Sign in with Facebook
68 River Way, Greenwich, London, SE10 0BE, United Kingdom
Check Rates and Availability
of people enjoy staying here
30 Opinions
Interior (1)
Adam, our guide
Prime Meridian
Cutty Sark
Am posting for a friend...
I have not had a layover in Heathrow long enough to ever think about leaving the airport to know this first hand.
However, a friend of mine has a few hours and wants to exit, meet his son for a short time and return. There is no problems with customs, immigration or time.
The question is regarding departure taxes. If he has a boarding pass already in hand, will Heathrow require him to pay any additional tax to get return through security?
I've traveled some places and had no problems with this (ex. Germany, France, USA). However, there are places which require tax for entering security because the airport views that as a stop-over (ex. Japan).
I am not aware of the UK charging individuals departure taxes as they leave. Taxes are always included in ticket costs, as far as I know.
With a boarding pass in hand (and presumably hand luggage?) and assuming he has a transit visa if he needs one, all your friend has to do is go through security. I've never seen anyone paying anybody, nor facilities for doing so. He should, however, allow plenty of time for this, as Heathrow can be very busy and security queues can be very long.
Ditto! Also I have arranged to meet people at Heathrow who have come in from North America and South America, as well as China who have had some hours to kill (the longest was 12 hours) before continuing on- and they have never been required to pay anything extra. However, one of them did require a transit visa, so if your friend requires one, he should obtain one. My scenario has applied to those who have a boarding pass in hand and those who emerged with luggage and had to check-in again i.e. they didn't have a through ticket. Only criteria is to allow plenty of time for going airside again, especially if he has to change terminals.
Absolutely agree....always allow more time than you think you need for getting airside in the UK, and especially at Heathrow.
I've left Heathrow a couple of times on layovers and have not paid any kind of tax coming or going. But do tell your friend to allow a lot of time for security, as you probably already know the security lines there can be quite extensive and the airport quite large, I've had to jog through Heathrow a couple of times on short connects.
As a US citizen, I did not need a transit visa, if your friend holds another passport, you may want the have them check if they need one.
Thanks for your replies. This clears the waters nicely.
Beefeater, the medieval banquet situated at the time of King Henry VII. A unique thing to see with food and wine and entertainment for about 4 hours. it is not cheap, but it is just great! this show is located nearby the Tower of London, in the Ivory House; reservations must be made in time, because mostly it is fully booked.
The Tower bridge has lots of information and rooms to visit within the towers, as well as the view that you get from the walkways. The opening times are as follows:-
daily:- 9.30 - 18.00
Cost adult £5
child £3
website:- www.towerbridge.org.uk
Telephone:- 020 7403 3761
I went out for dinner with my good friend VT'er Jennifer while she was over here in London for 12 hours on a stop over before she went to Germany to start her vacation.
We went to Covent Garden to the Piazza Cafe for dinner.
"I don't ever wanna feel, like I felt that day, take me to the place I love, take me all the way."
If you are walking out and about around East London, you will see lots and lots of graffiti all over the place and some of it quite amazing. Remember that graffiti is art and look in admiration and see just what can be done.
Here's a little montage...
To find out what's on either get Time Out magazine, or if you're on a budget, get the Evening Standard paper on Thursdays, where they give away a free supplement, Hot Tickets, which is full of listings.
Sponsored Links
Similar to Pilot Inn
Near Pilot Inn
Cheapest in London
Great Hotels for Less
Q: First time touring my hometown "Hey guys, My girlfriend and I are planning a few days in the city. I live near the centre, but I've never really seen it..."
A: "We often take for granted the things closest to us. As a tourist I can tell you that I instantly fell in love with your city and rank London as one of 3 of my top..."
Sponsored Links
Latest London hotel reviews
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Check Rates and Availability (from our partners)
