Early LHR dep from T1 so overnite terminal hotel
May 27, 2011 | 2:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: 1MM*G, 1K
Posts: 133
Early LHR dep from T1 so overnite terminal hotel
We are doing a brief but fun September visit to London. My best tip from this forum was to get Ceremony of the Keys tix. It only took a week to get my tickets.
To stay overnight at LHR for a T1(United) am departure , is the Sofitel (T5) or the Hilton (T4) best for getting to T1? Thanks!
To stay overnight at LHR for a T1(United) am departure , is the Sofitel (T5) or the Hilton (T4) best for getting to T1? Thanks!
May 27, 2011 | 2:45 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Northern Ireland (in spirit), but much more likely GB or Europe.
Programs: EI Aer Club, IB Club, BA Club, AAdvantage
Posts: 771
How early is early? I think UA have 2 flights going our between 7.30 and 8 am?
Personally I find the Holiday Inns fine (Heathrow or Heathrow Ariel) with 24 hour free bus service ('red' london buses are free on the airport perimeter).
Hilton or Sofitel are normally very much more expensive options, but you can use the T5 or T4 to Heathrow Central (For T1 and T3) train transfer, both every 15 minutes from 5.07am from T5 or 5.23am from T4 (monday-saturday). The first train from T4 on a sunday is a bit later 5.53am.
Personally I find the Holiday Inns fine (Heathrow or Heathrow Ariel) with 24 hour free bus service ('red' london buses are free on the airport perimeter).
Hilton or Sofitel are normally very much more expensive options, but you can use the T5 or T4 to Heathrow Central (For T1 and T3) train transfer, both every 15 minutes from 5.07am from T5 or 5.23am from T4 (monday-saturday). The first train from T4 on a sunday is a bit later 5.53am.
May 27, 2011 | 2:47 pm
#3
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 18,226
Those are probably the easiest choices, you can take the H'Ex for free to T123 station and walk from there. If you want a lot less space at a lot less money, there is also the Yotel in T4.
You can also consider the Hilton at Paddington and take the H'Ex in the morning -- it will be about as fast as connecting from T4 or T5 -- and allows you to spend the evening in London.
You can also consider the Hilton at Paddington and take the H'Ex in the morning -- it will be about as fast as connecting from T4 or T5 -- and allows you to spend the evening in London.
May 27, 2011 | 5:44 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: 1MM*G, 1K
Posts: 133
How early is early? I think UA have 2 flights going our between 7.30 and 8 am?
Personally I find the Holiday Inns fine (Heathrow or Heathrow Ariel) with 24 hour free bus service ('red' london buses are free on the airport perimeter).
Hilton or Sofitel are normally very much more expensive options, but you can use the T5 or T4 to Heathrow Central (For T1 and T3) train transfer, both every 15 minutes from 5.07am from T5 or 5.23am from T4 (monday-saturday). The first train from T4 on a sunday is a bit later 5.53am.
Personally I find the Holiday Inns fine (Heathrow or Heathrow Ariel) with 24 hour free bus service ('red' london buses are free on the airport perimeter).
Hilton or Sofitel are normally very much more expensive options, but you can use the T5 or T4 to Heathrow Central (For T1 and T3) train transfer, both every 15 minutes from 5.07am from T5 or 5.23am from T4 (monday-saturday). The first train from T4 on a sunday is a bit later 5.53am.
May 27, 2011 | 7:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: SJC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,628
You could try the Jurys Inn at Hatton Cross. It's reasonably priced, reasonably comfortable, and on a weekday, the tube (a few minutes walk, and 1 stop away from T1/3) should be running that early. It's right on the corner of the airport property; if you needed a cab, it shouldn't cost that much.
Even though it's near the runways, and right by the approach path for landings, I found it to be very quiet.
May 28, 2011 | 12:50 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: MSN
Posts: 8,051
Yah, I had a bad experience with a hotel shuttle bus for a 6am out of Heathrow.
You could try the Jurys Inn at Hatton Cross. It's reasonably priced, reasonably comfortable, and on a weekday, the tube (a few minutes walk, and 1 stop away from T1/3) should be running that early. It's right on the corner of the airport property; if you needed a cab, it shouldn't cost that much.
Even though it's near the runways, and right by the approach path for landings, I found it to be very quiet.
You could try the Jurys Inn at Hatton Cross. It's reasonably priced, reasonably comfortable, and on a weekday, the tube (a few minutes walk, and 1 stop away from T1/3) should be running that early. It's right on the corner of the airport property; if you needed a cab, it shouldn't cost that much.
Even though it's near the runways, and right by the approach path for landings, I found it to be very quiet.
May 28, 2011 | 9:35 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Barcelona, Catalunya
Posts: 2,190
If you don't want to take the bus in the morning, ask the hotel to book a car. From the Holiday Inn Ariel for instances it costs 10. (From the HI Heathrow it's probably the same price.)
Keep in mind that from the Hilton to the train station in T4 is also quiet a walk (you should count at least 10 minutes for that in your planning).
May 28, 2011 | 9:34 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
You're a 1K (*G) on UA, so you don't need to be there at 0555. You can use the 1K lines and you should be done in a couple of mins. I'd say 0630 would be fine. If you want to go to the lounge for breakfast after checking-in, then 0615 would also be ok. Plane leaves at 0755. The departure gate (invariably 249 or 247) is a good 10-12 min walk from the *A lounge so back-time from there.
Last edited by UAPremExecflyer; May 29, 2011 at 5:33 am Reason: clarify departure gate is 10-12 min walk from lounge
May 29, 2011 | 5:10 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: LHR/LGW
Programs: DL Gold, CO Silver
Posts: 1,036
If money is a consideration -look at the Travelodge Feltham. It is a three minute walk to the public bus stop -buses run from 4am ish (it's used a lot by locals working at the airport so is very reliable) and with an Oyster card costs about 1 without it's 2.20. To get to Feltham the night before you catch a train from Waterloo -trains run late enough you could certainly enjoy theatre/dinner in the West End before travelling down.
May 29, 2011 | 6:17 am
#11
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC & Iberia
Posts: 4,649
I have also been looking for an LHR hotel for an early morning departure and the best combination of Decent Hotel, Proximity and Price seems to be the Thistle Hotel London Heathrow which lastminute.com has for about 60GBP
May 30, 2011 | 9:47 am
#12
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 18,226
I am not positive about this but I think the road it is on does not have TfL bus service, you'd need to walk to the A4. It's hard to tell for sure from the chart http://www.heathrowairport.com/asset...d_Heathrow.pdf
May 30, 2011 | 11:18 am
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 73,846
I frequently stay out at LHR if I'm on an oh-dawn-hundred flight back to the US on United.
I usually get a good rate at the LHR Renaissance. I don't bother w/ the Hoppa. The Ren is the last stop before Heathrow on the free public bus (#105, 140, 285, for example) route, so literally you get on & 5 minutes later get dropped at the airport. Exiting the Ren, turn right & walk about 50 feet to the bus stop.
Cheers.
I usually get a good rate at the LHR Renaissance. I don't bother w/ the Hoppa. The Ren is the last stop before Heathrow on the free public bus (#105, 140, 285, for example) route, so literally you get on & 5 minutes later get dropped at the airport. Exiting the Ren, turn right & walk about 50 feet to the bus stop.
Cheers.
May 30, 2011 | 11:45 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK Gold, AY Gold
Posts: 13,674
Also, the runway view at the Renaissance (assuming you get a south-facing room) is quite spectacular - it feels like you're camped right by the tarmac.
Not mentioned is the Yotel at T4, a hotel I always enjoy a lot (I do like its quirkiness, and being right in the terminal).
Not mentioned is the Yotel at T4, a hotel I always enjoy a lot (I do like its quirkiness, and being right in the terminal).
May 30, 2011 | 1:50 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: 1MM*G, 1K
Posts: 133
You're a 1K (*G) on UA, so you don't need to be there at 0555. You can use the 1K lines and you should be done in a couple of mins. I'd say 0630 would be fine. If you want to go to the lounge for breakfast after checking-in, then 0615 would also be ok. Plane leaves at 0755. The departure gate (invariably 249 or 247) is a good 10-12 min walk from the *A lounge so back-time from there.
I'd still like to know if anyone has stayed at the Sofitel. That express train From T5 to T1 looks tempting (using RichardInSF's supplied chart). The Renaissance also now looks tempting. Room rate very close to Sofitel.