paddington station.

We’ve taken the Heathrow Express at least 10 times and appreciate the wifi, in-seat power, and comfort compared to the metro. Ticket prices are discounted by how far in advance you purchase.

Visitors who are flush with cash and have time to burn can take one of the famous black cabs into the city…for a price. Because of London’s famous traffic, the taxi is actually a slower option than either of the trains. The cab will cost a minimum of £50 (~$70) and will take over an hour. We’ve only done it once when we were traveling for business because it helps to have an expense account, and we didn’t know better at the time. Note: You can also pre-book a private car for about the same cost.

A number of companies offer professional, chauffeured guided tours from the airport. These tours tend to be more expensive than our suggested self-guided tour that we’ve outlined below, but they are an option. The real advantage of the tours is that you don’t need to handle any of the planning or logistics yourself. You can pre-book here .

Now, your adventure can begin! Assuming you’ve followed our instructions above for taking the Underground from the airport to the city, you’ll find yourself in Green Park. The Green Park tube station is the most direct route from Heathrow to Buckingham Palace.

Once inside Green Park, walk down the gently sloping pathway to the trees on the far side of the park. You might glimpse Buckingham Palace through the trees. If you are at the Palace around 11:00am, you’ll see the masses of people for the Changing of the Guard. As my friend Megan would say, be sure to “mill about smartly” in front of the Palace.

After taking a million pictures, continue down the street opposite Buckingham Palace known as the The Mall. At your first available opportunity, turn right on a path and go into St. James Park. The path will head downhill and lead you to a beautiful pond. Head towards your left and walk along the pond’s edge (be extremely careful not to step in the excessive amounts of bird droppings on the path) until you reach a footbridge over the pond.

Be sure to stop for a few moments on the bridge and note the Princess Diana plaque. This is also a great photo vantage point of both Buckingham Palace behind you and the skyline in front of you.

Continue through St. James Park to the Horse Guards grounds on the far side (crossing the Horse Guards Road, be sure to look in both directions for speeding cars). As you cross the gravel courtyard, you’ll see an archway. Pass through the archway and see masses of tourists behaving inappropriately with the guards – trying to get them to break character. On the far side of the Horse Guards, make a right on Whitehall Street and go one block to see 10 Downing Street.

From here, you have several options:

• Continue two blocks past Downing Street and then make a left, crossing the Westminster Bridge. On the far bank, turn left and walk the entire South Bank of the Thames River , past the London Eye, the National Theatre, etc. Across the river, you’ll see St. Paul’s from a distance (you can cross back over the Millennium footbridge if you want to see St. Paul’s). Continue past the Globe Theatre, The Tate Modern, City Hall to the Tower Bridge. Admire the bridge and cross it to see the Tower of London. This is a total walk of approximately 2.5 miles.
• If the weather is poor, jump on the Underground. Continue two blocks past Downing Street to the Westminster Underground stop. From here, you can take the District or Circle lines on the Underground from Westminster Station to Tower of London station. If you take the Tube, you’ll sacrifice the 2.5 mile walk, but end up with more time at the Tower.
• One of the best ways to see the city is by boat. You can get the boat from Westminster pier (near the train station) and take it to Tower Pier, right at the foot of the Tower of London.
• If the weather is really bad, skip it all and go in search of the perfect fish and chips, followed by high tea.

No matter how you get there, your ultimate objective should be the Tower of London. This was the original royal residence and the center of the city’s history for hundreds of years. Now preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tower is a first-rate attraction. The tour given by the guards called Beefeaters is a fantastic overview to the Tower explaining its dual purpose as Royal residence and also prison.

After the Beefeater Tour, spend some time wandering around the walled ramparts and visiting the Treasury to see the royal jewels. We found the Treasury to be much more manageable and better organized than similar exhibits elsewhere, such as Vienna’s Hofburg Palace .

By this time, you’re probably a little tired from your long, sleepless night on the overnight flight. You’re also probably a little hungry. There are numerous restaurants and street food in the area. We opted for the perfect fish and chips at a nearby pub.

When you finally tire of the fun, make your way back to the Underground and transfer to the Piccadilly line, taking it back to the airport (last stop).

London is a world class city and there is so much to do! A person could spend weeks exploring. A 13-hour layover offers just a quick taste but is sure to make you want to come back.

Everyone’s definition of a long layover is different. If you’re asking yourself the question, ‘how long of a layover do I need to see London,’ the answer is at least six hours. Here are our recommendations on what to focus on, depending on how much time you have.

Be sure to keep in mind that it takes a minimum of one hour each way to get to and from Heathrow airport. Also, when going back to LHR, you will need to pick up any baggage you may have checked at the excess baggage left luggage counter and clear security and immigration. You should allow two hours plus transit time to ensure you’re on time for your flight.

If you have less than 6 hours, you’re really not going to be able to leave the airport. With this amount of time, you’ll need to think about things to do at Heathrow. After an overnight flight, the first thing we try to do is get a shower. Check out our guide to Heathrow showers . Then, we usually visit the VIP lounge, get something to eat, and maybe do some duty free shopping. You probably won’t have time for much more than that.

Remember it takes one hour each way to and from the city center, so don’t spread yourself too thin. You won’t have much time and you’ll really need to keep moving. Using the itinerary above, focus on the one or two things you really care to see. Our recommendation is to focus on Buckingham Palace or the Tower of London. You probably won’t have enough time to do both, so you’ll need to visit again to see it all!

Keep moving if you want to make your flight! You’ll need to make some choices: Option A: Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Horse Guards, 10 Downing Street, and Westminster Abbey. A quick lunch of fast food somewhere. Option B: The Tower of London, plus a quick lunch near the Tower Bridge.

Time will fly by on this layover excursion. We would focus on either: Option A: Green Park, Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Horse Guards, 10 Downing Street, and Westminster Abbey. Proper British lunch either near Westminster Abbey or Trafalgar Square. Option B: The Tower of London, plus a lunch of proper British fish and chips along with a nice cold pint.

This may seem like a lot of time, but you’re going to have to make compromises. We recommend focusing on: Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Horse Guards, 10 Downing Street, and then the Tower of London. If you have any extra time, see Westminster Abbey. Don’t waste time on lunch, instead grab a quick takeaway or fast food.

Our complete itinerary may be possible in this amount of time, but you might need to make compromises. Focus on: Green Park, Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Horse Guards, 10 Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, and then the Tower of London. If you have any extra time, get a proper British fish & chips lunch.

Our complete itinerary should still be possible in this amount of time. Focus on: Green Park, Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Horse Guards, 10 Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, a proper British lunch of fish & chips complete with a pint, and then the Tower of London. One of the shorter city tours from the airport would be possible in this amount of time.

You should easily be able to complete our self-guided itinerary above in this amount of time. Our recommendation is to focus on the itinerary above: Green Park, Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Horse Guards, 10 Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, a proper British lunch of fish & chips complete with a pint, and then the Tower of London. You would also be able to complete one of the day tours from Heathrow in this amount of time.

This is a good, long, proper layover. Put differently, this is really the answer to what to do in London for a day. Our recommendation is to focus on the itinerary above: Green Park, Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Horse Guards, 10 Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, a proper British lunch of fish & chips complete with a pint, and then the Tower of London. You’ll be able to do this at a fairly leisurely pace.

Special thanks to our friends Megan and Indiana Jo for their help in putting together this itinerary.

Lance Longwell is a travel writer and photographer who has published Travel Addicts since 2008, making it one of the oldest travel blogs. He is a life-long traveler, having visited all 50 of the United States by the time he graduated high school. Lance has continued his adventures by visiting 70 countries on 5 continents – all in search of the world’s perfect sausage. He’s a passionate foodie and enjoys hot springs and cultural oddities. When he’s not traveling (or writing about travel), you’ll find him photographing his hometown of Philadelphia.

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Tuesday 14th of November 2023

I followed this guide exactly during a 12-hour layover and was over the moon happy with my time spent in London. Highly recommend! I would add to take a look up when you get to Westminster station, Big Ben is right there! I took your advice and ended off the day with high tea at the Soho hotel! From another guide I found it to be one of the most affordable and is a 40 minute ride on the underground to the airport!

Yvonne Carr

Tuesday 7th of November 2023

I will arrive in London at 7am on Thursday Nov 9th. Considering the time it takes to get through and back to the airport through customs again. I want to be safe and say I should have a 6 hour layover from the airport.

Please tell me how I can get transport from the airport to see the major sites in London and get back to the airport by 6:35pm to go through customs for my next flight? And please provide me with a quote for the ride and events. Thank you!

Lance Longwell

Sunday 12th of November 2023

6 hours is enough time to do an expedited visit. Follow the instructions above.

Thursday 14th of September 2023

I have an 18 hour layover. Is it safe to book a hotel near the airport after our day of sightseeing? Any recommendations?

Friday 15th of September 2023

There's a bunch of hotels north of Heathrow on Bath Road. We've stayed at the Sofitel, the Sheraton Heathrow, and the Renaissance as well.

Tuesday 7th of March 2023

We are passing through London arriving at LHR at 7:30AM from the states, then leaving out of Gatwick at 5:40PM. Can you suggest some options for this 11 hour layover if we cannot drop off our luggage. Is there a black taxi senic drive that we may consider from one airport to another

thankyou brian

This is probably what you are looking for: https://www.getyourguide.com/royal-albert-hall-l3211/london-custom-private-tour-by-car-t216168/?partner_id=UPYALU2&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=%22other%22&cmp=LondonLayover Will pick you up at Heathrow, and you'll need to make arrangements for a Gatwick drop off. I've found that these private tours have a lot of flexibility if you're willing to tip $$$.

Tuesday 31st of January 2023

Thank you so much for writing this guide! I had a 9 hr layover and had the best time going around London!! The instructions were so clear that I barely had to use Google maps :)

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Scheduled Group Tour : Royal London Express Bus Tour From Heathrow

Tour description.

Dont mind sharing with other travelers? Join one of our scheduled express tours directly from Heathrow Airport to discover the best of Royal London. We offer the only tour service direct from Heathrow Airport, perfect for visitors with day layovers looking for an alternative to waiting at the airport or guests at Heathrow hotels wishing to take an all inclusive tour directly from their hotels door step.

What's Included?

• Don't mind sharing? Our Scheduled Express Tours run on select dates each week from 10:30am to 4:30pm
• Scheduled tours from Heathrow. Perfect when arriving before 9am and departing after 6:30pm.
• Also available for guests staying in Hotels at Heathrow Airport. Option to finish in central London.
• Small group numbers offer maximum benefit - more personal than overcrowded large buses
• Not just a drive: Unlike large bus tours, stops are made with your professional tour guide.
• From Buckingham Palace to Big Ben, discover Royal London's historic landmarks.
• Traditional Fish and Chips lunch at one of our historic London pubs included

Learn more about the London Magical Tours Difference

• Royal Albert Hall
• Buckingham Palace
• Westminster
• The Houses of Parliament
• The River Thames
• Downing Street
• Trafalgar Square
• St James Palace
• All this and much much more!

SCHEDULED GROUP TOUR INFO

Royal London Express Tour from Heathrow Current Confirmed Dates: TBC Date unavailable? See: Private Tours from London Airport Don't mind sharing with other travelers? Join one of our scheduled express tours directly from Heathrow Airport. We offer the only tour service direct from Heathrow Airport, perfect for visitors with day layovers or guests at Heathrow hotels wishing to take an all inclusive tour directly from their hotel's door step. Layover at Heathrow Airport? Don't spend hours at the airport when you can go on a fully guided tour of one of the world's greatest cities. Make the most of the opportunity, with collection and return included directly from Heathrow Airport, removing all the hassle of discovering the city with a limited time. No need to risk getting lost or having to catch multiple transport connections. Perfect for all layovers that land at Heathrow before 9:00am and depart after 6:30pm. Private tours are also available for visitors outside these times. Short stay at a Heathrow Airport hotel? Our London Express Tours also include complimentary collection and return to most major Heathrow Hotels, the only service to tour Royal London directly from your Heathrow accommodation. Guests with longer time schedules can also remain in central London following the tour if this is more suitable. Morning flight landing at Heathrow and looking for a transfer and some sightseeing before check-in at your central London hotel? With central London accommodation typically only allowing check-in after 3pm, visitors with morning arrivals into Heathrow frequently lose the first half of their day. Our London Express tour is a brilliant way to include transportation from Heathrow and receive a welcome introduction to the city, all in time for hotel check-in. Simple opt to end the tour in central London.

TOUR ITINERARY

Remember that unlike large bus tours, ours is not just a transfer service with free time at each location to "wander". Our tours are fully guided - it's part of the magic! After your mid morning departure from Heathrow, guests arrive at the Borough of Kensington & Chelsea for a guided introduction to the Royal neighbourhoods at Hyde Park and the magnificent Royal Albert Hall: from the Beatles to Adele, every artist visiting London aspires to play this most famous of Victorian venues. Heading through Kensington, guests will arrive at the official residence of Her Majesty The Queen: Buckingham Palace. Be taken on a guided walk to discover all about the Palace and its surroundings, including The Mall and the Queen's Guards, with plenty of photograph opportunities. Following a scenic drive through London's ancient back streets, guests will arrive at Westminster to see over 1000 years of history come life: The Houses of Parliament, the Big Ben Clock Tower and the ancient seat of kings, Westminster Abbey. Join your guide for an extended guided walk and hear the fascinating anecdotes and insider tales behind the two great power's of the country, including special photo opportunities. After taking in the spectacular views of the London Eye from the River Thames, guests will enter the very heart of London for a panoramic tour through Downing Street, Trafalgar Square and St James Palace, the oldest surviving residence of the Royal Family, before entering the popular shopping district of Knightsbridge, home to the city's most internationally famous store, Harrods. All this and much much more!

TRADITIONAL FISH & CHIPS MEAL

Included with the tour is a delicious fish and chips lunch at one of our traditional pubs in the heart of Knightsbridge. London Magical Tours guests exclusively benefit from a fast track food service: the food is freshly prepared in time for our group's arrival to help make the most of the day, offering the the perfect opportunity to endulge in a typical British favourite. What could be better than to complete your London experience with a traditional Fish and Chips lunch at one of our historic pubs? The price of the meal is included with your tour ticket and includes a free cordial drink. A vegetarian alternative is available for non-fish eaters.

RETURN TO HEATHROW/LONDON

Following on from lunch, guests are given the option to finish the tour in central London or return back to Heathrow: London: The tour will finish at the Gloucester Road Underground/Subway Station (next to the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum) which has direct access to the Circle, District and Piccadilly Lines for those staying in London or wishing to spend more time in the city. Heathrow: Guests on layovers will end directly back to departures at Heathrow Terminal 5, while those overnighting at the airport can be returned to their Heathrow hotel.

COLLECTION & RETURN LOCATIONS

Tour Start: The collection point for all guests with flight arrivals is inside the Arrivals Hall at Heathrow Terminal 5, signposted as Meeting Point NORTH. A tour representative will be holding a London Magical Tours sign for recognition. There is a 15 minutes boarding period at Terminal 5 from 10:30am - 10:45am. En-route to London guests can also be collected directly from the following listed Heathrow Airport Hotels, all in the local area: Sofitel Heathrow Terminal 5 Marriott Heathrow Bath Road. Tour Ends: Guests on day layovers will be promptly returned directly to Heathrow Terminal 5 to continue with their onward journey. Visitors staying at Heathrow Hotels in the collection list above will be returned to their same hotel. Guests wishing to stay in central London will finish at Gloucester Road Underground Station, which is served by the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines to connect to all parts of the city. The nearest hotel is the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, 97 Cromwell Road, London, SW7 4DN (1 min walk).

Royal London Express Tour from Heathrow 10:30am - 10:45am: Boarding at Terminal 5, Meeting Point NORTH 11:00am - 11:20am: Collection from Heathrow Hotels 12:00pm - 3:00pm: Royal London Tour with Fish and Chips Lunch 3:15pm: Return To Gloucester Road Underground Station (for guests staying in London) 4:00pm: Return To Heathrow Terminal 5 (for guests on day layovers) 4:00pm - 4:30pm: Return to Heathrow Hotels

Current tour dates are announced at the top of this webpage. Typically operate on Mondays and Saturdays only during the year. Travelling on other dates or looking for tour times to best match your flight itinerary? Please see our Private London Layover Tours as a popular alternative option.

Scheduled Group Tours are conducted in English only. If you require another language, our private London Layover Tours are available in most languages through our specialist multi-lingual guide team, including Spanish, French, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin and Cantonese. Language surcharges apply.

Tour Extras

Meal options.

Fish and Chips Pub Option

Tour prices.

Scheduled group tour prices are per person, inclusive of all taxes.

There are no hidden extras: prices include your private tour guide, your chauffeur, private vehicle, parking fees, collection and return to your central Manhattan hotel or Grand Central Station, and all taxes. We do not charge additional fees for card payments. Lunch/Entrance fees not included. Internet prices include a discount for online bookings. Prices are according to your party size. For example, the cost of the Half Day London Tour is $449 for a party of 5, which works out at $89.80 per person. At less than $90 pp, private tours are amazing value, offering a personal experience for less than the cost of bus tours

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More than 10 passengers? Benefit from our group savings for 11 to 100+ passengers: please see Private London Group Tours.

More than 5 passengers? Benefit from our group savings for 6 to 100+ passengers:please see Private London Group Tours. On transit through London? See Our London Layover Tours

Tour Comments

What an amazing thing to do during a layover. We enjoyed learning about the history and seeing the sights, particularly the chance to see Buckingham Palace and the Queen's guards! Appreciated the convenience of being picked up at Heathrow Airport and returned there at the end in time for our flight. Just perfect.

Mcartney Family, Texas on the Scheduled Royal London Express Tour from Heathrow Airport

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On this page, most popular tours, special interest tours, tours from london, hop-on hop-off bus tours, central london tours.

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London sightseeing tours & tour transfers from Heathrow Airport

Short stopovers between flights, transfer tours to your london hotel or tours from heathrow hotels.

No public tour bus visits Heathrow!

OK, let's get one thing clear first, the answer to the most common question from people on a layover at Heathrow Airport...

There are no public sightseeing tours that pick up from Heathrow or its hotels that will take you sightseeing into London, (or indeed anywhere).

If you want a public tour of London then you will need to take public transport into the centre of London and join the tour there or charter your own private sightseeing capability.

Heathrow to London by public transport is discussed on our dedicated page.

Private personalised tours from Heathrow   What you need to know about private tours   Popular tours at prefixed prices   London Non-stop Highlights Tour   Classic Grand Tour   Enquiry form

Private, personalised tours from Heathrow Airport

Time to kill between flights? See memorable Central London sights

We can offer tours from Heathrow Airport customised to your needs.

The most common categories these tours address are people who:

- Have time to kill between flights at Heathrow and want to use that time productively to see a little bit of London's famous sights rather than an airport terminal that could be anywhere.

- Transfer tours between your flight arrival at Heathrow and your Central London providing a good orientation of London's main sights before arrival at your hotel. Very practical if you have an early morning flight and are not able to check-in until lunch time. You'll see pretty much all the sights you'd see on one of London's hop on, hop off sightseeing buses .

- For those staying at a Heathrow hotel, some of which are quite remote from Heathrow, let alone London, providing a quick efficient way to visit London.

Very practical if you have a late flight time and return to your departure terminal just before check-in.

What you need to know about London black taxi tours

Up to 5 people in a famous london black cab with a cabbie guide.

We can offer value for money tours, (remember the price is per cab, not person) from Heathrow at a fixed price or you can design your own custom tour.

The famous London black cab can go down lanes and roads far too narrow for tour buses so you can see parts of London others do not. The black taxi is also able to use the dedicated bus and taxi lanes on London's roads while other traffic have to queue.

Flexible pick-up & finish points

There is great flexibility where you start and finish your tour. It can be a Heathrow hotel, a Heathrow passenger terminal or a Central London hotel.

A London taxi can carry up to 4 suitcases plus 4 people or 5 people without luggage. With 5 people and 4 suit cases the newer Vito cabs can be substituted for the classic London black cab pictured at the top of the page at no extra charge.

More than 5 people?

For larger groups than 5 people we can offer a very similar service but in standard touring coaches of between 16 and 60 seat capacity with or without a professional guide. Use the enquiry form at the bottom of the page to start a dialogue and a firm costed proposal.

Popular pre-prepared tours at fixed prices

Below are our two most popular black cabbie tours from Heathrow at fixed, published prices.

Travel time between Heathrow and Central London sights is normally around 40-60 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

If you have a clear alternative requirement in your mind in terms of itinerary or longer duration tour please use the enquiry form below to outline your requirement and you will get a personalised quotation by return.

London Non-stop Highlights tour - 2.5 hour tour in London

One Way Heathrow transfer + 2.5 hour tour in London - £239.99 (per 5 seat cab)

Return Heathrow transfer + 2.5 hour tour in London - £309.95 (per 5 seat cab)

Our London Cabbie Guide will collect you from your hotel or passenger terminal at Heathrow and you have a chance to build up a rapport before you arrive in the centre of London. Your journey across London visits the many sights and sounds of London. This is a great way to get to know London’s best attractions and sights.

For those whose end of tour destination is at their London hotel the tour will be completed first. If you would like to go to the hotel first and leave your luggage there is a supplemental charge.

Your knowledgeable cabbie will show you a selection of sights with photo opportunities that may include:

Tower of London and Tower Bridge , Buckingham Palace , Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, Westminster Abbey , Big Ben, London Eye , Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s Cathedral and many more attractions along the way.

Classic Grand Tour - 3.5 hours

One Way Heathrow transfer + 3.5 hour tour in London - £289.99 (per 5 seat cab)

Return Heathrow transfer + 3.5 hour tour in London - £359.99 (per 5 seat cab)

As the London Highlights Tour, but an extra hour, 3.5 hours in total in London.

Remember, this is a private tour you can decide priorities and must sees however obscure, or just let the cabbie showcase London for you.

London Black Taxi custom tours

If you know exactly what you want to see and it is different to the popular itineraries and time scales in the popular itineraries detailed above, just let us what your requirements and we'll provide a quotation by return.

Please use the enquiry form below to outline your thoughts as the spur for a dialogue that will result in a quotation for your ideal black London taxi tour.

HEATHROW TO/FROM LONDON

Tours from heathrow, airport to airport, cruise port transfers, to the rest of the uk, heathrow hotels, hotel to terminal, heathrow hotel areas, heathrow parking.

London  Layover Tour

London Layover Tour

England day tours from London airports 

Private London sightseeing tours  from Heathrow or Gatwick airport

 Meet Erin

Private Tour Guide London England

A local offering your very own London layover tour

[email protected]

  Tel.  +44 77073 55975

LONDON, ENGLAND

Private London layover tours for solo travellers, couples, families or groups if you have at least 8 hour layover in London.

Private London England sightseeing tours from Heathrow or Gatwick airport. 

I will meet you at the airport and take you to the most fabulous places of London or countryside of England, then take you back to the airport on time to catch your connecting flight.

Heathrow layover tours, Gatwick layover tours - day or night!

PRIVATE ENGLAND TOURS

Long layover in London? Nothing to do for hours at London's crowded Heathrow or Gatwick airport? Well, I provide tailor made London layover tours to your satisfactory on your visit. However, if you can't decide and are overwhelmed by the choices London England tour offers, you can always ask Erin for advise on what to see on your London layover here to deliver your full  experience of England.

PRIVATE LONDON SIGHTSEEING TOURS

- BUCKINGHAM PALACE

  (change of guards)

- HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

- LONDON EYE

- TOWER OF LONDON

- WESTMINSTER ABBEY

- SKY GARDENS

- HYDE PARK

- COVENT GARDEN

- PICCADILLY CIRCUS

- TOWER BRIDGE

- ROYAL GARDENS

- TRAFALGAR SQUARE

- NIGHT TOUR OF LONDON

- RIVER THAMES CRUISE

- HAMPTON COURT PALACE 

PRIVATE DAY TOURS FROM LONDON

- WINDSOR CASTLE TOUR

- STONEHENGE TOUR

- BATH TOUR

- STRATFORD- UPON- AVON

- SALISBURY TOUR

- AVEBURY TOUR

- COTSWOLDS TOUR

  (medieval villages)

- ARLINGTON ROW TOUR

- BROADWAY TOUR

- SLAUGHTERS TOUR

- GLASTONBURY TOUR

- CANTERBURY TOUR

- WHITE CLIFFS DOVER TOUR

- OXFORD TOUR

If the place you are looking for is not mentioned on the list, you can always contact Erin and ask to make arrangements that suit you. 

PRIVATE ENGLAND TOURS FROM SOUTHAMPTON CRUISE PORT TERMINAL

- PRIVATE SOUTHAMPTON SHORE EXCURSIONS

- PRIVATE TOURS FROM SOUTHAMPTON TO LONDON VIA STONEHENGE

- PRIVATE STONEHENGE AND BATH TOURS FROM SOUTHAMPTON PORT

- PRIVATE DAY TOURS FROM SOUTHAMPTON ENGLAND

IN ENGLAND THERE ARE...

OF SEVEN WORLD WONDERS

WORLD FAMOUS ATTRACTIONS

London: City Experience (Plus)

C’mon, it’s LONDON! Where history is out-steeped only by all the tea. Where palaces meet pubs, buzzing streets border famous parks, and buses are two stories tall. In the tale of art, food, and culture, London has serious main character energy.

Picture yourself

Spotting Big Ben from the London Eye

Riding an iconic double-decker bus

Channeling your inner Beatle at Abbey Road

Practicing your most regal royal wave

Strolling along the river Thames

What you'll get

Round-trip flights & airport transfers (or book 'em yourself)

5 nights in handpicked, city-center accommodations

5 breakfasts

An expert Tour Director

24/7 support

1 guided city tour

Entrance to the London Eye

Board your overnight flight to London, queue up the Beatle’s entire discography, and have yourself a proper good snooze.

Fancy a pint? Jk, plenty of time for that later. You’re in Western Europe’s largest city, home of the royal fam, afternoon tea, and a dessert called Spotted Dick. Stick an AirTag on your heart—you're about to leave it in London.

Today's highlights:

• Meet an EF representative and fellow travelers as they arrive at the airport.
• Transfer to your hotel to check in and check out your room.
• Explore the surrounding area with your Tour Director.
• Enjoy a Welcome Dinner with fellow travelers at an authentic local spot.

Experience London’s most iconic sites with a local guide on a walking tour of the city. Then fly high on the London Eye for panoramic views from Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel.

• See Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey and more iconic spots with a local guide.
• Learn how to tell if the king is home at Buckingham Palace.
• Ride the London Eye and see if you can spot all the landmarks you saw on the ground from 443 feet in the air.

Whatever puts the vinegar on your chips is on today’s agenda. London’s 607 square miles, so there’s like...a hundred million things to do. Parks, museums, shops, restaurants, pubs—the city is yours.

Free time suggestions

Shakespeare’s Globe: Hark! Make haste and get thee to the old Globe Theatre, an Elizabethan playhouse where the Bard’s works were (and are) performed.

Hyde Park: Wander the largest of London’s four Royal Parks where you’ll see gorgeous gardens, Serpentine Lake, and the Princess Diana memorial fountain.

Today you’re free as the flock of birds that landed on Big Ben’s minute hand in 1944 and set the clock back 5 minutes (facts). Or you can go beyond London and tap into your dark academia side on an optional visit to Oxford.

Victoria & Albert Museum: Beyond a striking red-brick façade and grand entrance hall is an incredible art and design collection, from fashion and jewelry to sculpture.

Abbey Road: Grab some of your travel BFFs, look both ways, and recreate the Beatles’ iconic Abbey Road album cover on the street where it was recorded.

Watch the countryside go by on your way to explore Oxford, the magical town that doubled as Hogwarts.  Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

It’s almost time to say “Cheerio!” to merry old England, innit? Soak up every last bit of London before your flight home tomorrow.

• Tuck into one last curry, hit the shops at Covent Garden, or get a final look at the Thames.
• Share some laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) at an included Farewell Dinner with your group.

Brick Lane: Winding through the East End, this vibrant street is chockablock with cool shops, markets, and all the curry you can possibly eat.

Notting Hill: Check out the colorful homes of this eclectic neighborhood known for the Portobello antique market and annual Carnival celebrating the area’s Caribbean roots.

Cheers, mates! Your next destination awaits—home. But this isn’t goodbye. It’s “See you later.” The only question is, where?

In London Town

I had a lot of fun. This trip gives you enough time to really explore the whole city without feeling rushed. I was able to meet a lot of cool people and see a lot of cool places.

Best First Trip

This trip was great! We went to several places like Oxford, downtown London, and many other spots. I made great friends along the way and our guide Matt was amazing. Definitely would recommend.

Was truly a great experience , loved the free days where I can plan my own itinerary. It was cold this time of year but the excitement of the city

Select your date

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Home > Ride > Airports > LCY > Car service

Request a car to or from London City Airport

Tell us about your trip, and we’ll let you know what your best options are for getting to or from the airport. And with Uber Reserve, you can schedule a ride up to 90 days ahead of time.

Car service and transportation options at London City Airport (LCY)

Get to and from the airport with the Uber app. Choose from various ride options. Avoid crowded and slow airport shuttles, and make your connection if you need to transfer between airports. And with the Uber Exec and Uber Lux ride options, you’ll be matched with top-rated drivers with luxury vehicles.

Average travel time to/from London

Average price to/from london, average distance to/from london.

15 kilometers

Uber takes the stress out of airport pickups and dropoffs

Instead of waiting in a long line at the taxi stand, you can request a trip now. Whether you’re flying out of the Greater London area or just landing, Uber provides access to vehicles for up to 6 passengers (and luggage). Get started now to see your available options.

Car service options for airport travel

Get directions to your ride.

Already scheduled your ride? Open the Uber app for accurate step-by-step directions to meet your driver outside.

Top questions about LCY car service

Wait times depend on demand in the area, traffic conditions, the type of ride you request, and other factors. We recommend checking the booking screen for estimated pickup times.

We recommend getting to the airport 3 hours early for international travel. Be sure to check estimated travel times when you request your pickup so that you get to the airport on time.

The luggage capacity varies by Uber ride type. For example, an UberX ride can usually hold 2 suitcases while an UberXL ride can usually hold 3 suitcases.*

The availability of ride options will vary by time of day, region, and airport guidelines. The best way to get an accurate list is by searching for a ride in the Uber app.

See other airports near the Greater London area

Not traveling to/from LCY? See information about other airports in the area.

View all airports

Gatwick Airport (LGW)

Heathrow airport (lhr), london luton airport (ltn), london stansted airport (stn).

*Luggage space is not guaranteed and depends on the number of passengers in your ride and the type of vehicle. Once you’re matched with a driver, we recommend contacting them through the app to confirm.

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