British Isle Cruise

[UlvaZell]

We are booked on a cruise out of Southampton on July 17th. The ship begins boarding at 1 PM and departs at 5 PM. Our flight arrives at Heathrow at 7:30. Will there be enough time to do a HOHO tour of London and still make it to Southampton in time for our ships departure? If so what is the best way to get from London to Southampton?

[rsquare]

Here's my guess at a timetable:

 

7:30 Land

8:30 Clear Immigration, get baggage and clear Customs

9:00 Check baggage at Heathrow

9:30 - 10:00 Arrive in Central London by Heathrow Express (earlier time) or Underground.

 

12:00 Depart Central London for Heathrow, pick up your luggage from storage

1 pm Depart Heathrow by car service for Southampton - NO LATER!

3 - 3:30 Arrive Southampton docks and board ship

 

Most ships want to you to check in at least 90 minutes before sailing, so this is a tight schedule; a flat tire and you've missed your ship.

 

So you have two hours in Central London. I wouldn't do the Ho-Ho, but I'd select a few sights within walking distance to just get a flavor of London (I'm assuming that this is a first visit) - maybe Piccadilly Circus, then number 14 bus to Brompton Road and ask the driver to let you off near Harrods or tube to Knightsbridge and walk a few blocks to Harrods, then back to Knightsbridge tube to take a Piccadilly Line train to back to Heathrow. I think that this would take up 2 hours nicely - if you can keep from getting nervous about all of the pieces which have to fall into place for you to make your ship on time.

[SteveH2508]

1 hour from Central London to Heathrow and collecting your luggage is cutting it a bit too fine IMHO. I live near South Kensington and we allow 1.5 hours for the tube to Heathrow and getting to the right terminal.

[aquilegia]

I don't think I would risk it just for the sake of a couple of hours in London. You would be travelling into London at a busy time and, as another poster has said, any breakdowns or delays on the way to Southampton and you could miss your cruise.

[Globaliser]

We are booked on a cruise out of Southampton on July 17th. The ship begins boarding at 1 PM and departs at 5 PM. Our flight arrives at Heathrow at 7:30. Will there be enough time to do a HOHO tour of London and still make it to Southampton in time for our ships departure?

Short answer: No, there isn't - unless you really like living dangerously. Just go straight to Southampton.

[UlvaZell]

I was not sure if this was do-able, having never been to London. Thanks for all of the input...