Has anyone traveled between London and the US lately?

S

Shelbygirl

Cathlete
I'm leaving for London tomorrow night for a long weekend and was wondering, given the current security situation, about how long prior to flight time should I arrive at the airport? Also, does anyone know the best way (and by best way, I mean least hassle, not necessarily least expensive) to get from Heathrow Airport to London's West End (I'm staying in the St. James area).

Thanks for any information you might have.
Shelbygirl
 
Hi Shelbygirl
I flew from Toronto to London the day of the terrorist incident. I got to the airport about 4 hours early,and needed it! Now it may be worse for you travelling from the US into London.
Coming from London home last Sunday was worse. We were heat x-rayed, shoes off, photo before getting on the plane...we were also there about 4 hours before take off.
So my suggestion is, dont pack anything really in your carry-on, no liquids or gels like toothpaste or lip balm, they will ask you to toss it!
Getting from Heathrow to West London is easy, Heathrow is on the tube line, so just get out at the tube station, grab a free map, and know which tube stop you need to get off at, and you're there! You can buy a weekly tube pass, for about 25pounds, depending where you want to go in London, zone 1-2 is central. 3-4 are further out.
Does that help?
Steph
 
Thanks, Stephanie, for the info. Yikes, four hours at the airport. I was only planning on three. I'll have to re-think my schedule. Here in the US it will be a holiday weekend, so that will make traffic to the Philly airport and the search for a parking spot that much more difficult. Did you just get back this past Sunday? That should be an accurate gauge of the current conditions then.

Thanks again,
Shelbygirl
 
The Heathrow Express is a quicker way into central London, rather than the Tube. Heathrow Express is direct to London Paddington station, then just get on the tube. You'll have to change lines at least once either way (Express or regular Tube,) but the maps are pretty easy to figure out.

Try this website:
www.tubeplanner.com

Here is the main BAA (British Airport Authority) website for Heathrow:
http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/site/default/menuitem.4517d813aa7e351588a5e186c02865a0/

Check that website out for info about arriving and departing from Heathrow. Also, check your airline's website - they should have info about flying into the UK, as there are a lot of restrictions now.

Have fun! Will you be in London for business or pleasure?
 
RE: Has anyone traveled between London and the US latel...

Hi Stephanie.

Thanks for the website links. My husband and I, along with another couple, are going purely for pleasure this time time around. I'll be very glad when we get there, that's for sure!

Here's a dumb question for you. Is it acceptable to wear jeans in London? I was in Paris last year, and Rome/Florence the year before that, and I didn't even consider bringing jeans (and a good thing too since it seemed that no one wore any). I don't want to stand out as an underdressed tourist in London either, but if jeans are acceptable, I'd love to bring a pair.

Thanks,
Shelbygirl
 
RE: Has anyone traveled between London and the US latel...

The last time I was in London, about a year ago, most women dressed fashionably--lots of black and scarves, scarves, and more scarves. You didn't see a lot of jeans unless they were NICE jeans. I noticed a lot of suits with skirts or slacks, but not many dresses. HTH
 
RE: Has anyone traveled between London and the US latel...

Hi Shelbygirl!

Jeans are quite acceptable in London, if they are 'nice' jeans. That's my opinion, though - I see a lot of scruffy jeans in London, but I don't like that look.:) I wear jeans and boots or heels a lot in the city. It's pretty much the 'uniform' of women from their 20s through 40s and beyond! People dress up much more in Paris and Italy, in my experience.

The thing that screams 'American tourist' is jeans, t-shirts, baseball caps, and white athletic shoes/running shoes, all worn together. And if it's hot, then gym shorts w/ the above outfit. So, if you wore jeans, some boots or nice shoes (walking shoes are fine, just maybe not your running shoes) and a smart jacket you'll fit right in! Bring a scarf or pashmina - if it's damp at all you'll want something to wrap around your throat. I wear scarves year round except in summer. I've collected quite a lot since moving here, LOL!

OK, maybe more info than you wanted.:D I'm sure you'll look great and have a super time! Anything in particular you will be seeing? Send me an e-mail if you like ([email protected]) and I can send you tons of links to a lot of the tourist sights.
 
RE: Has anyone traveled between London and the US latel...

Hello:) I would give yourself 4 hours at Heathrow to check in. I would also check out the rules for travel fromthe UK to the US - I think that they may be different for each leg of your journey. The expat forum posted this a few weeks ago:

http://www.baa.com/assets/B2CPortal/Static Files/hand_baggage_21Aug.pdf

Jeans are acceptable in London if they are nice and Stephl is right about that being the uniform for women in London. However, I would say that nice sneakers/tennis shoes are fine too if they are somewhat fashionable. Pounding the pavement in heels can be painful. I am not sure if these are popular in the US - I haven't been back in 3 yrs. The sort of retro looking or ultra-modern sleekly styles ones that are colored.
It should be chilly this weekend, so I wouldn't bother with shorts. (just an aside: Brits strangely believe that women over 25 shouldn't wear them - and although it was over 90 this summer I couldn't find any in any of the shops) Americans do tend to stick out in London by their mode of dress.

I hope that you have a great time here.

Annie (american expat in the UK)
 
RE: Has anyone traveled between London and the US latel...

Annie- I know the type of sneaker you mean -- I saw a lot of people in Europe the past couple of summers (guys and girls, mostly younger) wearing either retro-style sneakers or "sport casual" sneakers, like the Puma Speedcat. I agree that jeans are fine, and you don't have to wear the killer heels that European women seem to love. I think the key is just never to look sloppy when you leave the house. We are definitely much more casual here.
 
Thanks for all the tips and web links, everyone. You all helped me a lot with my packing. I think I'm in compliance with my carry one. I decided to just bring a brief case. It doesn't hold much, but it fits the measurements nicely. Now, I'm just watching the clock until I can leave work. After that, I'm headed straight for the airport. Looks like I'll be missing the details in Drill Max. At least I'll have that to look forward to when I get back!

Take Care,
Shelbygirl
 
RE: Has anyone traveled between London and the US latel...

Oh yeah, the fashiony/euro style trainers are totally cool! Just not bright white.}(

Annie, nice to see another American expat! How long have you been in the UK? Are you a permanent expat, or will you move back to the States sometime? We've been here 4 years and are getting ready to move back this autumn. It's been great - I know I'm going to miss it!
 
RE: Has anyone traveled between London and the US latel...

Ah yes, the tell-tale white sneakers! :)

>Oh yeah, the fashiony/euro style trainers are totally cool!
>Just not bright white.}(
>
 
RE: Has anyone traveled between London and the US latel...

Funny to see another expat here! I've been here nearly 5 yrs - sort of permanently, I married a British man. We've talked about moving back, and probably will do that someday, and then move back here. Who knows:) I would miss the UK as well - but I also miss life in the states sometimes too.
 
RE: Has anyone traveled between London and the US latel...

lol - now I wear my white new balance sneakers when I workout to Cathe ...but when I go out on the town, I usually wear my euro-style sneakers.;) or sometimes black boots - just not in London b/c they kill my feet.
 
RE: Has anyone traveled between London and the US latel...

>Funny to see another expat here! I've been here nearly 5 yrs
>- sort of permanently, I married a British man. We've talked
>about moving back, and probably will do that someday, and then
>move back here. Who knows:) I would miss the UK as well -
>but I also miss life in the states sometimes too.

Aaah, you have a mixed-marriage!;-) We are just three Americans who thought it'd be fun to live in the UK for a few years. It's been a great experience!
 
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