Heathrow Layover: Can You Leave the Airport? Windsor and London on a Long Connection
A long connection at Heathrow does not have to mean hours in the departure lounge. Windsor, with its castle and riverside, is only about 25 minutes away by car, and central London is under an hour in normal traffic. Here is how to tell whether you have time, what you need to leave the airport, and how to plan it.
Can you leave Heathrow during a layover?
To leave the airport you have to pass through UK border control, so you need to be allowed to enter the UK. Depending on your nationality that may mean a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Passengers who stay airside and do not pass border control have different rules. Check the current requirements for your passport on GOV.UK before you travel – they change, and the airline will expect you to have the right permission.
How much time do you need?
Work backwards from your onward flight:
- Be back at the terminal about three hours before a long-haul departure and two hours before a European one.
- Allow about an hour after landing for passport control.
- Add the drive each way: about 25 minutes to Windsor, or 45 to 75 minutes to central London.
As a rough guide, a connection of seven hours or more leaves time for a couple of hours in Windsor. For central London, eight to nine hours is more comfortable, because traffic in the centre is less predictable.
Option 1: Windsor
Windsor is the easiest layover trip from Heathrow. The drive is short and avoids central London traffic, and the town is compact: the castle, the high street and the River Thames are all within a short walk. A private transfer from Heathrow to Windsor starts from about £34 in an Economy Sedan for up to four passengers.
Option 2: central London
With more time, you can see Westminster, Buckingham Palace or the South Bank. A sedan from Heathrow to Westminster starts from about £46. Choose a pickup point for the return that is easy for a car to reach, and leave a margin for traffic.
How to book it
We book journeys rather than hours. Book Heathrow to Windsor (or central London) as your outward journey and choose Return with the time you want to be collected – both legs are paid together, and the way back is 10% cheaper. Add your arrival flight number: the driver follows the flight and waits in arrivals with your name on a sign, and the first 60 minutes after landing are free.
What about your luggage?
If your bags are checked through to your final destination, you only carry your hand luggage. If not, the driver can keep it in the car during the trip, or you can use the left-luggage services in the terminals.
A sample seven-hour layover
- 08:00 – land at Heathrow
- 09:00 – through passport control, meet your driver
- 09:30 – arrive in Windsor
- 12:00 – pickup in Windsor
- 12:30 – back at Heathrow, three hours before a 15:30 long-haul departure
Get your fixed price – enter your pickup, destination, date and time and every vehicle is priced in seconds. The price you see is the price you pay.
See also: day trips with a driver, Heathrow transfers and the Heathrow terminal pickup guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave Heathrow on a layover?
Only if you are allowed to enter the UK, because you must pass border control. Depending on your nationality you may need a visa or an ETA; check GOV.UK before you travel.
How long a layover do I need to visit Windsor?
About seven hours or more, so you can be back at the terminal three hours before a long-haul flight.
How far is Windsor from Heathrow?
About 25 minutes by car. A private transfer starts from about £34 for up to four passengers.
Can the driver keep my luggage?
Yes, bags can stay in the car during the trip, or you can use the left-luggage services in the terminals.
