Layover at London Heathrow
Everything you need to decide whether to leave the airport on a layover in London.
City centre
15 min away
Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express to central London
Min connection
~75 min to change flights
Left luggage
Available — drop your bags and explore.
Round trip
≈ 30 min there and back
London Heathrow to central London — about 15 min min each way. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Is it worth leaving?
As a rule of thumb, allow your round trip (about 30 minutes here) plus two hours for security and immigration on the way back. With a 6-hour layover or more you can comfortably reach London and back. With less, you're better off staying airside.
The Elizabeth line is the cheapest fast route into town; the Express is quickest to Paddington.
Before you leave — check you can
Whether you can pass immigration on a layover depends on your nationality and the country's transit rules, not just your time. Always confirm with the official source for your passport before you plan to leave: UK FCDO travel advice and the United Kingdom guide.