Anyone remember this classic comedy movie: National Lampoon European Vacation: https://youtu.be/iAgX6qlJEMc
Well I was caught in a similar loop after picking up the rental car from LHR last month!
The directions to get out of the airport were very difficult to follow and I kept ending up going around and around the airport.
Finally I pulled over to a service road where there were BMW X5 marked as police cars parked and I asked a police officer with SWAT / HRT type gear about getting onto the M4 to London. He noticed we were not communicating (American English is different than British English)...
So after some exasperating conversation, he said "please follow me and when I turn on the blue lights on the car, you go right and I will go left, that will take you to the M4".
Off we go on a police escort and just as he promised, flashed blue lights for me to head out of the airport.
Then he waves us happy motoring.
What service the British police do for lost travelers!
5 stars for these wonderful folks ! read more