Killing some time in the Heathrow area

alanjuk

Plane spotting?:D

pin

alanjuk wrote:

Plane spotting?:D

Watch out, you may get arrested for doing that:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/12/newsid_2518000/2518385.stm

NicolaC

From Heathrow Central Bus Station you could get a bus into Uxbridge (A10 bus I think - £1.50 - will take about 20-25 minutes). The bus will drop you at the bus garage in the town centre where there is plenty of shops (both undercover and on the highstreet) & places to eat.

The chimes is the main shopping.

there are both pubs and restaurants on the highstreet so plenty of choice to eat:
ask - pizza
pizza hut
The good Yarn - Wetherspoons
Swan and Bottle - chef and brewer restaurant I think.
Or loads of others.
There's also an odeon cinema in the Chimes, if you have a couple of hours still to spare.

Or if you jump on the Piccadilly line train you could get to Osterley station in a short time and visit Osterley Park House, which I've heard is very nice.

It'd take you too long to get into the centre of London to do anything worthwhile with your time there.

Oh and there used to be a special veiwing platform for watching the planes take off. I think if you go to the central bus garage you walk across the bridge over the road and it's there. Or at least it used to be. Mind you, once you are checked in there is a veiwing area inside the terminal for watching too.

Have a nice trip.

hammy_the_hammer

i'm puzzled ...why have you got to fly down from manchester to heathrow allowing a 6 hour window between flights ? which airlines are you flying with?
genuinely interested

puffinmuffin

We weren't originally going to fly to London, we booked the flight later than the main trip. As we are on two separate tickets we will probably have to check in again at Heathrow.The way the flights worked out this was the only flight which would get us to Heathrow with enough time to spare for checking in again and allow safety for delays etc, the other possible flight was a bit too close for comfort. Pain in the **** but was the safest choice.

martindow

I too would suggest that you kill time at the airport. With any trip out you are going to spend a fair proportion of your time travelling and possibly worrying about getting back in time. Going to Aukland will be tiring enough as it is without adding to the strain.

shown73

You could always pop into any of the car parks, and amuse yourself by watching the expressions of disbelief, despair, rage, or plain bewilderment on the faces of the poor suckers at the pay machines, me included, I'll be there tomorrow to pick someone up, yet again. I must have paid for a pretty fair lump of that terminal you're using!

puffinmuffin

Thanks for the contribution!

shown73

Be careful with the coffee shops too. £5.03 for two small americanos and one almond croissant! The whole place is one big rip-off, but on the other hand of course, it's fascinating as well. I always have mixed feelings when I see someone off, or collect them. I envy you going to somewhere far away, do enjoy it.

Mark7799

I'd recommend the airport lounges - about £18 for 3 hours access but you'd make that back on the drinks, nibbles and free newspapers.