Airport
Planning a trip to London
London's main airport, about 19 miles west of the city, is where most Transatlantic (and many other) flights land
Gatwick is London's secondary airport, host to many Transatlantic, European, and British flights as well as easyJet, Norwegian, and some other low-cost carriers
Little Luton Airport, 33 miles from London, is a hub for several low-cost airlines like easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz
Stansted Airport, an hour north of London, is popular with easyJet, Ryanair, and many other low cost carriers
If you have to transfer from one London airport to another, here are your best options
Planning for a trip to England
Tips on having the most comfortable air travel experience possible, from getting to and from the airport to picking the right seat on the plane
Two dozen simple ways to increase your chances of catching some shut-eye on those long overnight flights
Relax in comfort before or in-between flights and head to the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 2A at London Heathrow Airport.
Whether you are a business traveler or here for a holiday, the lounge offers you the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of airports, regardless of which airline you are using.
The contemporary lounge provides superior services and a hassle-free environment to rejuvenate your senses, including private relaxing suites, luxurious shower rooms with full amenities, a spa with massage services, high-speed Wi-Fi, an array of magazines and newspapers and a generous selection of food and beverages.
The Plaza Premium Lounge operates from 5am to 11pm and, depending on the option selected, you have either three, six, or 12 hours — after the time of entry — to enjoy the lounge facilities.
Please note: The lounge is located in the restricted area of the airport. You must pass through security and immigration prior to entering the lounge. An on-going boarding pass MUST be presented by all passengers before entering the lounge.
See Itinerary for services and facilities.
The 8,500 square feet of the London Heathrow Plaza Premium Lounge is the perfect sanctuary for those who wish to escape from the crowd for 3-hours, 6-hours, or 12-hours and relax before they depart for their next destination. The lounge offers travelers a bouquet of services and facilities including comfortable seating, and extensive choices of food and beverage.
Whether you are on a business trip or en route to an exotic destination, the lounge offers a range of comfortable seating options to suit each traveler's needs and guarantees a relaxing pre-flight experience.
Available throughout the day, food and beverage options range from freshly prepared hot meals to a salad bar, from freshly brewed coffee to alcoholic beverages conveniently placed on the buffet counter for guests to enjoy. Complementary high-speed WiFi keeps guests connected at all times. In addition, the lounge also offers international TV channels for entertaining, and choice of newspapers and magazines for leisure reading.
Food and beverages including:
Breakfast:
Hot breakfast, assorted bakeries and pastries, cereals and oatmeals, fresh fruits, snacks and salads
Lunch and dinner:
Light hot meals, tapas, pastries and bread, sandwiches, soup, snacks, salads and desserts
All-day beverages:
Soft drinks, juices, alcoholic drinks, freshly brewed coffee, espresso, cappuccino and selections of tea. A champagne and tapas bar with exclusive selections of champagne tasting and tapas
Please note: some of the attractions may have entrance fees; if so, your chauffeur will let you know how much they are ahead of time when you create your itinerary.
Start with a pickup from any London Heathrow Terminal, and relax in the comfort of your private vehicle as your private chauffeur takes care of the route and driving. The itinerary is completely flexible and can be tailored to your interests, but all tours will include plenty of photo stops.
Explore the streets around Westminster, with its collection of historical and political monuments. Parliament Square is home to Westminster Abbey — setting of the 2011 royal wedding of Kate Middleton to Prince William — as well as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Whitewall and Trafalgar Square.
Want to factor in some activities alongside sightseeing and attraction visits? Then speak to your chauffeur about a Thames River sightseeing cruise , a ride on the London Eye or a trip up a high-speed elevator to the View from the Shard. Or, perhaps watch the world-famous Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace, the London residence of Queen Elizabeth II.
Please note: some of these attractions may have entrance fees, which will not be covered by initial purchase. Your chauffeur will let you know how much these could be when you're working out the itinerary for this tour.
At the end of your day of sightseeing and fun in London, you'll finish with a drop-off to your hotel or back to the airport.
(Allow at least 8h between flights–take this tour) | from £49.22
If you have 8 hours to spare between flight, leave London Gatwick or Heathrow Airport, and travel west with your private driver to the royal town of Windsor, just under an hour’s drive away. Your exact itinerary of your layover tour is flexible, so you can customize your plans based on your preferences – just let your driver know what you want to see in Windsor and then sit back and enjoy the drive! You'll have roughly four hours in Windsor.
The affluent town is best known as the site of Windsor Castle – the official residence of the Queen and a place well worth visiting (entry at your own expense). Covering an area of roughly 13 acres (5 hectares), Windsor Castle’s grounds include an impressive list of things to see, like the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel. Your guide will give you plenty of insider tips about the best areas of the castle to visit, should you wish to.
Windsor’s Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place daily, so you can try to catch it while exploring the town. Usually accompanied by a military band, soldiers march up the high street to Windsor Castle in colorful red tunics and bearskin hats, representing the pomp and ceremony of the British Royal Family that so intrigues visitors to England.
Near the town center is Windsor Great Park -- perfect for a walk or summer’s day picnic! Take a stroll along the famous Long Walk, a 2-mile (3-km) path bordered by symmetrical rows of beautiful trees and neat lawns.
Most itineraries include a drive to Eton, the historic little town just on the other side of the River Thames from Windsor. See Eton College, where Princes William and Harry studied, and browse the town’s endearing collection of independent shops. Alternatively, visit the nearby town of Runnymede, where the Magna Carta was sealed by King John in 1215.
Your independent Windsor tour finishes back at London Gatwick or Heathrow Airport, in time for your ongoing flight.
These might include airport
More tours- Easybus coach - EasyBus runs the cheapest service, twice per hour to London Victoria Coach Station (105 min.), with stops at several Tube stations along the way, including central ones like Baker Street (75 min.) and Marble Arch (90 min.). Fares are lowest when booked in advance, starting as low as 95p a month or more out—though more like £3.95–£7.95 when booked within the month, topping out at £9.95.
- National Express coach - National Express coaches depart for London's Victoria Coach station (80 min.) for £8–£11 (the cheaper rates are when you book a few days ahead of time). It is the fastest of the three bus services (because it doesn't make any intervening stops), but generally the priciest.
- Terravision coach - Terravision runs 2–3 shuttle bus coaches per hour to London's Victoria Station (105 min.), with a few intermediate stops including Baker Street (60–65 min.) and Marble Arch (75–80 min.). Tickets are a flat £10.
- Train - Trains actually arrive in Luton at the Luton Airport Parkway Station, a 10-minute shuttle bus ride from the airport itself. You can buy through tickets that inlcude the train and bus ride, but if you fail (or forget to) you can also just pay the supplement for the bus on the spot (£1.60 if you already have a rail ticket, £2 if you don't).
- Taxi - The priciest option—though not for four or more people—is to grab a taxi cab.
- Private car - Note that the "private" transfers (with the lowest lead price) are per person but for the entire vehicle—so you'll only pay that lowest per-person rate if you stuff it with eight people. The per-person price goes up the fewer people you have in the car, so it only really makes sense if you have at least four people in your party (paying roughly £29/$43 a piece).Partner