If you have a few hours until your flight or you’re on a layover you may want to know what there is to do at Heathrow airport. In this article, we will look at some of the activities you can do to pass the time.
Dining at Heathrow Airport
When in doubt, eat.
Ok, that may be my life motto but when it comes to eating out in Airports you usually have a small choice of fast food that doesn’t taste of anything. Heathrow airport on the other hand has a lot of choices to keep you busy during your downtime.
Depending on the terminal you are travelling from will depend on the options available to you so before travelling to Heathrow airport be sure to check which terminal you are flying from and then plan accordingly.
Below are some of the restaurants in Heathrow airport. For a full list check out Heathrow’s A-Z restaurant list.
Big smoke restaurant Heathrow Airport
The first restaurant worth mentioning is the big smoke restaurant as they have a wide selection of food that should accommodate most people. Everything from pasta dishes, fish and chips to cote de boeuf steaks. They also have plenty of selection for vegans.
The big smoke restaurant is located in terminal 2 and is suitable for all ages.
Caviar House Oyster Bar Heathrow Airport
If your looking to eat something a little different before your flight why not try out the Caviar House Oyster bar in terminal 3. Oysters are not something you would usually associate yourself with at an airport but Heathrow has an Oyster restaurant so why not.
There are also quick dishes on the menu so if you are in a rush this could be the restaurant for you as they have dishes that will be served within 15 minutes of ordering.
EL&N London
If you want to eat food that looks like it has just come off the trending page on Instagram then EL&N London is the restaurant for you. Stunning dishes that taste as good as they look.
Their breakfast menu is healthy, their burgers not so much but they look stunning and taste great too. EL&N London is a restaurant that focuses on making food look nice without forgetting the taste.
I highly recommend trying the food here if you get the chance. You can look at their full menu here.
Gordon Ramsey Plane Food
Another restaurant that has a wide selection of food that will be suitable to many is Gordon Ramseys Plane food located in terminal 5. From posh mash and gravy, to Noodles and Pasta dishes there is enough here to keep everyone happy.
The restaurant also has express menu items for those dining in a rush. Where 3 courses can be served and eaten within 35 minutes.
If you do choose to eat here, don’t expect the restaurant to be like any of Gordon’s Michelin star restaurants, but for a quick bite to eat it’s more than suitable.
Relax in a lounge
The airport lounges in Heathrow are accessible to all for a small fee. If you find the airport chairs uncomfortable and Heathrow to be a little too noisy then an airport lounge is just what you need.
There are many lounges around Heathrow, so do your research and pre-book one before travelling. Heathrow even has spa facilities in terminal 5 which help you pass the time and take away all the stress of travelling. a 15-minute massage can cost £30 so although not cheap, still a nice option to have.
The normal lounges will allow you comfier seats and access to all-day menus that are cooked to order. We would recommend relaxing in a lounge if you do have time to spare.
Shopping at Heathrow Airport
You could spend an entire day going through the shops at Heathrow airport and there’s something for everyone here. You can find designer brands such as Burberry, Cartier, Dior, Fendi and so much more in Heathrow Airport, just be sure not to lose track of time and miss your flight.
If designer shops aren’t your cup of tea then you can take your time in the World of Whiskies shop or there are plenty of book shops scattered around the various terminals at Heathrow.
Head into London
London is an amazing city with lots of sights to see. If your flight has a layover of 6 or more hours then I’d highly recommend checking out what London has to offer. You can get a Heathrow airport taxi to the city centre for maximum convenience or you can use the tube or Heathrow Express which is a little cheaper but will take longer to reach the centre.
When in London you can probably find anything you want to do. Everything from taking part in a Harry Potter experience to taking a city tour.
When you have finished sightseeing in London you can set a return private airport transfer and make your way back to Heathrow without too much bother or fuss.
Visit a coffee shop and use the Wi-Fi
After checking in you may only have an hour or two to make it to your departure gate, if this is the case you may want to just sit back in a coffee shop and relax. Heathrow has a range of coffee shops including:
- Caffe Nero
- Costa
- Starbucks
All of these coffee shops are scattered through the various terminals so you should be able to find at least one that has space for you to chill for an hour or two.
Final thoughts
Being stuck in an airport for a long layover or simply waiting until your flight can be dull. Thankfully Heathrow has plenty of things to do within it and some of the places above are how we have kept busy on our flights. If you have any other tips on activities or things to do in Heathrow Airport please let us know and we can add them to this list.