London Heathrow Airport is a very busy place. Allow yourself PLENTY of time to navigate the airport. Upon arrival, you will need to walk a long distance through tunnels and pathways to get to customs. I was asked my purpose for visiting and how long I was going to stay.
I decided to take the Tube (the Underground) into the city. You can take the direct non-stop Heathrow Express train which will get you into the city in 30 minutes and costs around 20 pounds. The Heathrow extension of the Tube (built by the Queen, not literally) takes about 45 minutes and costs only 5.10 pounds for a day pass purchased after 9:30am. It makes many stops along the way but it is worth saving about 15 pounds or a
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I decided to take the Tube (the Underground) into the city. You can take the direct non-stop Heathrow Express train which will get you into the city in 30 minutes and costs around 20 pounds. The Heathrow extension of the Tube (built by the Queen, not literally) takes about 45 minutes and costs only 5.10 pounds for a day pass purchased after 9:30am. It makes many stops along the way but it is worth saving about 15 pounds or approx. $30.00.
The ride into the Piccadilly Circus was comfortable. The train goes above and below ground. The Tube is not called a subway. A London subway is a pedestrian pathway that goes underneath street intersections: a subway.
One very interesting fact is that when the Tube trains stop at a station, there is a huge gap or a huge step that you have to remember is there or else you could fall in between the train and the landing. I wondered why they would construct their underground system this way, but there are signs or announcements telling you to "Mind the gap. Mind the gap."
Returning to Heathrow was easy as well from Piccadilly Circus. One direct train.
After arrival to the airport, the fun begins. After walking and walking to find United check-in and wading through hundreds of people all trying to leave at the same time, you will then go upstairs to go through security. There are stores along the way, but don't shop at them, because after you go through security, there is a huge mall of shops that you can buy all that you need. There is also a TravelEx location to exchange pounds back to dollars. There are plenty of eating places and a Harrod's store in case you didn't buy everything at the main store.
Once you enter the terminal area, there is no more food or shops, so get everything you need before you leave.
You'll see signs for "return trolley here" and a trolley is what we call a cart.
Remember to allow yourself PLENTY of time (2-3 hours if flying during busy times during the day) and you should have no problems flying into or out of London Heathrow Airport.
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