Many years ago I flew a Grumman AA-5 Cheetah into EGLL at the dead of night. It was the 1st of June 1979 and I needed a 300 nm night cross country as part of the CPL qualifying requirements. We just filed a flight plan and went - it took 1hr 35" and we arrived just after midnight. ATC could not have been more helpful. Only glitch was we had forgotten to book refuelling so had to route home via EGBB - eventually home by 0330L and I've got the photo's to prove it.