Visa to UK

[2BUSCTZN]

First of all...I understand this may not be the right category to ask but I think it may apply here.

I will be travelling overseas with my new US Passport and I have about 12 hrs lay over in London (Gatwick). My next flight is from Heathrow. Few questions:

(1) What can I do for the 12 hrs of lay over? Should I take a train and go to Central London? If so, what else can I do there?
(2) Where should I put my luggage? Any baggage storage areas that you know?
(3) Do I need Visa (tourist, transit)?
(4) Should I just take a transfer to Heathrow, do early check in with luggages and then go Central London?

I appreciate you answering these questions. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Vorpal]

One of the great things about carrying a U.S. passport is visa-free travel to most of the world. UK is one of those places. As long as you're there as a tourist who'll remain there for less than 6 months, you can take the train to central London, or any other place. Check here for more information:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1052.html#entry_requirements

 

[Jackolantern]

(1) What can I do for the 12 hrs of lay over? Should I take a train and go to Central London?

You can, but I would advise you not to go very far. Or preferably, don't leave the airport at all. Heathrow is a massive and busy airport, and you should expect to take 3-4 hours to go through the check-in line and security line and get to the departure gate.

I arrived there for a flight more than 3 hours before the departure time, but due to the extremely long and slow lines I still had to literally run for about 10 minutes straight after going through security and just barely made it before they closed the aircraft.

 

[Bobsmyth]

.. you should expect to take 3-4 hours to go through the check-in line and security line and get to the departure gate.

3-4 hrs for check and security?? Was this recent or during the troubled opening of terminal 5? They advertise a 10 minute wait from check in to departure :

http://www.terminal5.ba.com/us/departures/

 

[JohnnyCash]

Don't know why you think this forum is the right place to post this question because it's not since it has nothing to do with US citizenship. There are many other forums on this board to discuss all these kind of matters and you might get more feedback there than over here, like

http://boards.immigration.com/forumdisplay.php?f=16

http://boards.immigration.com/forumdisplay.php?f=70

First of all...I understand this may not be the right category to ask but I think it may apply here.

I will be travelling overseas with my new US Passport and I have about 12 hrs lay over in London (Gatwick). My next flight is from Heathrow. Few questions:

(1) What can I do for the 12 hrs of lay over? Should I take a train and go to Central London? If so, what else can I do there?
(2) Where should I put my luggage? Any baggage storage areas that you know?
(3) Do I need Visa (tourist, transit)?
(4) Should I just take a transfer to Heathrow, do early check in with luggages and then go Central London?

I appreciate you answering these questions. Thanks in advance!!