Under 3 hours at LHR or LGW means stay airside — non-UK/EU immigration alone averages 30-45 min.
- LHR Terminal 5 has a strong food hall past security; Terminal 3 has more variety landside
- LGW South Terminal has sit-down options including a Gordon Ramsay outlet airside
- Free WiFi at both airports — use the time productively rather than stressing the city dash
Possible from Heathrow with a fast e-Gate passport and a single focused plan. Gatwick is harder at this window.
- LHR via Heathrow Express to Paddington: 15 min, £25 return. Bayswater, Hyde Park, or Notting Hill are within 5 min walk of Paddington
- LGW via Gatwick Express to Victoria: 30 min, £35 return. One neighbourhood only — Victoria or Chelsea area, no cross-city trips
- Allow 90 min back-to-airport buffer from LHR, 75 min from LGW — immigration queues are unpredictable
A solid London window. Pick one part of the city and do it properly rather than rushing across zones.
- LHR via Heathrow Express to Paddington (15 min, £25 return): Hyde Park, Notting Hill, or Oxford Street
- LGW via Thameslink to London Bridge (32 min, £17 return): Borough Market, Tate Modern, South Bank walk
- Oyster card or contactless bank card works on all tubes and buses — no need to buy separate city tickets
- British Museum and National Gallery are free — ideal anchors without spending money
10+ hours is London gold. Two or three neighbourhoods are realistic, and the tube makes it easy.
- Morning: Borough Market or Covent Garden for breakfast and coffee
- Afternoon: South Bank (Tate Modern, Thames walk) or Shoreditch for street food and galleries
- Evening: Soho or Mayfair — easy tube rides back to Paddington (for LHR) or Victoria (for LGW)
- Contactless bank cards work on all London transport — just tap in and out
