I have a US visa and an Indian passport. Do I need a UK transit visa?

I am travelling from San Francisco to Mumbai, India via London (Heathrow), UK. I have a layover at London for over 12 hours in either direction. I'd like to get out of the airport during that time and meet some people. From the UK consulate website, it seems like if I have a US visa I don't even need a transit visa to pass through UK (http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/UKVisasDoINeedAVisa?url=%2Fservlet%2FFront%3Fpagename%3DOpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage%26c%3DPage%26cid%3D1006977149962&purpose=Transit&nationality=India&location=United+States) However, can I actually get out of the airport if I don't even have a transit visa?
Answer:

There is an unofficial answer here, with reasonably clear explanation: http://www.immihelp.com/visas/nonustransit.html You do not need a direct airside visa if you have an India passport, hold a US or Canadian visa, are staying in the UK less than 24 hours, and are not leaving the airport. If you want to leave the airport you need to get, and pay for, a tourist or ordinary transit visa. However, if your spouse happens to be a citizen of an EU/EEA/Swiss country (other than the UK) you can get an EEA permit free and gratis. The link you supplied says the same thing.

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Other answers

In order to pass UK immigration at London Heathrow, you will need to have a valid UK visa as you will not be able to officially 'enter' (i.e. pass immigration) without one. The visa exemption for transit applies only so long as you remain 'airside' at the airport.

eurotraveller

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