After many red-eyes into London from cities across the United States, I’ve gathered my list of favorite tips + tricks to make sure your trip starts out on a well-rested, well-navigated, and well-fed note. Consider your red-eye the first exciting day of your trip and make the best of the experience!

Booking

• Flight Options
  • When researching flights into London, book into London Heathrow (LHR), the city’s main international hub. Although London Gatwick (LGW) could be an alternative option, there are less cost + time-efficient routes into central London upon landing. More info is found in the Landing section below.
  • Plan to book a flight that leaves between 7pm-9pm in your local time zone, for your best chances of a meaningful sleep on the flight.
    • Flight dinner service concludes ~2 hours into the flight, and you will be closely aligned to your local time zone bedtime.
    • Alternatively, eat a big + healthy meal before your flight, skip the flight meal service, and plan to sleep upon boarding.
    • Depending on flight origin, you’d still be arriving in London by late morning / early afternoon, which is closer to your check-in time.

• Seat Options
  • Book on the RIGHT side of the plane. You will have the most stunning views of the London skyline when landing!
  • If traveling with a partner, book on planes that have two-seater side rows, and if traveling with a family, book on planes that have four-seater middle rows in Economy class.
    • This way, you’ll have a row to yourselves with easy access to the bathroom and extra comfort for sleeping, without jumping over strangers or strangers jumping over you!
  • Do NOT book the first or last row of a section as these seats are next to the bathroom – be prepared for people lined up next to your seat and loud flushing noises for the duration of your flight.

• Seat Upgrades:
  • Although there is nothing quite like the experience of business class or premium economy, think about how that money could be spent instead once you land.
  • If both the front and back of the plane arrive at the same time, what is the return on investment based on where you sit? Can you get a greater return by spending that money elsewhere on your trip?
    • Could you put it towards a lounge day pass at your departing airport
    • Towards booking an additional night at your accommodation to be able to land and head straight to check-in?
    • Towards a spa treatment for some rejuvenation on arrival day?
  • Remember to always check for seat upgrades at the airport – day-of upgrades can run much cheaper than booking in advance, although options can be limited.
  • Instead of booking a seat upgrade, you could offer to buy the empty seats in your row, if available, for additional space and comfort capabilities.

Flying

• Pre-Flight Downloads
  • Download the CityMapper app for best routes around London using public transportation.
    • Bonus points for mapping from the airport to your accommodation to use after landing, in case the airport WiFi does not work properly.
  • Make sure you have Apple Pay / Contactless Payment set up on your phone for easy access to public transportation (tube, busses) without tickets.
  • Note down your address while staying in the UK and passport number, for easy access.
  • If your phone is unlocked, you could buy a temporary SIM card to use while traveling. I recommend using Three, as their network works across Europe for no additional fee. You can buy a SIM at the airport or once you are in town.

• Plane Essentials:
  • Assorted small snacks to tide you over between meals or upon landing – protein bars like GoMacro and almonds can be quick, filling, and healthy.
  • Water bottle to buy or fill before boarding – water can be sparse throughout the flight outside of the meal service time frame.
  • Alcohol wipes or disinfectant wipes for wiping down the seat area and devices.
  • Comfortable eye mask like The Manta to block out cabin lights and invest in noise-canceling headphones or earplugs for cabin noise.
  • Small toiletry bag with face cleansing wipes, moisturizer, vaseline or chapstick, small toothbrush + toothpaste (these are no longer complimentary in Economy), and deodorant.
  • Compression socks to help avoid blood clots – special entry from my mom who has been nagging me for years on these!
  • Fresh pair of underwear / boxers / socks for landing.

Landing

• Border Control + Customs
  • Be prepared for some walking (around .25-.5 miles) between deplaning and border patrol. Ideally, head straight to border patrol and wait to use the bathroom/organize items until after crossing the border. This will help you beat the competing crowds, as many red-eyes arrive simultaneously.
  • With a US passport, you have access to the E-Gates, previously reserved for UK and EU residents.
    • You no longer have to fill out a landing card or talk to a border agent. Simply scan your passport! Only downside is no more Passport entry stamps.
  • Once you are through border control, you can connect to Heathrow’s free WiFi with your name and email address.

• Travel into Central London:
  • Follow signs after exiting Customs to take the Elizabeth Line into London. The Elizabeth Line is part of the London Underground and opened in May 2022.
    • You do not need to buy a ticket – just scan Apple Pay / Contactless payment!
    • Clean + safe + efficient way into the center of London, with free WiFi.
      • You do not want to waste time sitting in traffic by taking a Black Cab or Uber, especially with the morning rush-hour that usually coincides with red-eye arrivals.
    • The Elizabeth Line train runs on the same track and to the same station as the Heathrow Express (Paddington) but Heathrow Express costs 40+ GBP.
      • There will be many adverts + sales people for the Heathrow Express but DO NOT fall for them!
      • The Elizabeth Line grants broader access to London, as it stops at multiple stations with connecting Tube lines before/after Paddington.

Arrival Day Activities

• The most important tip on the day you arrive from a red-eye is to not take a nap or sleep, to best acclimate to the new time zone. How? Drop your bags, caffeinated, and WALK!
• Arrival day is the perfect day for my single favorite activity in London – a walk along the Thames. Pack comfy walking shoes and prepare for a 2-mile walk with people-watching, shopping, sightseeing, and food.
• Grab a coffee at one of the endless coffee shops around town (Caffe Nero and Pret-A-Manger are my two favorite chains) and head out for your walk.
• I recommend starting this walk at either Parliament Square (if you want to start with seeing the iconic sights of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey) or at Borough Market (if you’re going to start with lunch). If you start at Parliament Square, you will follow the Thames Path to Borough Market, and vice versa. See more info about the Thames Walk in my ‘A Perfect Day in London‘ post.
• Trade in the caffeine for a Pimm’s Cup, Cider, or Aperol Spritz in the afternoon. There are many bars + restaurants along the water with outdoor seating, especially in the summer months.

(Bonus) London Movies – to get in the mood for your trip or for a watch on the plane!

• For sightseeing London:
  • Harry Potter Series
  • James Bond Series (Daniel Craig)
  • Love Actually
  • Notting Hill
  • Paddington Bear
  • Parent Trap
  • What A Girl Wants
  • Spice World (for my millennial gals out there!)

• For historical London:
  • Cruella
  • Shakespeare in Love
  • Sherlock Holmes
  • The King’s Speech
  • The Prestige
  • Special mention for Downton Abbey and The Crown tv-shows!

Keep me posted with any questions or need any additional travel advice, reach out @ travelguideKT@gmail.com