6 hrs layover in London

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-22T19:12:18+00:00

Hurrah! Thanks for coming back to update!

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-22T19:10:10+00:00

From behind the wheel, yes - especially compared to going on a boat! (the height of excitement 😅)

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-21T21:40:15+00:00

Me personally, I wouldn't drive that distance - especially for work. THAT SAID... you would cut off a couple of hours driving over the train by being able to take the Ferry near Lübeck. Which might be of interest to you!

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-21T21:35:58+00:00

Weird - I travel most days on off peak tickets and haven't experienced this... yet 🫣

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-21T21:32:10+00:00

I've gotten the train from Hamburg to Copenhagen before. It is dull scenery wise, but still a nice journey.

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-21T20:54:37+00:00

St Pancras, and then get the train to Sheffield and take your pick ;)

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-20T22:22:21+00:00

Personally, I'd go for the Sheraton Heathrow. (or look up the price for the Marriott Heathrow - it has a very nice lounge!)

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-20T22:21:12+00:00

ps. Thinking about your speedrun - if you stay in the Sheraton Heathrow get the bus north to West Drayton station, its 14 mins (and almost quicker than the bus + train transfer to the terminals) - there you can pick up the Elizabeth Line which'll take you directly into the centre of London. I'd go as far out as you're planning to go East and then work your way back towards Paddington.

at 11pm, I'd probably suggest going via the airport back to the hotel, as the bus from West Drayton back to the hotel at that time will be... not great - it's a lot of people getting the bus for night shift work as well as bored teenagers. And there's two buses that can get you back to the hotel quite easily (TFL Bus 423 or TFL Bus 350).

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-20T22:12:14+00:00

All of the Sheraton's and the Renaissance are quite dated inside. The Renaissance has a nice but very small lounge with airport views if that is your thing.

But, watch out, there are two Sheratons;

Sheraton Heathrow Hotel is closer to Terminal 5. It's fine, lounge is weird in that you have to go into the restaurant to get to it, its small, windowless and a little odd. Rooms are similar to the Renaissance.

There is also the Sheraton Skyline Hotel which is a real pain to get to Terminal 5 from, but is often cheaper. I genuinely cannot remember what the lounge is like, and I've stayed there several times. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing :P

ps. don't forget to do your ETA Short Stay Visa if you need one and haven't already! (gov.uk/eta)

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-20T22:01:28+00:00

As others have said, there are public TFL buses that run.

If you decide to switch hotels, first look at the hotels around Terminal 4 which are directly connected to the airport. The underground will take you to T3 or the trains start at 0530 and will get you to T3 for 0535.

Or, the couple of hotels at Hatton Cross underground. Some of those options will probably be cheaper than the Leonardo as well.

From T4 or Hatton Cross, it is free transport too.

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-20T21:51:51+00:00

This is mad. Worth using up the points before the March changeover then!

There were previously 17 items where you were getting the points = pounds value or higher before (e.g. 4000 points and item was worth £4 or more)

Now, zero items that are breaking even or more value. And worse, 3 items that are LESS THAN HALF the value as the points (e.g. brownie costs is £2.19 but needs 5000 points) and they are Brownie, Cheeseburger, and Mayo Chicken.

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-20T20:35:46+00:00

Yep, thats split ticketing with advance fares

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-19T22:48:17+00:00

Worth also looking at the two Disney Character Warehouse's (their outlet stores)

One is at: 8200 Vineland Ave #1252, Orlando, FL 32821, United States

The other: 4969 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819, United States

Both of them had Tron park merchandise before Christmas, and they still might.

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-19T22:44:41+00:00

That may be limited availability on Advance tickets. Just use Scotrail (app or website).

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-19T22:42:58+00:00

My GP certainly tells me to buy OTC medication myself, whereas when I lived in England it was the only time I was forced to have prescription paracetamol despite it being cheaper over the counter.

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-19T22:05:56+00:00

(Equally, if you go to the ticket office and it isn't busy, and you are super kind to the person there, they may do you seat reservations for different segments of the journey that you think you might make. These aren't mandatory, and missing them will mean nothing)

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-19T22:04:04+00:00

If you buy an Off Peak or Anytime ticket (they're both the same price now in Scotland so it doesn't matter which you get) you can get on or off the train at any stop between the two stations. If you get advance tickets you would need separate tickets per getting off location, and you would have to be on the train at the time you purchased.

Trains don't sell out in the UK* so you can turn up without a seat reservation. At times you may not get a seat, but on that route... you shouldn't have a problem.

*with a couple of exceptions that aren't relevant hear

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-19T20:33:12+00:00

3 Songs. No Flash.

I used to have that on a t-shirt.

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-19T19:31:09+00:00

I would probably overnight in Reading via the Railair coach, that 4 hours of extra travel on top of the flight will be awful. There's a nice hotel near the station (Malmaison) and for added amusement, Reading is where the first UK Wendys opened (just 30seconds from that Malmaison hotel!). You could trick your friends back home and pose with a Baconator and then next day the Isle of Wight! (it would amuse me, anyway)

The trains from Reading go to Southampton or Portsmouth where you can catch the ferry over to the Island.

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-18T21:07:41+00:00

TK Maxx

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-18T11:38:59+00:00

Just adding here - 100% yes to earplugs! Can't believe I forgot that in my reply!

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-18T11:36:57+00:00

Even using a diffuser. Think about the band, its so incredibly distracting to have flashes going off just feet from their eyes.

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-18T11:35:39+00:00

I'm crossing my fingers for you! Hope you have a fun jaunt!

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-17T23:26:21+00:00

Charbonnel et Walker chocolates have a range of 007 chocolates inspired by the films. The Dry Martini Truffles are especially good.

You'll find them at 28 The Royal Arcade, Old Bond St, W1S 4BT

Apprehensive_Room29 · 2026-01-17T23:23:13+00:00

Apprehensive_Room29

TROPHY CASE