The first phase of London Heathrow’s £2.5 billion new terminal will open in 2014, and will be able to handle up to 20 million passengers a year.

The new terminal, which is part of a larger initiative of an over  £4 million package, which will connect London Heathrow with European and Asian hubs.

The new terminal will increase the amount of passengers who spend layovers at London Heathrow, which is one of the top stopover destinations.  Travelers are able to take advantage of Heathrow’s top notch facilities during their layovers including lounges, restaurants, and Heathrow airport hotels.

The new Terminal 2 will be rolled out in two stages – the first, will be the re-building of the previous terminal 2, which is scheduled to open in 2014.

The second stage will be an extension of the previous terminal, including new facilities and an additional satellite building, which will increase the amount of passengers by another 10 million a year. Completion date for this stage has not been announced.

Click here for the full Layover Guide to London Heathrow!

Stuck on a London layover at Heathrow International airport? London’s Heathrow airport is one of the busiest airports in the world and is located roughly 15 miles from London’s city center, making it an accessible destination for those who are stuck on long layovers. If you’re trying to decide whether you can leave the airport on your Heathrow layover, click here for useful tips.

If you’re stuck inside the airport during your London layover, Heathrow provides a number of services and activities that can help your layover become a short vacation in itself. Here are some of the various shops and facilities available, listed by terminal, to keep you busy during your wait. To aid with shopping, passengers can hire Personal Shopping Consultants, who can be distinguished by their green uniforms (to book a shopping consultant, call 0870 850 2825 (UK) or +44 (0)121 410 5105). In addition to duty free and regular shopping, there are also many restaurants ranging from fine dining to quick snacks to choose from during your Heathrow layover. Here are the various bars and restaurants options at the airport.

CLICK HERE for London Layover Tours (straight from the airport)!

A number of executive lounges are available at the Heathrow airport (at Terminal 1,3,4,5). The lounges offer a range of beers, complimentary Wi-Fi and other standard facilities. You can book these lounges from here. The price starts from £17.95. In case you need special care assistance, contact +44 (0)844 335 1801 for general advice and information.

The Molton Brown Travel Spa is located in British Airways Terminal 1 and Terminal 4 Departures Lounges at Heathrow Airport. The spa offers a variety of services including massages, hydrotherapy showers, circulation and reflex therapies, and is an ideal way to relax during your Heathrow layover.

If you are looking to exchange the currency, Foreign Exchanges and ATMs are available at all the terminals (click here for their locations). In addition, the airport has many prayer rooms available including Catholic, Free Church, Anglican, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh chaplains. They can all be contacted through the airport information desks within the terminals and you can find more information here.

For passengers who arrive at night or are looking to relax, the Hilton London Heathrow Airport hotel is located across the covered walkway linked to Terminal Four, and the Sofitel London Heathrow is also connected via a covered walkway to Terminal Five. In addition there are many hotels near the Heathrow airport. Click here for London hotels at varying price points.

CLICK HERE for London’s Best Restaurants!

A number of companies offer Layover Tours that can pick you up directly from the airport, hassle free, take you where you’re interested in visiting and return you to the airport in time to catch your connecting flight. Find out more information on these London Layover Tours here.

If you’re looking to ditch your luggage during your Heathrow layover, Left Luggage facilities are available at all the terminals. The Left Luggage service charges £4 per item for 24 hours. For their hours of operation and location, click here.

Taxis are available outside the airport for quick transport, and there are also car rental companies onsite. Direct booking can be found here. Heathrow airport is also well connected with public transportation. While taking the London Underground is the cheapest way to get into London, it can take up to an hour each way. If you’re strapped for time, the London Heathrow Express train can get you into London for as little as 15 minutes. Click here to figure out the best way to travel into the city during your London layover.

LayoverGuide.com’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On A Heathrow Layover:

Sightseeing Bus

The hop-on, hop-off bus gives a commentary of the sights as you pass them. Tickets can be purchased right on the bus or online. You can “hop on” at Paddington station, and “hop off” wherever you choose. It swings back around to Paddington, if that’s all the time you have, to get back to the airport.

Tower of London

At The Tower of London, you’ll find torture exhibits as well as the famous Crown Jewels which including 530 carat Star at the Jewel House. Beefeaters, who are the walking tour guides, lead the hour-long tours every hour until 3:30p.m.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, home to the British monarch, is another favorite sightseeing spot for those with only a short time in London. Victoria, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner are the closest Tube stations. Also, you can catch the changing of the guard, but should check ahead for the schedule as it does not happen every day.

Westminster Abbey and Big Ben

Exit the tube at the Westminster stop. You will first see Big Ben and further down the street Westminster Abbey, where Chaucer, Samuel Johnson, Tennyson, Browning, and Dickens are all buried here.

Cabinet War Rooms

Close to the Abby, you can see the actual underground bunker Winston Churchill used during World War II. Everything there from the wall maps, to Churchill’s cot are authentic.

Windsor Castle

Take a taxi or bus 77 from Heathrow to Windsor Castle in about 40 minutes. The 900-year-old castle is an official residence of The Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world.

Thorpe Palace

Thorpe Park is London’s most popular attractions and theme parks. It opened as a water park in 1970 however more thrill rides were added later. The park is around 5.1 miles from the airport and thus, close for a quick trip during a London layover.

None of these activities interest you? Here’s a list of more suggestions of places you can visit during London layover at the Heathrow airport.

Have a suggestion for a London Heathrow layover? Leave a comment below!

Jennifer Aniston and her new beau Justin Theroux enjoyed a night out at the Shoreditch House while the actress was in London promoting her new film, Horrible Bosses, according to Just Jared.

The Shoreditch House is a private club located in Shoreditch, East London, which is roughly a ten-minute walk from Liverpool Street Station.

Located in London’s East End on the top three floors and roof of a renovated warehouse, the Shoreditch House has a rooftop pool, bar, kitchen and lounge.  The lounge is located next to the outdoor pool and open fire area, serving breakfast from 7am to noon and the all-day menu from noon to 11p.m. Members can use the pool until noon daily.

CLICK HERE for the full Layover Guide to London

Behind the pool, there is a outdoor garden area with open fires, a herb garden, and tables for members to dine. There is also the “Lazy Lawn” – a collection of large outdoor sunbeds – where guests can relax.

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In addition, there is also the Square Bar located on the fifth floor and the Biscuit Tin bar area on the fourth floor.

For rates and membership information to the Shoreditch House, visit their membership page. To reach Shoreditch House, you can take the London tube, a taxi or check out London’s cheap car rental.

CLICK HERE for London’s Best Restaurants!

Jennifer Aniston attended the U.K. premiere to her new comedy, Horrible Bosses, on Wednesday night. The movie, which also stars Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, and Colin Farrell earned $17.5 million this past weekend.

Not everyone on a London layover can afford to dine in one of the top London restaurants like The Ivy or Gordon Ramsay restaurant.

But after booking a stay at one of London hotels, you’re looking for a good meal at a reasonable price, then there are a number of good casual dining options.

There are four Aberdeen Steak House restaurants in central London, including one between Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, which is very handy for West End theatres and just around the corner from the Comedy Store. You will rarely find one of them empty as they have gained something of a reputation for good steaks and quick service.

Café Rouge has more than 100 locations across the UK, with many in good locations in London. They serve mainly French cuisine, as the name suggests, and the wines on offer are all from France. They also offer an all-day serving of main courses as well as lighter snacks and salads.

If you fancy something from the east, more commonly found in Dubai Hotels than their London equivalents, a number of Wagamama’s 66 UK-based restaurants are in London. Wagamama, which must be one of the easiest restaurant to text (try it!) serves pan-Asian food in the style of a modern Japanese Ramen bar. Their philosophy, as defined by the company, is “combining fresh and nutritious food in an elegant yet simple setting with helpful, friendly service and value for money.”

One of the features of Wagamama that is also adopted by another of the London restaurants chain, Belgo, is to seat customers on either side of large tables, seating as many as 20 people at a table. Belgo specialises in Belgian cooking and beer, and has locations in Covent Garden, Chalk Farm Road, Clapham and Kingsway.

CLICK HERE for the full Layover Guide to Heathrow, London

The royal couple is reportedly jetting off to the North Island of the Seychelles for their honeymoon, and they are doing it in style – by renting an entire island for themselves!

“Yes, we rented the island to the British royal family,” the owner, Farhad Vladi, told a Hamburg newspaper. “Prince William and his Kate are spending their honeymoon there. But you will understand that we are not saying anything further.”

The Seychelles are an archipelago located in the Indian Ocean, east of Africa, popular for its beaches, snorkeling and scuba diving, and its luxurious five star resorts (which can be found here).

William and Kate’s secured honeymoon island comprises of 600 acres, 11 luxurious villas with plunge pools, bar and restaurant, and more, according to the island’s website.

A typical per person per night in a villa at the resort costs a royal 2,115 Euros.

You’re stuck on a London Layover and have booked your London Hotels and sorted out your list of activities. But if you are a vegetarian or vegan, where are you going to eat out? London more than caters for those who prefer not to eat meat, and Layover Guide lists London’s five best vegetarian restaurants:

Tibits

14-18 Heddon Street

City of London, Greater London W1B 4DA

As the young, spirited offspring of Europe’s oldest vegetarian restaurant – the 100-year-old Hiltl of Zurich – Tibits certainly has great pedigree. It offers a variety of dishes citing Asian, Indian and Mediterranean cuisines combining the traditional methods of its elder relative but with a modern twist. The emphasis here is on producing meals that are good for you. It is a buffet style restaurant that allows you to choose your dishes before buying according to its weight. But Tibits isn’t your bog standard all-you-can-eat affair. Its classy yet comfortable and chilled out environment means it caters for a variety of diners but who seek food that is fresh, innovative and above all – healthy.

Food For Thought

31 Neal Street

Covent Garden, London WC2H 9PR

While many vegetarian restaurants are seeking to move away from the ‘hippy’ image of days gone by with sleek modern settings, Food For Thought has chosen to stay like it seemingly always has been. This basement café is perhaps easy to miss hidden amongst the trendy coffee stores of Covent Garden but once inside its ramshackle yet homely appearance instantly transports you away from the buzzing metropolis to a farm kitchen from yesteryear. If you want privacy though this may not be your cup of tea, their isn’t much space so be prepared to share your table at busy times. The well-prepared food served by seemingly endlessly busy staff more than makes up for it.

CLICK HERE for London Heathrow’s Layover Guide

CLICK HERE for London’s Best Restaurants

The Gate

51 Queen Caroline Street,

Hammersmith, W6 9QL

The Gate has a school dinner hall vibe, with tall ceilings towering above endless rows of tables and chairs may mean first impressions aren’t always the greatest, but that belies an excellent eatery serving high class food. Generous portion sizes of food ranging from Thai salads to Mediterranean vegetables with Middle Eastern platters plucked straight from the finest Dubai Hotels in between, you can get the full range of vegetarian food here at reasonable prices.

Blah Blah Blah

78 Goldhawk Road

Shepherd’s Bush, London, W12 8HA

Even the name Blah Blah Blah suggests is going to be a different eating experience. A warm welcome by the cheery staff greets you here and seats you at your table amongst the rightly coloured walls, beaming spotlights and ornate ironwork. On to the eating and a wide variety of tasty home-cooked style food will please even meat-eaters and the BYO alcohol rule (with compulsory – if small – corkage charge) means you can save more cash to splash out on a dessert.

222 Veggie Vegan Restaurant

222 North End Road

West Kensington, London W14 9NU

While there has been an explosion of vegetarian restaurants in recent years, vegans often struggle to find places to eat out. Thankfully, 222 offers tasty vegan meals that are just as good as their meat or dairy equivalents. It may take some finding as it is hidden away on a Kensington back street but once found, this restaurant’s simple surroundings and basic but tasty menu more than does the job. Desserts are a particular highlight with non-dairy ice cream, wheat free apple crumble and tofu cheesecake.

Given it is one of the biggest cities in Europe and also one of the most cosmopolitan, it is safe to say that London has its fair share of excellent restaurants. But with so much variety it is almost impossible to pick five that are better than the rest – and a lot would depend on your mood, tastes and budget. Layover Guide has, however, chosen our top picks of London’s best restaurants according to the type of food and the price, including authentic Indian fare, meals that would not look out of place at the most luxurious Dubai hotels and healthy alternatives to a McDonalds or Burger King:

The Cinnamon Club

The Old Westminster Library, 30-32 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BU

The first thing you notice about this Indian restaurant is its stunning location in an authentically restored grade II listed Victorian Building. The food matches its grandiose surroundings with creative and varied dishes a cut above your average chicken korma or vindaloo – gamey rabbit tikka with bold dill, mustard & garlic chutney anyone? (A recommended choice.)

Arbutus

63-64 Frith Street, London W1D 3JW

Chef Anthony Demetre’s modern European affair is an admirable attempt to bring fine dining to the masses but still retaining that hallmark of quality. An extensive wine list complements a hearty but widely varied menu that should cost a lot more than it actually does.

L’Anima

1 Snowden Street, Broadgate West, London EC2A 2DQ

Italian restaurants are one of the most popular eateries found in the UK today but L’Anima – Italian for soul – is not your average pizza and pasta joint; it is authentic Italian food at its finest in a luxurious setting in the heart of the city, near the finest London hotels, parks and tourist attractions. Yes this comes at a price – with main dishes hovering around the £23-28 mark – but at those times where you feel like treating yourself and you want to ensure it is money well spent, you can’t go wrong here.

Beetroot

92 Berwick Street, London W1F 0QD

Opened in 1997, this vegetarian café exudes healthy eating – you even feel healthier simply by walking in and admiring the fresh, colorful vegetarian food on the counter. Salads, hot dishes and smoothies are all on the menu, making it a healthy middle-of-the-day pit stop.

Four Seasons

12 Gerrard Street, London W1D 5PR

No, this is not the chain of hotels but an equally popular Chinese restaurant offering authentic Cantonese style dishes at extremely reasonable prices. Such is it’s popularity though don’t expect to linger after you have eaten your food, as there will be a queue of eager and hungry customers waiting to take your table! Luckily there are sister restaurants in Bayswater and Wardour Street if this one is booked up.

Have a suggestion for Best London Restaurants? Leave a comment below!

Credit: Clarence House Press Office/Mario Testino

With the U.K. gripped in wedding fever, an extra public holiday and even the hope of a bit of British summer weather there has never been a more perfect time to pay England a visit.

There’s nothing like a royal wedding to unite the nation, preparations have already begun for street parties across the United Kingdom, with London itself set to be a fantastic place to visit around the 29th April 2011. Restaurants and bars have set up Royal Wedding themed menus, souvenirs of the event are being sold from stalls and shops throughout the city and one million people are expected to line the streets around Westminster Abbey to watch the Royal procession on the big day itself.

With London being such an exciting place to visit this spring, here are some of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s favourite haunts to ensure you experience the very best of a royal getaway.

Mahiki

Tiki-themed nightspot Mahiki has been a favourite with young royals for a long time. This Mayfair club offers delicious themed food and cocktails over 2 floors and is the perfect place to spot the most famous of ‘A’ listers. During their brief separation in 2007, Kate and William both partied here separately and often enjoy nights out here together and with Prince Harry and his on/off girlfriend Chelsey Davy. The nightspot is so linked with the royal couple that it even a stop on the increasingly popular ‘Royal Wedding Walking Tours’ that are being run in the capital.

Dans le Noir

Completely in darkness, Dans le Noir is one of the few restaurants in the world where Prince William and Kate can truly eat undisturbed. This unique experience involves diners entering a dimly lit bar and choosing from the menu what they would like to eat, the staff, all of whom are blind or partially sighted, led them into a pitch black dining room. The culinary experience of eating without sight is designed to heighten the senses and give diners an idea of how it feels everyday for the blind staff who are serving. Experience what William and Kate did when they dined here as well as enjoying your own unique evening that you are sure to be talking about for years to come.

Garrard and Co Jewellers

Back in 1981, crown jewellers Garrard, situated on Albemarle St, created the royal engagement ring for William’s mother Princess Diana. As a tribute to his late mother, William has given the beautiful sapphire ring to Kate, which Diana once joked she choose as it was the biggest in the shop! If money is no object then Garrard offers an engagement ring bespoke service where you can design the perfect rock for your special someone. If that isn’t quite in your price range for your trip away a visit to the store can prove fun in itself even if you can only gaze through the windows wistfully!

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey will be the setting for the ceremony itself, the venue steeped in history has been the venue of choice for royals since its completion in the 11^th century with 38 kings and queens being crowned here in an unbroken run since Edward the confessor. Westminster Abbey holds a very personal connection with Prince William — it was here in 1997 that he attended his mother’s funeral in 2002, the funeral of his great grandmother, The Queen Mother, and it may possibly be the venue for his own coronation if he were to become king. Of course the Abbey will be out of bounds on the big day itself but the flower arrangements will stay for the week afterwards for visitors to view as well as the seating plan. And those who have a London Sightseeing Pass can even recreate Kate’s soon to be world famous walk down the aisle.

The Goring

The luxury Goring Hotel in London is the rumoured residence where Kate will spend her last night before she officially becomes a member of the British Royal Family and where at least some of the closely guarded wedding reception will take place after the ceremony. The hotel is the very epitome of luxury and royal history, situated just 400 yards away from Buckingham Palace it has played host to past Kings and Queens for the last 100 years. With 71 rooms and suites available although you will not be able to book a room over the Royal Wedding weekend, of you want your own slice of royal history you can book a room from £410 to a suite at £1525 a night.

The Ritz

The Ritz Hotel, long associated with royalty and history in London is offering its own very special take on the Royal Wedding celebrations. The hotel is offering a long weekend of activities in its Monarch and Matrimony package, where guests can enjoy two nights luxury accommodation, a themed Royal Wedding brunch, live coverage of the event and commemorative gifts for a total of £1460 per person. If you would prefer to just enjoy the brunch at this quintessentially British institution on the big day, it will set you back around £150 per person or afternoon tea at £50 per person. With the Royal Family having celebrated the Queens 80^th birthday at The Ritz back in 2006, this luxury hotel is the ideal place to watch the coverage of the wedding and toast the happy couple.

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Stuck on a layover at London’s Gatwick International Airport? Gatwick is located roughly located 5 km (3.1 mi) from Crawley, West Sussex, and 45.7 km (28.4 mi) from downtown London. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your Vietnam layover, click here for useful tips.

If you’re stuck inside the Gatwick airport during your London layover, there’s plenty to do. To help you get situated, view the airport maps, delineated by terminal. The Gatwick airport offers shopping, restaurants and cafes, Internet access in the terminals, and check out the artistic sculptures by William Pye, in the lower departure lounge after security.

There are also a number of places where you can watch the planes taking off and landing on the runways. For good viewing, in the North Terminal, visit Costa (upper level), Red Lion Cafe Bar, Aqua Bar, Garfunkel’s, Starbucks and Lloyds No1. In the South Terminal, stop by The Bridge Bar or Frankie and Benny’s.

CLICK HERE for London Layover Tours (straight from the airport)!

For a little rest and relaxation, London’s Gatwick Airport offers the Servisair Lounge (North Terminal) or Servisair Executive Lounge (South Terminal) which offer comfortable seating, drinks and snacks, and some business facilities.

If you’re looking to drop off your luggage while you explore London, Gatwick airport offers Left Luggage facilities in both the North and South Terminals: North Terminal departures near British Airways, 6am-10pm and South Terminal arrivals, open 24 hours. Rates are £5.50 per item, per day. You can visit the Excess Baggage Company’s North Terminal desk, open from 6am-10pm daily or, for the South Terminal, the 24hr desk located in arrivals, or call: 01293 502013 (North Terminal) or 01293 502014 (South Terminal) with additional questions.

If you arrive at night or are looking for a place to rest, the airport has a number of options including the Hilton London Gatwick located in the South Terminal with facilities including a business center, hair salon, Gym and fitness area, restaurants and bars. The Sofitel London Gatwick is located in the North Terminal, and YOTELs (mini hotel rooms) are located in the South Terminal and prices start at 25GBP for four hours. If you are looking for a London hotel, click here for a comprehensive list with varying price points.

CLICK HERE for the full Layover Guide to London’s Heathrow Airport

If you are planning on leaving the Gatwick airport during your London layover, there are a number of transportation options. The airport offers the Gatwick Express which will get you to London in 30 minutes (and runs every 15 minutes). There are also taxis in front of the airport, trains, and buses. The Gatwick airport website also offers late deals in London, here.

LayoverGuide.com’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On A Gatwick Layover:

Sightseeing Bus
The hop-on, hop-off bus gives a commentary of the sights as you pass them. Tickets can be purchased right on the bus or online. You can “hop on” at Paddington station, and “hop off” wherever you choose.

Tower of London
At The Tower of London, you’ll find torture exhibits as well as the famous Crown Jewels which including 530 carat Star at the Jewel House. Beefeaters, who are the walking tour guides, lead the hour-long tours every hour until 3:30p.m.

Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, home to the British monarch, is another favorite sightseeing spot for those with only a short time in London. Victoria, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner are the closest Tube stations. Also, you can catch the changing of the guard, but should check ahead for the schedule as it does not happen every day.

Westminster Abbey and Big Ben
Exit the tube at the Westminster stop. You will first see Big Ben and further down the street Westminster Abbey, where Chaucer, Samuel Johnson, Tennyson, Browning, and Dickens are all buried here.

Cabinet War Rooms
Close to the Abby, you can see the actual underground bunker Winston Churchill used during World War II. Everything there from the wall maps, to Churchill’s cot are authentic.

Windsor Castle

The 900-year-old Windsor Castle is an official residence of The Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world.

Thorpe Palace
Thorpe Park is London’s most popular attractions and theme parks. It opened as a water park in 1970 however more thrill rides were added later.

None of these activities interest you? Here’s a list of more suggestions of places you can visit during London layover at the Gatwick airport.

Have a suggestion for a London Gatwick layover? Leave a comment below!

T-Mobile’s Life’s For Sharing brought us a welcome home to remember.

The video, which has already gotten over 3.5 million hits on YouTube, features a group of singers serenading passengers coming home at London’s Heathrow Terminal 5.

The musical video has also caught on in the celebrity realm.

Actress Olivia Wilde Tweeted the video out to her followers.  “My dream airport experience,” she wrote.

And English actor Stephen Frye Tweeted, “I’m sure you’ve seen it but still: if your heart has cockles this will surely warm them.”

If you haven’t seen the musical airport number, check out the video below.

For updates, exclusive content and more info on T-Mobile’s talented cast, visit their new Facebook group.