BACKGROUND This 350-room Hilton Hotels and Resorts property opened in September last year. The brand has one other hotel at the airport, attached to Terminal 4, while in March last year Hilton Worldwide launched its Waldorf Astoria-branded London Syon Park property about 12km from Heathrow.
WHAT’S IT LIKE? The first impression on entering this four-floor new-build is one of space – the large white-walled lobby atrium features a sleek black floor, with an open staircase leading up to a curved mezzanine level where the property’s Gallery restaurant and bar are located. The feeling continues on the guestroom floors, with wide corridors creating a roomy ambience throughout the property. The lobby features design elements such as a rippled backdrop to the reception area and an overhead circular light display featuring changing images. The hotel has broken with usual Hilton tradition by offering free wifi throughout.
WHERE IS IT? A couple of kilometres to the west of Terminal 5, and about five minutes’ drive from junction 14 of the M25. The hotel is served by Hoppa bus H57 for Terminals 4 and 5 (about every 20 minutes), and H10 for Terminals 1 and 3 (every half-hour). Tickets cost from £4.50.
ROOM FACILITIES Rooms are a standard 28 sqm except for family rooms, which are 34 sqm, and the three suites, which start at 55 sqm. Décor is beige and grey with a padded cream leather headboard behind the bed, and artwork of London on the walls (in my case, a picture of Battersea Power Station made out of dots). All feature a large curved workdesk with an ergonomic chair, a stylish armchair and glass coffee table, a 37-inch LCD TV, an alarm clock/MP3 dock, air conditioning, a safe, an iron and ironing board, a minibar, and tea and coffee-making facilities. Impressively, all bathrooms have separate tubs and walk-in showers, along with Thomas Roth amenities.
Executive rooms are effectively the same as standard ones but guests benefit from robes and slippers, free mineral water and access to the smart fourth-floor lounge, open 6am-11pm daily (access via keycard, manned reception from 7am). Amenities include a hot and cold breakfast buffet, all-day snacks, self-service fridges with soft drinks, alcoholic beverages between 6pm and 8.30pm, and two PCs.
My Executive room overlooked the car park, which was almost completely full as there was a large conference taking place at the hotel during my stay. Parking costs £12 per day with discounts if the spa and food and beverage outlets are used. Park and fly deals are also available via ncp.co.uk.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS The highlight of the food and beverage options, and probably the hotel as a whole, is the excellent Mr Todiwala’s Kitchen. Created by chef Cyrus Todiwala (of the popular Café Spice Namaste in London), the restaurant’s soft lighting, wooden shutters, whitewashed floors and huge central wooden elephant make it feel very much like a standalone offering rather than a hotel eatery. The food is great, with an excellent choice of tikkas (from £8.50 as a starter or £17 as a main course), and several Parsee dishes (Todiwala being Parsee himself), including delicious beetroot and coconut samosas (£7). There’s a real feeling of enthusiasm in Todiwala’s menu descriptions, with detailed explanations of ingredients and inspiration. It’s open for dinner only.
The hotel’s other options are the all-day Gallery restaurant and bar on the mezzanine floor, serving salads, grills and traditional British main courses such as sausages and mash and shepherd’s pie, and River bar on the ground floor, a stylish space with modern glass chandeliers, high-backed chairs and TVs showing sport.
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES The largest meeting space is the Gallery on the mezzanine floor, with its own entrance, reception and pre-function area. It can hold up to 1,170 people theatre-style and can be split into six separate rooms. There are seven further rooms on the ground floor with capacities ranging from six to 216 delegates. Some of the meeting spaces have natural light. A 24-hour business centre has three PCs and a printer.
LEISURE FACILITIES Located on the ground floor, the spa facilities include a hydrotherapy pool, aroma steam room, sauna, “salt grotto” (a salt inhalation chamber with a menthol essence), ten treatment rooms and Hilton’s signature Fitness by Precor gym.
VERDICT An excellent addition to Heathrow’s hotel portfolio, this property offers great public spaces and restaurants. The free wifi will be welcomed by business travellers, while the spa facilities will be appreciated by those with time to spare.
Fact file
- HOW MANY ROOMS? There are 350 in total – 97 of these are Executive rooms, four are family rooms and three are suites.
- ROOM HIGHLIGHTS The free wifi, and separate bath and shower in all rooms.
- PRICE Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in June started from £209 for an Executive room.
- CONTACT Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, Poyle Road, Colnbrook; tel +44 (0)1753 686 860; hilton.co.uk
Mark Caswell
