Layover in London: Best Things to Do From 6 to 12 Hours

You can leave the airport on a layover in London, as long as you have a plan for your particular airport and enough hours to spare. We’ve done this trip several times from various London airports, and the difference between a great layover and a wasted one is having the right plan. This guide covers how much time you need on a layover in London based on your airport, and the best things to do by area.

Can You Leave the Airport During a Layover in London?

You can leave on a long enough layover, and the smart plan depends on your airport. You can do it in 6 hours but it’s risky given that it could take you a long time to clear immigration and get out of the airport, especially at Heathrow. So, you’ll need to be flexible. If you have 9 hours, it becomes a lot easier. But the airport matters. London has five airports on opposite sides of the city:

Heathrow is easy to leave, even though it’s not the closest.

The Heathrow Express gets to Paddington in just 15 minutes, and the Elizabeth line makes the same trip for less money in about 25 minutes. The speed into Zone 1 is why a 6-hour layover works from Heathrow, so long as it doesn’t take you too long to clear immigration and get out of the airport.

Gatwick also works for 6-7 hours if you get out quickly.

The Gatwick Express reaches Victoria in 30 minutes, which is in walking distance to main attractions like Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. The Thameslink train takes you straight to London Bridge station in 30 minutes, and drops you off right in the middle of the Tower and Borough Market sights. Pick your train based on which side of the city you want to see.

London City is our favorite airport, but not because it’s the fastest to Zone 1.

We love it because it’s small and easy, and the DLR train reaches Bank station in about 25 minutes, which puts you right by Sky Garden and the Tower of London.

Stansted and Luton are not worth leaving the airport unless you have an overnight layover, in our opinion.

Both airports are 35 to 40 miles out, so you would spend the whole layover getting into the city and turning back around. We had a layover in London once with an onward trip from Stansted. We couldn’t find an Uber and it wound up being a £200 taxi ride.

Pro Tip: Take public transport. A cab or private transfer can be outrageously expensive, and London traffic makes it much slower than the train. Even Uber is a worse deal than the rail lines.

How Long of a Layover Do You Need to Leave the Airport?

You need about 6 hours at a minimum, but that’s really pushing it. A 7 to 9 hour layover in London is better. With 9 hours from any of the three airports discussed here (Heathrow, Gatwick and London City), you can have a meaningful experience in Zone 1, as long as you use the tube and don’t try to cross town through traffic to see everything.

Do the math: When you get into town, subtract three hours from the time you have until your next flight and give yourself at least that to get back. The remaining time is how much you have to explore. You can be a little more flexible with London City because it’s so small but Heathrow has notoriously long lines.

What to Do on a Layover in London

The bigger factor is location. Heathrow drops you off west at Paddington, near Hyde Park and the West End. London City drops you off near the Tower of London, Sky Garden, and Borough Market. Gatwick gives you options in both areas, so you can choose the best route for the sights you want to see. The two sections below split the layover plan between those two areas.

From Heathrow: Do a West London Walking Loop

Heathrow drops you off at Paddington Station, on the northwest corner of Hyde Park. The best use of a Heathrow layover is a walk southeast through the parks to Westminster.

6 to 7 Hours From Heathrow

So long as you clear immigration quickly, you can plan a focused two-and-a-half-hour walking loop from Paddington and back on a 7-hour layover in London. Walk into Hyde Park, cut diagonally across past the Serpentine to Hyde Park Corner, then on to Buckingham Palace. From the palace, walk through St. James’s Park to Big Ben and the Thames at Westminster. You can see all of it on foot at a good pace in about two and a half hours. But if that’s cutting it too close, take the tube back from Westminster to Paddington to catch the Heathrow Express. Pro Tip: Keep a steady pace on the 6-hour version and use the tube to speed it up. Grab something quick to eat or wait until you get back to the airport.

8 to 9 Hours From Heathrow

With an 8 to 9 hour layover in London, start with the same walk to Big Ben, then loop up through Trafalgar Square with a visit to the free National Gallery (featuring Monet, Van Gogh, and da Vinci). If there’s time, add Soho to your route with a meal. We love Barrafina for the counter seats and Spanish tapas, the Dog and Duck for traditional London pub fare, and Seven Dials shops and cafés. Take the tube from Soho back to Paddington when you’re done to catch the Heathrow express back to the airport. Or you can take the Elizabeth Line from Bond Street straight to Heathrow in 35 to 40 minutes.

Where to Stay on an Overnight Layover From Heathrow

For an overnight Heathrow layover, the easiest choices are either a hotel in walking distance to Paddington Station or hop back to the airport. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow for Terminal 2 and 3, since you can walk to the terminal in the morning and skip the stress of a train connection.

From London City: The Tower and Borough Loop

6 to 7 Hours From London City

Take the DLR to Bank station, and start your sightseeing at Sky Garden, the free public garden on the top floors of the Walkie-Talkie building at 20 Fenchurch Street. You get a 43rd-floor view over the Thames, St Paul’s, and Tower Bridge for free, though you need to book a timed slot ahead of time. The venue releases tickets every Monday morning for dates up to three weeks out, and the good times go fast, so book the moment you know your layover dates and times.

If you only have time for one thing, it should be Sky Garden for the full view of the city. You have to plan for the airport-like security to get into Sky Garden. If you have more time, from Sky Garden, walk past the Tower of London to Borough Market for lunch. Order the cheese toastie from Kappacasein, then head back on the DLR.

8 to 9 Hours From London City

With 8-9 hours, don’t race across town to Soho. It’s too far from this side of the city to do well, and you’ll spend the extra hours stuck on the tube. Slow down your pace instead. Tour the inside of the Tower of London, walk over to the Tate Modern along the river, or go a little farther to St Paul’s Cathedral, then take the DLR back toward the airport.

From Gatwick: Pick Your Side of the City

Gatwick gives you a route choice, since two different direct trains run into two different parts of London Zone 1. Pick your train based on which sights you want to see most.

For the West Side, Take the Gatwick Express

The Gatwick Express gets to Victoria Station in 30 minutes, and it’s a 10 to 20 minute walk to Buckingham Palace or Big Ben. From Victoria, you can follow the same west London park walk as the Heathrow plan above: Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Park, and Big Ben, adding Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, and Soho if you have 8 to 9 hours.

For the East Side, Take the Thameslink

The Thameslink train from Gatwick Airport takes you to London Bridge Station in about 30 minutes, which is steps from the Tower Bridge and Borough Market. If you’re short on time, walk 10 to 15 minutes from London Bridge over to Sky Garden. Expect airport-style security to get in, so leave some time for it, but the 43rd-floor view over the whole city is the best thing you can see on a tight layover. Book a timed slot ahead. You’ll walk over the London Bridge to get to Sky Garden, which gives you the best view and photo op of the Tower Bridge.

If time allows, keep walking a loop. Walk past the Tower of London, cross the Tower Bridge, and grab a quick bite at Borough Market before heading back to London Bridge Station. With 9 hours, you can slow down and add either a trip inside the Tower of London, the Tate Modern, or St Paul’s, just like the London City plan above.

Want to Stay in Soho? Book Mimi’s

If your real goal is an overnight in Soho itself, in the middle of the restaurants and the West End, book Mimi’s Hotel Soho. We’ve stayed here and love it for the location, the price, and the little downstairs bar, right next door to the Dog and Duck, our favorite pub for food. For the full breakdown of where to stay across the city, see our guide to where to stay in London.

Gorgeous bathroom in the Lux room at Mimi’s

Important London Layover Tips

Get your ETA before you fly. Most visitors from the US, Canada, Australia, and the EU now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation to enter or transit. It costs £20 and lasts two years. We needed one on our last trip and did it easily online at home in a few minutes. You cannot get it on arrival, and airlines will deny boarding without it, so apply at least three days ahead.
Clear immigration before you commit to a plan. UK border lines are the biggest variable in your day.
Match your route to where your airport drops you in London’s Zone 1. Each one is different.
Pay with contactless. You tap your card or phone straight onto the reader on the tube, DLR, and most trains, so you don’t need a paper ticket or an Oyster card for a single day.
Leave a big buffer to get back. Give yourself at least 3 hours before your next flight to return, clear security, and reach the gate.
Store your bags. Book a luggage storage spot near your first stop so you aren’t dragging a suitcase around the city.
Confirm your return terminal. Heathrow and Gatwick are spread across several terminals, so check which one your onward flight leaves from before you head back.

Layover in London: Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Leave the Airport During a Layover in London?

It depends on the airport. From Heathrow you reach Paddington in 15 minutes, and from Gatwick or London City you reach the city center in about 30 minutes, so a layover of 6 to 7 hours is tight but it gives you time to see something. From Stansted or Luton, the distance makes it not worth the trip.

How Long of a Layover Do You Need to Leave the Airport in London?

Six hours is really pushing it. You have to clear UK immigration, travel into the city and back, and return through security with a buffer. With under 6 hours, you’re better off staying at the airport. With 6 hours, it really depends on how quickly you clear security. A 7 hour layover is more comfortable, and 9 hours is even better.

What Is the Fastest Way From Heathrow to Central London?

The Heathrow Express reaches Paddington in 15 minutes for £25. The Elizabeth line takes about 25 minutes to Paddington, costs £15.50, and reaches also central stations like Bond Street in 35 to 40 minutes. From Paddington, you can walk straight into Hyde Park and toward the main attractions.

Do You Need an ETA for a Layover in London?

Yes, if you’re going landside. Most visa-exempt travelers now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation to enter the UK, including US, Canadian, Australian, and EU citizens. It costs £20, lasts two years, and usually approves within minutes. You must apply before you fly, because you cannot get one on arrival and airlines will deny boarding without it.