Top 10 Things to do near London Heathrow Airport


 

No one likes a long layover – being stuck in an airport overnight or an entire day can play tricks on your mind. However, when on a full-day layover at Heathrow Airport, you’ll be thrilled to know that there are many places to go and things to do in the area to keep your mind occupied. 

Despite not being in the most scenic of places when compared to the rest of England’s capital, Heathrow has a lot to offer. Let’s check out the top 10 things to do near London Heathrow Airport to keep you busy during the 23-hour Ryanair layover. 

10. Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle Upper Ward – By Diliff, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Starting our list we have one of the most recognizable and beautiful historical buildings in the entire country – Windsor Castle. One of the most famous residences in history, this British landmark is the largest inhabited castle in the entire world. Trying to sneak a peak in the windows to get a look at Queen Elizabeth II? You’ll know she is currently residing at the castle when the Royal Standard flag is flying high in the windy English sky.

Driving here in a rental car is a less-than 20 minute drive from Heathrow Airport, while taking public transportation is slightly longer, coming in at just under 1 hour. You can take the bus to Hayes and Harlington, catch the train to Slough, and then ride one more bus to Parish Church. 

9. Twickenham Stadium

Twickenham Stadium – By brewbooks from near Seattle, USA; cropped by Blackcat, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Rugby fan? So is everyone else in the United Kingdom. Twickenham is the home ground of the infamous 2015 Rugby World Cup Final, a dramatic duel between long-term rivals New Zealand and Australia. Not only was the final played here, but England plays their home matches here, along with Six Nations matches, a famous competition featuring England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

This south-western London institution is the world’s largest rugby specific stadium, being the second largest stadium behind Wembley in the UK. If you’re a music lover and find yourself on a concert date, you may be lucky enough to catch the acts of famous artists like Rihanna, Beyonce, The Police, or Lady Gaga.

Getting here is a breeze from Heathrow – the closest train station is Twickenham, just a 5-minute ride from the nearby Feltham station by the airport. 

8. Ham House

This infamous historic building is a Grade-1 listed property just beside the River Thames. With construction completed in the early 17th century, it is surrounded by beautiful parks, gardens, and blue skies. 

You can easily get to this National Trust space by taking the X26 bus to Cromwell Road Bus Station, and then switching to the 371 bus to Ham Street, getting you to the beautiful gardens in just under an hour. If you have a car, or want to splurge on a London black cab, you can expect the ride to take just under 30 minutes. 

7. Hounslow Urban Farm

House in St Margarets – By Maxwell Hamilton, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Trying to catch some fresh air during a full-day layover? We don’t blame you – the English blue skies don’t last too long, so catch them while you can. We recommend checking out Hounslow Urban Farm – also known as London’s “Favourite Interactive Farm.”

Located in Feltham, this is a great place to bring young kids, hangout with the farm animals, and get a feel for the traditional English countryside. 

The best part? The location. Get this – it is nearly across the street from the airport. Just a 2 minute drive from Heathrow, or a 10 minute walk, this farm is a great choice for a half-day or full-day layover.

6. Grab a pint at The Swan

Swan Inn Denham – By Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

If you are only touching down in England for a few hours, the first thing on your mind is quite possibly a pint. The UK is known for their pubs, their drinks, and their classic ales and stouts. If you’re looking for a traditional pub near Heathrow, head to The Swan in Denham. 

A charming village that looks like something out of the countryside, instead of a London suburb, we love that Denham keeps an old-town feel so close to the airport. 

Getting here in a car is a breeze – hop in a rental and speed just 15 mins on the M25. If you are taking public transport,  catch the A10 bus to Belmont Road, and then switch to the 331 towards Ruislip. In just 50 minutes you will be sipping on a pint of Smithwick’s. 

5. Visit the River Thames

By Ввласенко – Wikimedia

The River Thames is quite possibly one of the most famous bodies of water in the entire world. The best way to see it is by meandering between villages along the waterfront, taking in the relaxed atmosphere and listening to the flowing water.

Don’t know what village to explore? Try Datchet, Marlow, or Bray. Any one of these is a great choice for a half-day option – if you would rather stay overnight in one of these charming spots, we recommend staying over in Marlow at one of the many accommodation options. 

To get to Datchet, all you have to do is take the 285 bus to Feltham, and then hop on the train to Datchet, taking all of 40 minutes from the bustling Heathrow Airport. 

4. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

Palm House Royal Botanic Gardens Kew – By CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67704

If you want to take a leisurely stroll in a beautiful place, Kew Gardens is home to the world’s largest collection of living plants. First built in the mid-19th century, it has since become the home for over 30,000 kinds of plants. The beauty and magnitude of this collection has given these gardens a spot on the World Heritage Sites list, making this a fabulous spot for a sunny day in Heathrow.

If you have a car, you can drive here in about 20 minutes on the A4. If you are trying to save money and forego the rental car, you can take the tube to South Ealing Station, and then catch the 65 bus towards Kingston, getting off at the Kew Road Victoria Gate. This trip is only 40 minutes from the ever-busy airport, giving you a great spot to relax and recover from a long travel day.

#3-#1 Things to Do

Queen’s Head pub – By WisDom-UK, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Okay, so we have listed the top things to do around Heathrow Airport – and our top 3 on the list? You guessed it – all pubs and restaurants. 

First up, we have The Pheasant Inn & Restaurant Heathrow. This is one of the best pubs in the entire area, with an unassuming exterior, traditional and tasty food, and perfectly-poured ales. Getting here is a breeze – hail a taxi for a 4-minute ride, or even go on foot in just 10 minutes. 

Next, another popular nearby spot is The Queen’s Head. This traditional, 17-century pub serves hearty British fare in the nearby area of Cranford, just a 5 minute drive from Heathrow.

Lastly, check out the Golden Cross if you want a more modern choice. This establishment serves up comfort food, strong cocktails, and great patio views over the Waysbury Reservoir.

Think having a full-day layover in Heathrow is boring? Think again!

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