One of my favorite travel memories is a day I spent in London en route to Kenya. I was living in San Francisco at the time, and had an 8-hour layover in London between flights. I met up with a friend and we had a great time exploring the city before I continued my journey to Nairobi. If you find yourself in the same situation, today I bring you A Lady in London’s guide to spending a long layover in London.
Long Layover in London
Most long-haul flights arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick, meaning west London is a good place to focus a long layover in London.
If I land at Heathrow, I leave my bags at left luggage and take the tube to Sloane Square station. If I land at Gatwick, I drop my bags and take the train to Victoria, then the tube one stop to Sloane Square. Both trips take around an hour.
If I’m arriving at a different airport, I use the TFL website to plan my route to get to Sloane Square.
Once I’ve arrived, my adventure begins. Depending how much time I have, I do some or all of the itinerary outlined below.
Sloane Square and Duke of York Square
Once at Sloane Square station, I’m in the heart of Chelsea. This is one of the best London neighborhoods for shopping, dining, and culture, and it’s a great place to start a long layover in London.
If I’m hungry, I grab a bite at one of the many restaurants and cafes in Duke of York Square. There’s no shortage of them, and the pedestrianized area has a lively atmosphere.
If it’s a Saturday, I explore the food market, and if not, I head to the Saatchi Gallery to see what’s on. There’s free entry, so I can stay as little or long as I want.
Chelsea
From Duke of York Square, I continue my long layover in London by walking down the King’s Road into the heart of Chelsea.
The King’s Road is one of London’s best shopping streets, and there’s always something to catch my eye. Whether I need some new traveling clothes or just want to browse, there’s an endless array of shops to choose from.
While here, I make sure to head to the side streets to pop into places like John Sandoe Books. I’m sure to find a new read for the next leg of my journey in its warren of rooms.
Speaking of side streets, I love exploring colorful ones like Godfrey Street that are lined with houses in rainbow hues.
And I adore soaking up the pastels on Bywater Street. It’s one of the prettiest streets in London and great for photography.
South Kensington
When I’m done shopping and wandering, I continue my long layover in London by walking up to South Kensington station. The area around the station is full of cafes, so if I need a break I head to one of them to rest my feet.
Then I’m off to the museums. South Kensington is home to the V&A, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum, all of which have world-class collections. It’s amazing to have them all next door to one another.
Like the Saatchi Gallery, they offer free entry so I can spend as much time in them as I like.
If I have time and energy afterwards, I continue my long layover in London by heading up to Hyde Park to take a lap around the Serpentine lake.
It’s a good way to fight jet lag and take in the scenery at the same time. The birds and paddle boats are always entertaining to watch when the weather is nice, and the park is big enough that I feel like I’m out in nature.
Long Layover in London and Beyond
From the park it’s back to South Kensington tube station to travel to the airport. The Piccadilly line goes straight to Heathrow from here. If I’m going to Gatwick, I take the Circle or District line two stops to Victoria and change for a train to the airport.
Even though my long layover in London hasn’t been an official part of my trip, I already know it will be one of the highlights. If you follow in my footsteps, I hope the same is true for you.
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