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Step 1
Before going through security, you can visit shops such as Boots, Marks & Spencer, Impulse, The Body Shop, Accessorize and TieRack. In the North Terminal, you'll find a good bistro where you can enjoy a decent, filling meal. Other options for food include Burger King, Frankie & Benny's and Pizza Express. If you arrive on a particularly busy travel day, buy some ready-made sandwiches before your next meal; shops often sell out of food quite early in the day. Lines at restaurants can get quite busy around lunch and dinner.
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Step 2
Once you pass through security, visit duty-free shops, bookshops and several well-known retailers and spend time browsing even if you don't intend to buy.
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Step 3
Eat at Garfunkel's, Wetherspoon's Red Lion, various cafes or one of two upscale seafood and wine bars.
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Step 4
Visit a newsstand or bookseller. The UK is famous for its tabloids and magazines. Buy a selection and update yourself on the not-so-secret lives of British celebs. There are also newspapers that can occupy you with world news, op-eds, Sudoku and crosswords. Pick up a novel. Most paperbacks can be purchased for reasonable prices, and there are often "Buy 1, Get 1 half-off" deals.
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Step 5
Visit one of the pubs and enjoy a glass or two. You'll find dozens of screens with updated flight information in most restaurants and bars.
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Step 6
Surf the Net. There are Internet stations throughout the terminals and you can access them for a small charge.
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Step 7
If you are a religious person, pay attention to the intercom for announcements of daily meetings for various religions within the airport chapel.
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Step 8
Nod off. You'll find relatively livable sleeping spaces across semi-soft chairs in the departure lounges, made a bit more comfortable if you have a jacket or lap to cushion your head.
