Twenty years ago, London Luton Airport was the main charter airport in the UK, and had a slightly downmarket "bucket-and-spade" image. But those were the days before low-cost airlines became the market force in aviation. Today, Luton is the sixth-busiest airport in the UK and employs 7,000 people directly. In the last 10 years, passenger numbers through Luton have increased by 400 per cent, and last year 9.2 million passengers passed through its doors. One of the driving forces behind this growth has been Easyjet, which made Luton its base when it launched in 1995.
Luton's location has prompted its nickname of London's North Terminal, but it has also become a focus for the regional traveller, thanks to good transport links to the Midlands as well as central London. Sixty per cent of passengers come from within one hour's drive.
Unlike Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, (operated by BAA), Luton is part of a public–private partnership, owned by Luton Borough Council and operated by a private consortium. In 1999, the airport opened a new terminal building, costing £40 million, and the same year Railtrack opened the £23 million London Luton Airport Parkway station on the Thameslink line with easy access to London.
Today, much like Stansted, Luton has continued to be a base for low-cost airlines, including Easyjet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Helios Airways, BA Connect and Flybe. Private jets also serve the airport, and Harrods Aviation has a lounge which is five minutes' walk from the main terminal.
Where to stay
The government has predicted passenger numbers of 30 million in the period up to 2030 and are pushing plans for a full-length single runway by the same year. But there are no plans for more on-airport hotels to join the Ibis London Luton and the Express by Holiday Inn, both of which are within walking distance of the terminal. These two hotels were originally built specifically for early and late flights, as well as delays, and today are served particularly well by the early-bird departures of the low-cost airlines. The hotels are functional and practical in keeping with their quick turnover. The Express by Holiday Inn was recently refurbished and the Ibis London Luton has also undergone renovation.
There are other hotel options in, or on the way to, Luton town centre, a 10-minute drive away. The problem is that travelling to the airport from Luton can be unpredictable. Airport Way is the only road directly into the airport once you leave the motorway, and if the roundabout at the bottom of this route is blocked, you will be delayed. This will always be the advantage of staying on-airport.
Ricardo Rofail, general manager of the Ibis London Luton, says: "I think there will be new hotels but not on airport land. There may be another three-star built nearby, but the problem is access to the airport; here, the terminal is only 900 yards away." He adds: "Nowadays, people like to stay at the airport."
ON-AIRPORT
The Ibis London Luton Airport
Spittlesea Road, Luton, tel +44 (0)1582 424 488, ibishotel.com
On airport land, the Ibis is on Spittlesea Road, just off the roundabout where the Express by Holiday Inn also stands. It is a 10-minute walk to the terminal or you can catch the free shuttle bus which stops here on its way from the Luton Parkway Station.
Open since 1989, the Ibis is currently undergoing complete renovation to match other new-generation Ibis guestrooms (such as the latest Ibis opening in Bristol). Some rooms have already been upgraded, and the new reception, bar and café, and business lounge area are to follow. The hotel has a year-round occupancy of 92 per cent, of which 63 per cent are business travellers.
The new rooms are modern and light with polished wooden floors, queen-size double beds, flat-screen TVs and power showers. The older standard rooms are carpeted, the decor is more traditional and they do not have flat-screen TVs, but have a separate bath and shower. All rooms have tea and coffee-making facilities, and broadband internet access is charged at the telephone rate. Ironing boards and hairdryers are available from reception. Most rooms face away from the runway, so noise is minimal and all rooms have double glazing.
The new restaurant will have mood lighting, which changes every hour. Early breakfast of a coffee, pastries, fruit juice is served from 4.30am to 10.30am, and continental from 10.30am to 12.30pm, the "late riser". Both cost £4.95. There is no room service, but the bar serves a snack menu 24 hours, which can be taken to the rooms. The bar is open 24 hours for residents.
There are three conference rooms holding a maximum of 70 people. The new business lounge will replace the solo computer terminal with at least six computers and comfy chairs. There is currently no wifi internet available, but the hotel is trying to apply for wifi access across the hotel. Guests can park outside the hotel for £3 per night. The hotel is building a new car park as part of its refurbishments, which will have 74 spaces.
Verdict A modern and updated airport hotel.
Price Rooms cost £72.
Felicity Cousins
Express By Holiday Inn
Percival Way 2, Luton, tel + 44 (0)1582 589 100, ichotelsgroup.com
Next to the Ibis and with identical connection options, Intercontinental's Express by Holiday Inn opened three years ago. White and red brick from the outside, the entrance is off the main road and through the car park. Currently the hotel has occupancy of 95 to 98 per cent, 75 per cent of which is business travellers during the week. The hotel attracts day meetings from local businesses in the area, and private jet firm Harrods Aviation sometimes uses the hotel as a stopover for its pilots.
The lobby is a cheerful scene of green chairs set at wooden tables, red sofas and pop music playing constantly. There were a few business meetings taking place over coffees, and sport playing on a large TV screen. There is also a screen showing flight arrivals and departures.
The 147 rooms are all twins or doubles (double rooms also have a sofa bed), and there are 20 smoking rooms. Thirty-seven new rooms were added in 2003 and have a colour scheme of red with light-coloured carpets. The older rooms are blue with green carpets. All rooms are air-conditioned and have TV, plus broadband internet access at £3.99 per hour, £5 for two hours and £17 per 24 hours. There are tea and coffee-making facilities, a hairdryer and power showers with soap dispensers. Any noise from the airport is muted by the triple glazing. Continental breakfast is included in the room rate and is served between 6.30am and 9.30am. For those taking early flights, cereal and coffee are available from 4am.
The bar is next to reception in the open plan lobby area and is open 24 hours. All meals are taken in the Great Room restaurant, which is joined to the lobby. A snack menu is available all day with sandwiches for £3.95 and pizzas and burgers for £7.95. Music is constantly playing – even in the toilets. Dinner is served between 6pm and 9pm with starters at £4.95 and mains ranging from pasta for £7.95 up to steak at £11.95.
There are four meeting rooms, three of which can take up to 60 people boardroom-style and another taking up to 26. Wifi access is available in the restaurant and meeting rooms for £5 per hour or £17 for 24 hours. It is run through Swisscom and can be accessed through a credit card or a card from reception.
The car park has 74 spaces, charged at £5 per night. There is a seven-day park and fly package costing from £165 during the week and £132 at the weekends.
Verdict The closest hotel to the terminal building, modern and practical.
Price £95 including continental breakfast.
Felicity Cousins
OFF-AIRPORT
Premier Travel Inn
Osborne Road, Luton, tel +44 (0)870 197 7166, premiertravelinn.com
The Premier Travel Inn opened in September 1999 and is a mile and a half from the airport. There are 128 rooms, and wifi access costs £3 for two hours and £10 for 24 hours. There is a Beefeater restaurant with a wide range of food and wine. Travel to the airport by taxi costs £5.50. Parking is available, at £3.50 a night.
Price £63, room only.
Days Hotel
1 Regent Street, Luton, tel +44 (0)1582 878 090, dayshotelluton.co.uk
The three-star Days Hotel has 120 rooms and is two and a half miles from the Airport. A taxi cost around £9. Wifi is available in public areas and there is no park and fly however, Britannia Parking offers extended parking and is just across the street from the hotel. There is also a restaurant, bar, and two meeting facilities that combined hold 30 delegates.
Price £70, room only.
Thistle Hotel
Arndale Centre, Luton, tel +44 (0)1582 734 199, thistlehotels.com
Built in 1973, the Thistle Luton has 152 rooms, and is three miles from Luton Airport. Wifi is available for £2.50 per hour or £15 for 24 hours. A taxi to the hotel from the airport will cost around £11. The hotel has five meeting rooms and the largest can hold up to 250 delegates. Gengis is the hotel restaurant, open from 7am until 10am for breakfast, noon until 3pm for lunch, and 7pm-10pm for dinner. For leisure there is a pool, gym, sauna, and a beauty salon. Parking is available through a separate company just across the street from the hotel.
Price £90 including breakfast.
Express by Holiday Inn Luton Hemel
London Road, Flamstead, St Albans, tel +44 (0)1582 841 332, hiexpress.co.uk
Five miles from the airport, this 75-room hotel costs £15 to reach by taxi from the terminal. Wifi access is charged on a pay-as-you-go basis. The conference room can hold 18 delegates boardroom-style and 28 theatre-style. There is a restaurant and bar.
Price £70 including continental breakfast.
Holiday Inn Luton South
Luton-South M1, London Road, Luton, tel +44 (0)870 443 1781, ichotelsgroup.com
This 140-room hotel was built in the early 1970s and is seven and a half miles from the airport (£12 taxi). There is wifi access in the reception area for £2 per half hour and £17 for 24 hours. The hotel also has meeting facilities for groups of 6 up to 200. The restaurant serves traditional and exotic fare. The hotel also has an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, whirlpool, and gym.
Price £129, room only.
PARKING
Top tip: Consider mid stay and long stay parking to keep costs down, especially with the 24-hour free transfer buses.
Short stay Express Parking next to the terminal building (follow the gold signs) is free for 10 minutes, followed by £5 (one hour), £8 (two hours) and £27.50 (9–24 hours); £27.50 per day for stays up to three days; £22.50 per day for four days; and £20 per day for five days. Online you can save up to 60 per cent. Visit london-luton.co.uk.
Mid stay Parking A little further from the terminal, follow the green signs and take the 24-hour free transfer bus back to the terminal, which takes five minutes. Prices vary from £11.50 to £15 per day (depending how long you stay). Visit london-luton.co.uk.
Long Stay Parking Follow the pink signs for the Pink Car Park. From five up to nine days costs £10.50 per day; 10 days and over £10 per day. You will be charged £11 per day for stays up to four days Book at london-luton.co.uk for cheaper rates.
GETTING THERE
By Motorway Luton airport is just off the M1 at Junction 10 and has a one-hour drive catchment of seven million people. From the south, work on widening the M1 to four lanes between Junction 6A (M25) and Junction 10 (Luton) over 10 miles is causing problems until autumn 2008 with a 40mph speed restriction on part of the motorway. Drive time from central London is around one hour. Call The Highways Department +44 (0)8457 50 40 30 or visit highways.gov.uk.
By Road Green Line 757 is an express coach link between Luton airport and central London. Book at arrivabus.co.uk. Tickets £15 return, £10.50 one way. National Express runs from London Victoria (and other regional destinations). A return journey booked online a week in advance was £15. The journey takes an hour. Easybus runs from Baker Street in London to Luton airport.
For regional travellers, Luton Railair and Virgin Rail Link are two names for the hourly bus service from Milton Keynes train station directly to the airport terminal (the link is also timed to connect with Virgin Trains). The buses run predominantly at 5 minutes past the hour and take 55 minutes (£6 for a single journey). Call +44 (0)845 722 2333; virgin.com/trains.
By Rail There are regular services with Midland Mainline and First Connect (formerly Thameslink). Call National Rail Enquiries for tickets and pricing +44 (0)8457 48 49 50. A free (five-minute) shuttle bus operates between the terminal and the airport.
