"Model shops near Heathrow?" Topic

I have a 4 hour layover in Heathrow on my way to Belgium on February 1 and I was wondering if there are any models shops nearby? They need to be close enough to get to and be back in the airport in about two to two and a halve hours?

I hate sitting and waiting in airports so I rather go and pick up some goodies instead if there are any shops near enough. :-)

Cheers!

I don't think your margin is big enough for central London plus it depends on your flight times as some don't open until 11am.

I agree with DK&BD. Heathrow to central London is about an hour.

Heathrow is to the West of London, only just inside the outer London ring road, the M25. The area is really a tired suburbia and you'll not find anything in the way of model shops. As already stated, there just isn't time to head into central London and do any shopping.

I can sympathise. Airports really do amount to a whole lot of tedium.

Thanks gentlemen, I'll just find a pub then and have a good old British pint or two. :-)

Cheers

"The Aviation Hobby Shop", 4 Horton Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 8EA – ajaviation.co.uk – no miniatures in sight, just aviation stuff. Google maps reckons 16 min by road, 28 minutes by train to West Drayton, which is about 3 minutes walk from the shop.

"Addlestone Model Centre", 130 Station Rd, Addlestone KT15 2BE – addlestone-models.co.uk – has some GW, PSC stuff according to the website, but about half an hour by road.

"The Modelstore", Belmost Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1QS – modelstore.co.uk – doesn't look like anything military. 23 minutes or so by road.

This is just idle googling, no local knowledge involved. Depends what you're specifically after, but none of them look worth the trip to me.

Thanks GurKhan. Yes I agree, those do not appear to have anything that I can not easily get in Belgium too.

Next time I'll pick a flight with an 8 hour layover in Heathrow. :-)

Cheers

dark sphere wargames shop near waterloo station is about 40 mins from heathrow by train/tube . The Ian Allen military book shop ( also has some models , paints etc ) is close to DS by if u get any extra free time .

Try the Five Bells or the Crown at Harmondsworth. It's a village a couple of miles just north of Heathrow, with a 12th century church and the largest extant tithe barn in England (15th century) that will be obliterated if they decide to build another runway. Visit while you can.

I have a 4 hour layover in Heathrow on my way to Belgium

If you are transit you may well not be allowed out of the airport anyway.

The heathrow express just to get from heathrow to paddington will cost you £35.00 GBP/40 rtn.. Or £20.00 GBP for a single. It's crazy.

Compare that to New York jfk shuttle $5 USD, or Paris €9.00 EUR

Assuming you are allowed out of the airport, the Heathrow Express can get you to Paddington in about 20 – 25 mins. It is pricey though. From Paddington, there are good tube links.

EDIT: Black Scorpion beat by a minute :-(

I know it doesn't help Fonzie that much given the time factor and escaping from the airport, but many thanks Dwight for the info on Dark Sphere – I did not know it and have practically given up on retail outlets these days when I go to London.
It looks interesting to say the least!
Thank you
C

I think it's an example of one of those annoyingly long…but not quite long enough….waits between flights.

What's worse is that you cannot even find a Wargames magazine in any of the book/press stores there at Heathrow!

(…so take one from home to read to help pass the time and enjoy a pint.)

What's worse is that you cannot even find a Wargames magazine in any of the book/press stores there at Heathrow!

What! Now I'm totally depressed! I'll definitely need that pint now. :-)

Yes, I'm probably not allowed to leave the airport, did not think of that.

Thanks again gentlemen.

Fons

Even if they let you out of the airport, you'll need to allow a couple of hours to get back in again through security.

It is far cheaper to get the Underground into London than the Heathrow Express.

..that is so true Dye4 – I have lost count of the number of times in various airports where I have looked for wargaming and modelling magazines…nothing! Even in London it seems that none of the usual newsagents carry them anymore – deeply frustrating.