Whether you are catching an early flight or getting in late, staying at an airport hotel makes sense. Here are some options in and around Heathrow
If you are arriving or departing from Terminals 4 or 5, the on-site hotels are unbeatable for ease and speed. For Terminals 1 and 3, Bath Road is closer but with efficient transfers, getting to the on-site properties is also easy. The other options tend to be south of the airport. It’s worth bearing in mind that local buses offer free transport in the area from Heathrow Central bus station, while the Hotel Hoppa will take you direct to your hotel or the airport for £4.
Business Traveller has reviewed many of the properties so check out businesstraveller.com/tried-and-tested – some excerpts are included below.
ON-AIRPORT
SOFITEL
The Sofitel London Heathrow is the only hotel with direct access to T5 and, last year, won the prize for Best New Business Hotel in the annual Business Traveller awards. When the property opened in 2008, our reviewer said: “Sofitel hopes its Heathrow property will become a destination in its own right rather than just an airport hotel, and it has certainly covered all the bases in terms of excellent facilities, both in-room and in the public spaces.” For more on the hotel’s meeting rooms, see "Event planning".
- T5; tel +44 (0)20 8757 7777; sofitel.com
HILTON T4
The only hotel directly connected to T4 is the Hilton London Heathrow Airport. It has 395 rooms and suites, and three restaurants. The hotel also has conference facilities – see "Event planning". Business Traveller reviewed the hotel in 2009 and said: “The food at Brasserie is delicious and well worth trying, and the rooms provide everything you need to ensure a restful sleep before or after a flight.”
- T4; tel +44 (0)20 8759 7755; hilton.co.uk
YOTEL
The Japanese-style capsule hotel is in T4, next to Caffe Italia on the mezzanine level. The 7-10 sqm rooms have mood lighting, flatscreen TVs and free wifi. Our reviewer said: “A really good option for short stays.”
- T4; tel +44 (0)20 7100 1100; yotel.com
BATH ROAD
TRAVELODGE
Travelodge opened the 307-room Heathrow Central in January last year. Rooms are decorated in red, white and blue, and have flatscreen TVs and wifi access.
- Hertz House, 700 Bath Road; tel +44 (0)871 984 6249; travelodge.co.uk
RAMADA
Open since September 2008, the 200-room Ramada London Heathrow has a restaurant, bar and five meeting venues. Our reviewer said it was “a well-thought out property with attractive public areas and well sound-proofed rooms”.
- 745 Bath Road; tel +44 (0)844 815 9041; ramadajarvis.co.uk
SHERATON
Sheraton has two Heathrow hotels, the 426-room Sheraton Heathrow, with 21 meeting venues, and the 350-room Sheraton Skyline, with 18 meeting spaces – see page 36.
- Sheraton Heathrow: Colnbrook Bypass; tel +44 (0)20 8759 2424
- Sheraton Skyline: Bath Road; tel +44 (0)20 8759 2535; starwoodhotels.com
RADISSON EDWARDIAN
The 459-room Radisson Edwardian Heathrow underwent a £4 million refurbishment in 2008, with a further £3 million being spent on upgrading its standard rooms and conference venues. This month, the hotel should also have refurbished its restaurant, Brasserie, and added a Piacetto coffee kiosk. It also has a business centre, spa and gym.
- 140 Bath Road; tel +44 (0)800 374411; radissonedwardian.com
MARRIOTT
The 393-room London Heathrow Marriott was last refurbished in 2008 at a cost of £4.5 million, and has 15 meeting venues. The 649-room Renaissance London Heathrow underwent a £2 million revamp last January and has 2,000 sqm of event space.
- Marriott: Bath Road; tel +44 (0)20 8990 1100
- Renaissance: Bath Road; tel +44 (0)20 8897 6363; marriott.co.uk
HOLIDAY INN
By the end of the year, the Holiday Inn London Heathrow Ariel and Holiday Inn London Heathrow will have been updated as part of a global relaunch of the brand, with a signature scent in reception, refreshed bedding and bathroom products, and a new logo.
There are also plans to open a Holiday Inn Express, the largest in Europe, at T5. The first phase, comprising 125 rooms, will open this month, with the remaining 175 rooms to open next year.
- Holiday Inn Ariel: 118 Bath Road; tel +44 (0) 0871 942 9040
- Holiday Inn: Sipson Road; tel +44 (0)20 8990 0000; ichotelsgroup.com
PARK INN
Park Inn’s Heathrow property has completed a refurbishment of all its bedrooms, and has two conference centres (see page 36), a spa, gym, pool and restaurant.
- Bath Road; tel +44 (0)20 8759 6611; parkinn.co.uk
ARORA
The 358-room Arora hotel has six meeting rooms including a boardroom for up to 20 people with views over the airport.
- The Grove, Bath Road; tel +44 (0)20 8759 7777; arorahotels.com
PREMIER INN
The budget hotel chain has two Heathrow hotels – one on Bath Road with 509 rooms and the other at junction four of the M4 with 134 rooms. Premier Inn also plans to open a 400-room hotel at T5 and a 240-room property at T4. Opening dates have not yet been announced.
- Premier Inn Heathrow: 15 Bath Road; tel +44 (0)871 527 8508
- Premier Inn Heathrow Airport (M4/J4): Shepiston Lane; tel +44 (0)871 527 8510; premierinn.com
IBIS
Accor’s Ibis London Heathrow Airport has 351 rooms and four meeting spaces.
- 112 Bath Road; tel +44 (0)20 8759 4888; ibishotel.com
OTHERS
EASYHOTEL
Open since January last year, it has 53 rooms with en suite showers, flatscreen TVs and wifi.
- Brick Field Lane; tel +44 (0)20 8897 9237; easyhotel.com
NOVOTEL
The Novotel London Heathrow has 178 rooms with flatscreen TVs and wifi, and 11 event spaces.
- Cherry Lane; tel +44 (0)1895 431 431; novotel.com
STANWELL
Heathrow’s first hotel has reopened after a revamp. Set in gardens 5km from T5, it has 54 rooms, a restaurant and bar.
- 171 Town Lane; tel +44 (0)1784 252 292; thestanwellhotelheathrow.com
TRAVELODGE TERMINAL 5
This 297-room property opened in 2008. Business Traveller said: “A more than adequate budget offering and close enough to T5 to live up to its title.”
- Horton Road; tel +44 (0)871 984 6353; travelodge.co.uk
HILTON T5
The opening of the 350-room Hilton Heathrow T5 has been delayed until next spring.
For full details of the hotels, see our online guide at business traveller.com/heathrow
