To all UK residents(or people who've been there)

[Devanshu]

I'll be going to India in december to visit some family and my flight makes a 3 hour pit stop in London while going there and a 5 hour stop while coming back. I was just wondering, since I've never been there, what do you suggest I do to kill time(besides stay at the airport)?

[Gees]

I'm nowhere near London. So I can't say what's accessible from the airport.

Sorry :c)

But I hope you have a fantastic trip.

[Devanshu]

I'm nowhere near London. So I can't say what's accessible from the airport.

Sorry :c)

But I hope you have a fantastic trip.

thanks

[Roundabout]

Heathrow or Gatwick? Maybe someone from London can give you an idea. I'm sure the options are different depending which airport you'll be laid over in. I'm sure you can take the Tube to somewhere interesting within a half hour or so. I never tried to find anything interesting around Heathrow, it takes a while just to get out of there, it's so big. That, along with the fact that you have to be available for check-in a long time before the flight would discourage me from trying to leave unless I had half a day or more. And there's some great shops right there at Heathrow to kill time in. Buy some Allsorts and read some magazines/newspapers and the time will fly by before you know it!

[Devanshu]

Heathrow or Gatwick?

Umm...not sure, I'll check.

[gmatov]

Devanshu,

Your avatar looks as though you should take a "pit" while you are there.

Seriously, I don't think there is an airport in the world today where you can do anything in 3 to 5 hours, away from the airport.

Security being what it is, if you leave the terminal area, you will be suspected of meeting terrorists to have your shoes packed with C4 so you could bring down the plane.

I think I'd stay where the snoops can keep an eye on me. Take Harry Potter with you, reread it. Or try Andrew Greely. I've only just read the first 3 of his I ever have and found them quite good, though you may not be Catholic, and I definitely am not. Non-bloody, no XXXs, still good reads.

George

[i_am_dave]

Find a nice pub in the airport and have a few brews to pass the time. Even though Heathrow has a terminal for the Underground, you couldn't get anywhere in time. Same goes for getting anywhere using the Hoppa.
Strange that you are going through London. I would have guessed your connection would have been in Frankfurt for a US to India flight.

[Devanshu]

I would have guessed your connection would have been in Frankfurt for a US to India flight.

Usually it is but this time we werent sure we were going or not and recently got the tickets...the connection from fankfurt is usually cheaper. Its from Indy to NY to London to Delhi and the same route back.

Find a nice pub in the airport and have a few brews to pass the time

It's a family trip...and I dont think my mom would appreciate me drinking in front of her.

[i_am_dave]

It's a family trip...and I dont think my mom would appreciate me drinking in front of her.

No problem, offer to buy her a drink!

[Gees]

Devanshu,

I forget if you've ever said how old you are but......... don't forget, the drinking age here is 18! So maybe you are legal here! :cD

Maybe your mom won't mind. You know: when in Rome, etc., etc.
:c)

[i_am_dave]

I hope I have not offended in any way . Sometimes I forget that different beliefs prohibit alcohol.

[Gees]

Oh. Me too. :c*

[BJ_M]

iv'e missed a lot of flights there .. then again iv'e missed a lot flights everywhere ...

you can't go anywhere with only 3-5 hours .. hang out in duty free and the bars pretty much it .. or the best is to park yourself in one of the book stores and start reading .. even smokers (generally) don't want to hang out in the smoke areas .. see if you can get a pass to use one of the first class lounges -- much more relaxed ... and you get priority check on ..

they have internet kiosks there -- but they are useless ..

[Devanshu]

I forget if you've ever said how old you are but......... don't forget, the drinking age here is 18! So maybe you are legal here! :cD

I wish

I'm still 17 but turn 18 in feb.

I hope I have not offended in any way

Nope...not offended at all. I liked your solution of buying my mom a drink though

[gooberguy]

its funny cus i did the same thing altough my stay was for 4 hours. i walked around the WH smith store. BTW: where in india?

[Devanshu]

BTW: where in india?

New Delhi...I was born there and my mom's side of family still lives there...so we go at least once a year to visit. Have you been?

[gooberguy]

yea

but that place is dirty like heck,

BEWARE OF LUGGAGE ROBBERS!! (im serious)

[Devanshu]

yea

but that place is dirty like heck,

BEWARE OF LUGGAGE ROBBERS!! (im serious)

I know what you mean...but the entire country isnt dirty. I grew up in the "rich" part...so luckily I wont be going to the places w/ cow dung on every corner.

[gooberguy]

lol

things there are very cheap tho... try gettin sum pc stuff.

[Devanshu]

I tried that last time I went...but couldnt get past security w/ it. Things are really cheap. You can get a vcd for a couple of bucks or a dvd player(not that it would work here) over there for about $10!

[Hardcoreruss]

You won't be allowed out of the airport, as everyone else has said shops and bars. Keep your fingers crossed that you don't stopover at Heathrow (you probably will though) it is the worst airport on earth, designed by a moron and they have been working on it for the past eight years. Gatwick is ok though.

[andydd]

I work in London.
London airports are a bloody long way from London. If you are on an international flight then youll go to either Heathrow or Gatwick. Unfortunatley it prob isnt worth doing anything if you only have a few hours. Heathrow is on the tube (underground line) but its many stops before youll get to anywhere interesting, (I.e Central London), Gatwick has a fast train service to Central London but its a bit expensive n if I only had 3 hours to spare I wouldnt risk it.

Personally Id go for the airport pub option (as would most brits..you cant beat going down the boozer),.... Go on take ya mum..you dont have to have alcohol, although it certainly helps the time fly !. And at least you will at least see a bit of our country n maybe have a chat.

I think both Heathrow n gatwick have some weatherspoon pubs which are a chain here...very cheap...cheap food too if that airline meal hasnt filled you up enough.

[ricky1756]

for fun, you could walk around the airport with a french accent, and see how much you can annoy the british

[Devanshu]

for fun, you could walk around the airport with a french accent, and see how much you can annoy the british

[RabidDog]

Actually what you could do is buy some mega gadget becuase they offer a money back refund service. Even if box opened!!! Keep your receipt tho. You probably wouldnt be allowed out of the airport anyway if its just a stopover. Security tight but not obtrusive. So many shops you will have a job finding your gate! HArry Ramsdens and a PUB ... check out prices of goods for return journey, they might be cheaper in India. London is too far with just three hours even five hours is v tight. (1.5 hr each way)

[Solarjetman]

I flew through london once. They will not let you out of the international area. Except if you need to switch between Gatwick and Heathrow like I did. Even then you are not allowed anywhere off the bus. So, all I got to see of London was a bus ride and a long one at that And it wasn't even one of those red double decker buses

It was however freaky to be on the wrong side of the road

[gmatov]

Dave and Devanhu,

I don't think there is a people on the planet that prohibit alcoholic beverages. I have recently read that the Muslim religion prohibits the fermented juice of the grape but not alcohol in general.

I think the US is the only place that has ever tried to prohibit alcohol, in general, and all it did was make a bunch of small time thugs into millionaires, ala Al Capone,as well as some of our future "royalty" (They did call the Kennedy era "Camelo" tafter all, and the elder Kennedy made his fortune in illrgal import of booze.)

Have a good trip, hurry back.

Cheers,

George

[Devanshu]

Have a good trip, hurry back.

Will do...I cant stay away from this forum too long

As for the alcoholic beverages thing...I know no religion prohibits the consumption..but there's something that gives my parents comfort if I dont do it in front of them

[gmatov]

Devansshu,

I understand that very well.

My youngest daughter got a little drunk while under age and when I learned of it the next morning, before I could give her hell, she begged me not to, as she was miserable enough as it was without feeling more guilty because I was disappointed with her.

11 years later,and mother to my newest grandson, she still drinks very little, even tho' I withhold the "tsk, tsk" when sshe does drink in front of me

In fact, I don't recall her drinking in my presence other than her wedding.

You know, we old folks do not want you to do as we did, only as we say.

Cheers,

George

[Solarjetman]

I know no religion prohibits the consumption..

Traditional Baptists prohibit drinking.

Glad I am not a Baptist!