Where to eat Heathrow? Is it cheaper to buy cognac at a duty free from the US?

Question

We've got about 3 hours to kill between flights at Heathrow from 3-6 p.m. Any good fish and chip places? Terminal 1 or 4? Any ideas on what to do with 2 kids there? Also, a friend in Austria wants a bottle of cognac. Should I buy it from the US duty free or one at Heathrow?

Answer 1

When you transfer flights at LHR (London Heathrow), you will have to go through security a second time when coming from an international origination, prior to going onward to Austria. Other than a large computer bag, there are NO carryon's allowed out of any UK airport. If you come across fromthe states with 2 carryon's, one will have to be checked onward. Keep that in mind.

With that thought, I would buy your cognac in the states, and put it in checked luggage. First, you're not going to have much carryon space if you buy at dutyfree in LHR. Second, the GBP to the US$ is about a 2:1 rate right now - so that £30 bottle is really costing you $60 US - not at all a bargain.

There are not really any proper "chip shoppes" in LHR. There are a couple of knock-off places, but nothing I would recommend.

So, bottom line:
1) Only one carryon bag going through any UK airport;
2) The GBP (£) is 2:1 to the USD ($) so anything you buy in the UK is ugly expensive;
3) The best food at the airports is not at the airports. I would suggest getting silly drunk with free samples of scotch.