Originally Posted by
tinkicker
If I may, there is lots of good advice above about passing efficiently through LHR. Perhaps the question might be what do you want to get out of the journey? You can completely leave the Sofitel under 45 mins before a C gate departure, hit security for conformance and make the gate, at a jog. (I've done it but gosh it was unpleasant). But is that what would make your journey in F be the best for you? You say this is the first time though Heathrow so perhaps allow extra faffing about time.
Me I'd go earlier from the hotel, Check in, bag drop (if not the night before), spend a relaxed hour for breakfast in the CCR with time for a second coffee (or fizz as is your desire). Read the paper, admire the view. Leave there maybe 90 before departure. Stroll past the wildly overpriced yet busy shops to the walkway and onto B lounge for second breakfast. Then when you're ready stroll onto your gate to either be there first or last as is your preference. This way if I miss an elevator , take a wrong turn, decide I need to loo etc I've got some buffer time.
Of course it's easier for me to say any of this than do it and the person sprinting past you in the tunnels with their luggage flailing behind them is probably me.
That's my way of doing it as well
But I like to enjoy the process, I certainly don't fly often enough to want to minimise time spent in the airport or feel comfortable timing my meanderings so I end up at the gate spot on T-20.
But we can't prejudge OPs desires. They may be an extremely frequent F flyer who is just unfamiliar with LHR. Or they may be someone like me for whom any flight is a treat, F especially. Or they may be anywhere in-between.
It does also make a difference if you are flying solo, in a couple, or have a whole family in tow. OP said 'we', so assuming they are not royal that means at least 2.