What can I do during an 8-hour layover at Heathrow Airport in London?

This series features Dinogo Planet's writers and editors addressing your travel queries and offering tips and tricks for a smooth journey. Tom Hall, a London native and Vice President of Dinogo Planet, responds to a question from a US traveler heading to Europe.

Question: I have an 8-hour layover at Heathrow as I travel from the US to Athens. Since I’ve never visited London before, can I leave the airport and explore some attractions in that time?

Tom Hall: Eight hours will pass quickly, and realistically, you may have only half that time for sightseeing. Here’s how you can make it work.

Traveling from Heathrow to central London

To reach central London from Heathrow, travelers need to disembark, clear customs, and take one of the quickest transport options—the Elizabeth Line (approximately 32 minutes, starting at £12.80) or the Heathrow Express (around 22 minutes, £38.50 for a roundtrip)—to Paddington station. From there, you can catch the tube to access some of London's major attractions.

I recommend allowing 90 minutes for this process, although it could take longer. I've experienced times when I landed at Heathrow, thrilled to arrive 10 minutes early, only to spend an additional 45 minutes waiting for our plane to reach the gate.

How to make the most of just 4 hours in London

Despite the challenges, with 4 hours, you can start to experience some of London’s top sights. There’s enough time to reach Tower Bridge and take a walk along the South Bank of the River Thames to the Houses of Parliament, pausing for a quick snack at Borough Market. If the lines are favorable, you might even squeeze in a ride on the London Eye (remember to book your ticket ahead of time).

Alternatively, you could concentrate on one major attraction, several of which can easily fill 2 hours or more. St Paul’s Cathedral offers 2-hour booking slots, making it a better choice than visiting Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace (whose State Rooms are only accessible to visitors during the summer months).

You might choose to visit a couple of galleries at the free-to-enter British Museum or National Gallery. Or, if that feels too intense, indulge in the quintessential London experience of afternoon tea at a hotel like the Goring, or enjoy a pint at one of the city’s numerous pubs.

Making sure you return to Heathrow in time for your flight

To get back to Heathrow, you'll need to retrace the steps you took to reach central London. Arriving at departures 90 minutes before your flight is usually sufficient if you already have your boarding pass, even though airlines recommend arriving earlier. A significant time-saver is checking your luggage all the way through, so be sure to do this if you can.