Stopover guide - Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow Airport is the gateway to London and the United Kingdom, handling a massive 67 million passengers per year through its four terminals. London is one of the world’s most heavily visited cities and it has many world-famous attractions such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and The British Museum. Shopping and nightlife options are also fantastic.

Attractions:

Madame Tussauds is one of London’s most visited attractions and it is full of wax models of the stars and villains of today and yesteryear as well as many interactive exhibits.
Tower of London is the home of the Crown Jewels and is an ancient and mammoth fortification on the River Thames, visible from the equally impressive Tower Bridge.
First opened to the paying public in the 1990s, Buckingham Palace is also a major London landmark and is opulent beyond words; the art collections and gardens are a must-see.
Among the city’s many brilliant museums include The British Museum and the Natural History Museum, the latter of which has many impressive hands-on exhibits.
For people watching, visit Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden; bustling by day and night, and featuring numerous souvenir shops, eateries and watering holes, these London spots are not to be missed.
London has dozens of parks, with Hyde Park being the most visited and well known. Many official and unofficial events take place here throughout the year.

Eating and shopping: most people think of Harrods and Oxford street when they think of London and shopping. Located in Knightsbridge, Harrods is still the most popular department store in London and it includes several floors of glitzy and quality products, while the even more upmarket Harvey Nichols is also nearby. Oxford street is simply bursting with shops and it stretches for hundreds of metres, while Camden Market, Mayfair and New Bond street are other must-visit shopping areas.

There is no centre when it comes to eating and entertainment in London, as there is an endless choice of interesting areas all over the city. However, a large majority of cafés, fast-food joints and restaurants can be found in the West End, which is where Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden and Soho reside, the latter of which is also home to London’s Chinatown. Elephant and Castle is also a popular area in south London, while Mayfair is the place to go for experience star-rated luxury and opulence.

Day trips and tours: if you’re in London between May and October, the world-famous Ascot Racecourse is not far from London and stages some quality race meets, the most famous of which is the Royal Meeting in June. Not far from Ascot and the M4 motorway is Windsor Castle, the world’s largest occupied castle, which features magnificent the State Apartments, priceless art work and extensive grounds.

Also within easy reach of London are the ancient towns of Oxford and Aylesbury, to the northwest and the north respectively. Oxford is famed for its university and dreamy spires, while both towns have a large amount of nearby stately homes that are worth visiting. In the other direction, to the east, Southend-on-Sea is a great seaside daytrip destination from London and it has a wealth of family entertainment and attractions.

London Tourist Information Centres

London Tourist Information
City Information Centre
St Paul's Churchyard
London
EC4M 8BX
Tel: +44 207 332 1456

Britain Visitor Centre
1 Regent Street
London
SW1Y 4XT
Tel: +44 207 808 3838
Website: VisitLondon.com

Heathrow Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3
Underground Station Concourse
Heathrow Airport
Middlesex
TW6 2JA
Tel: +44 906 866 3344