I have searched the threads and not found an answer to this (despite a good number of threads on LHR Hotels).
I have a weekend connection coming up (arriving Sat night, departing Sun morning) - BUT am landing at T1 (from TLV) at 22:35 and then departing from T5 on a 10:30am flight to EWR.
I will check luggage through, so will be with hand luggage only.
My problem is trying to find a decent hotel that I can get to easily - looks like the hoppa buses are close to closing (I will definitely miss the last bus on a few of the lines) - and can also get to T5 in the morning.
Does anyone have any recommendations - or hotel that can be easily reached maybe even without hoppa buses (as I am worried about any inbound delay and missing the last one and I understand the cabs are not happy about getting a fare just to the local hotels and also charge a ridiculous amount)?
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I regularly stay at the Holiday Inn at Bath and Sipson Road which is in the free zone for the 105 bus from above T1. Take a look at the schedule: http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/105.htm
The stop leaving the airport is just past the hotel, though the stop back to the airport is a 2-3 block walk further down.
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My problem is trying to find a decent hotel that I can get to easily - looks like the hoppa buses are close to closing (I will definitely miss the last bus on a few of the lines) - and can also get to T5 in the morning.
I would use the Sofitel at T5, there will still be Heathrow Express connections when you arrive, or even the Tube. It also means that you can have longer in bed in the morning and not have to rely on transport. The Sofitel is usually more reasonable at weekends.
Whilst the Holiday Inn Sipson Way is extremely easy to get to coming out of the Central Bus Station, getting back to anywhere - but particularly T5 - is far more complicated and would involve either an infrequently running Hoppa or heading the wrong way along the Bath Road before changing buses to come back again. (And don't even think about relying on the U3 into the Central Bus Station then changing there!)
You'd probably be better off at the Holiday Inn Ariel at Harlington Corner, a little further up the road - free buses 105, 111, 140 & 285 all go up there, and N9 and 423 run directly to T5 from the stop on the opposite side of the road from the Ariel (a minute's walk) the following morning.
That's almost certainly quicker than waiting for the Hoppa to arrive and troll round multiple hotels.
That's almost certainly quicker than waiting for the Hoppa to arrive and troll round multiple hotels.
I really, really, really hate the Hoppa service. Slow, uncomfortable, and just generally awful. Oh, and overpriced too!
The N9, however, is great. Often use it to get out of T5 v.late at night or back to T5 (v.)early in the morning. NB: the early morning ones often seem to be fairly full (of LHR workers) by the Bath Rd stops...
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Yes I would agree that the Sofitel is the best option if it is affordable. If not then book any of the hotels on Bath Road between the Heathrow turn off and Hatton Cross since there are very regular and free London Transport services between them, including a Night Bus service (not sure if that is free, but it will still be cheaper than a Hoppa). All services leave from the Central Bus Station in T1+T3. Personal preference for the Raddisson, and the Holiday Inn is particularly well placed, but there must be half a dozen to choose from. Use Google Maps to see the options.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mclachlan4321
Sofitel wins hands down. Excellent and connected to T5.
If price is a problem, use Hotwire.com and select the only airport hotel that's 5 stars. I did this a few weeks ago, and only paid 100 gbp.
Agree that Sofitel is by far the best choice. I'm not sure it will always be available at that price, even using hotwire though so in some cases one could pay significantly more than that.
Will transit circuits still work at that hour? If so, I would personally prefer following transit signs at T1, transiting to T5 and exiting passport control there. If it is close so late, then as others have said, free HEX is easy.
When you have less than 12 hours like this, I think that not needing any form of shuttle or bus is worth the extra expense if you would consider it.
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I don't think you'll be able to do that transit arrangement at that time of night as your arrival time plus MCT takes you past the last flight. I don't know if it would even work in general with T5.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stifle
I don't think you'll be able to do that transit arrangement at that time of night as your arrival time plus MCT takes you past the last flight. I don't know if it would even work in general with T5.
I fear you are probably right about the time. What do you mean with 'work in general with T5' though? If you mean when the transit option is on and flights are still arriving, then it is absolutely no problem, I have done it many times between any combination of T1, 3, 4, and 5. You don't need to show any travel document to board the transfer bus (makes sense since many people won't have a boarding card yet), and you are dropped at an area where you can go either way to transits or arrivals. Then you go through immigration and customs as you would if you had arrived at T5.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by orbitmic
I fear you are probably right about the time. What do you mean with 'work in general with T5' though? If you mean when the transit option is on and flights are still arriving, then it is absolutely no problem, I have done it many times between any combination of T1, 3, 4, and 5. You don't need to show any travel document to board the transfer bus (makes sense since many people won't have a boarding card yet), and you are dropped at an area where you can go either way to transits or arrivals. Then you go through immigration and customs as you would if you had arrived at T5.
Yes I've done this too, there are no checks on whether you have an onwards connection. Doesn't work if you have luggage you need to pick up in T1/3/4, obviously. If you live near the M25 corridor it makes a lot of sense to do this, though probably not at 7.30 am when the UK Border is busy.
Could you not just take a taxi to the hotel of your choice? The driver may not be thrilled with a small fare, but he will only be minutes away to pick up another passenger. I would wright off 100 quid (if possible) from Sofitel vs cheaper hotel and taxi at a hotel on Bath Road.
