LATEST!

---

Heathrow Airport Layover Guide

A long layover at Heathrow can feel like an awkward amount of time.

It's too long to simply sit at the airport, but not always long enough to plan a full day in London. Add luggage, airport security and the need to be back for your next flight, and heading into central London isn't always the most practical option. The good news is that you don't have to spend your entire layover inside the terminal.

With the right amount of time, you can leave the airport, explore the local area, find somewhere good to eat, relax with a drink or even catch some live sport before heading back for your flight.
Here's how to make the most of a longer Heathrow layover.

A Simple Heathrow Layover Itinerary

Before planning anything outside the airport, check two things. First, whether you're permitted to enter the UK during your layover. Second, confirm whether your baggage is checked through to your final destination, as collecting and re-checking bags takes considerable time.

If you're free to leave, work backwards from your departure time rather than counting every hour between flights as available. Allow for border control on arrival, re-checking in, security, and any transfer between terminals, which at Heathrow can take a while between the central terminals and Terminals 4 and 5.

5–6 hours
Stay close to the airport. There's usually time for a meal on Bath Road before heading back, but not much beyond that once arrival and departure formalities are accounted for.

6–8 hours
A little more flexibility. Enough for an unhurried meal and a short look around the immediate area before returning to the terminal.

8+ hours
More scope to make use of the time, provided your travel arrangements allow it. You could combine a meal with local sightseeing, or take in a live sporting event or attraction further afield.

Staying Close to Heathrow Can Be the Easiest Option

You don't have to travel into central London to make your layover feel like a break from the airport.

The area around Heathrow has a large number of hotels, restaurants, bars and places to relax, particularly around Bath Road. This can be a much simpler option for travellers who want to eat, have a drink or get away from the terminal environment without committing to a journey into London.

Bath Road runs through the Heathrow hotel area and is home to a number of places to stay and eat, making it a practical base for spending a few hours between flights.

If you're staying overnight around the airport, our Heathrow Sports Bar can also provide somewhere to eat, relax and watch live sport during your stay.

Find Somewhere Good to Eat

After a flight, a proper meal can make a surprisingly big difference to how a long layover feels. The Heathrow area has plenty of food options, from quick meals to restaurants where you can sit down and take your time.

For something relaxed, Hi! Pizza at Holiday Inn London Heathrow Bath Road serves freshly prepared Italian food, including pizza and pasta, alongside drinks and bar food. It's located at 276 Bath Road in Sipson, close to Heathrow Airport.

For travellers with enough time between flights, sitting down for a proper meal can be a much nicer way to spend part of a long layover than grabbing something quickly inside the terminal.

Catch Some Live Sport

A long layover also gives you the chance to do something you wouldn't normally have time for during a quick airport stop.

Hi! Pizza Sports Bar has Sky Sports and TNT Sports, with selected live football, Formula 1, cricket, rugby, golf and other major sporting events shown throughout the year.

The Sports Bar is inside Holiday Inn London Heathrow Bath Road, making it a convenient option for travellers staying around the airport or looking for somewhere to spend an evening between flights.

There's food, drinks and a pool table alongside the live sports, so it can work particularly well when there are several hours to fill.

Take a Break From the Airport

Airports are designed to keep you moving. A long layover is a chance to slow things down for a while.

Instead of spending several hours watching the departure board, find somewhere comfortable to sit, have something to eat and let the time pass without constantly thinking about your next flight.

The Heathrow hotel area is particularly suited to this because you can stay close to the airport while still getting away from the terminals. That can make a difference after a long flight or before another long journey.

Don't Forget the Journey Back to Heathrow

This is the most important part of planning a Heathrow layover. It's easy to think about how long you have before your next flight and forget that you need to get back to the airport with plenty of time remaining.

Give yourself a buffer for traffic, public transport delays and airport security. Staying close to Heathrow makes this considerably easier than travelling into central London, particularly during busy periods.

For information on finding Hi! Pizza from Heathrow and the surrounding area, see our Getting to Us guide.

Book today

Book a table