Heathrow has dozens of hotels in and around the airport, and they are very different from each other in one way that matters more than stars or price: how you get from the hotel to your terminal. A few are joined to a terminal by a covered walkway. Most are on the Bath Road along the northern edge of the airport, a few minutes away by road, and rely on buses or taxis. Picking the right Heathrow hotel for your flight, and knowing how you will get to the terminal, can save a lot of stress at 5am.
We are Airports Taxi UK, a pre-booked airport transfer company, and short hotel-to-terminal runs at Heathrow are a big part of our work. We collect from every hotel around the airport, at any hour, at a fixed price agreed when you book. From a Bath Road hotel to Terminal 5, a saloon currently costs £37. This page explains the options, so you can choose the hotel and the transfer that suit your flight.
Hotels Connected to the Terminals
A small number of Heathrow hotels are linked directly to a terminal, so you can walk to check-in without going outside or needing transport:
- Sofitel London Heathrow is connected to Terminal 5 by a covered walkway.
- Hilton London Heathrow Airport is connected to Terminal 4 by a covered walkway.
- Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Terminal 2 and 3 has a covered walkway to Terminal 2, with Terminal 3 a few minutes further on foot.
- Aerotel London is inside Terminal 3, attached to the arrivals hall.
These hotels are ideal if you are flying from that terminal and have an early departure, because you do not depend on a bus or car. They are usually more expensive than the Bath Road hotels, and if your flight goes from a different terminal, you will still need transport, as the terminals are spread across a large airport.
The Bath Road Hotels
Most Heathrow hotels are on or near the Bath Road, the A4, which runs along the north side of the airport. They include the Renaissance, Radisson RED, Leonardo, Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, Radisson Blu and London Heathrow Marriott, among others. They are close to the terminals as the crow flies, but you cannot walk there safely with luggage, so you will need a bus or a car.
The Hotel Hoppa is a dedicated shuttle bus network that links Terminals 2, 3 and 5 with more than 20 airport hotels. It runs from about 4am to midnight and costs £6.80 per person per journey. It is good value for a solo traveller with time to spare. For a family of four, the bus fares add up to more than half the price of a taxi. At 4am with a car seat, a buggy and four cases, the taxi to the terminal door is often worth the difference.
Hotel to Terminal Taxi Prices
These are the fixed one-way fares our booking system is currently quoting from a Bath Road hotel (the Renaissance) to Terminal 5. Prices to Terminals 2 and 3 are similar or a little lower, as they are closer to the Bath Road. Your exact price depends on the hotel and the date and time, and the booking form at the top of this page shows it before you confirm.
| Vehicle | Takes up to | One-way fare |
|---|---|---|
| Saloon | 4 passengers, 2 large cases | £37 |
| Estate | 4 passengers, 4 large cases | £42 |
| Executive | 3 passengers, 2 large cases | £52 |
| People carrier (MPV) | 6 passengers, 4 large cases | £48 |
| 8 Seater | 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £48 |
| Executive Minivan | 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £69 |
The drive itself is usually 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the hotel and the terminal. Terminal 4 is on the south side of the airport, so from the Bath Road it takes a little longer than Terminals 2, 3 and 5. The driver collects you from the hotel entrance and drops you at the departures forecourt of your terminal.
Choosing a Hotel for an Early Flight
If your flight leaves before about 8am, a hotel at Heathrow the night before is often the calmest option, especially if you live more than an hour away or would otherwise need to set off in the middle of the night. Here is a simple way to choose:
- If you are flying from Terminal 5 and want to walk to check-in, the Sofitel is the obvious choice.
- If you are flying from Terminal 4, the Hilton next to it saves the long trip round to the south side.
- If you are flying from Terminal 2 or 3, the Hilton Garden Inn or the Aerotel are closest.
- If you want to spend less, book a Bath Road hotel and a taxi to the terminal in the morning.
Hotel Hoppa buses start around 4am, so for very early flights, check the first departure from your hotel. We run at any hour, so a 3.30am pickup for a 6am flight is not a problem.
Getting to Your Heathrow Hotel
We also run the other way. If you are driving in from elsewhere in the UK, or arriving by train at a London station, we can take you to your Heathrow hotel the night before. From central London, the drive to the Bath Road is usually 40 to 70 minutes. From Windsor, Slough or Staines, it is often under 20 minutes. We cover all of these at fixed prices.
Some people also use a Heathrow hotel after a late arrival, rather than travelling on into London at midnight. The next morning, after breakfast and a good night’s sleep, a car into London or on to another part of the country is an easy start to the trip.
If you are parking at the hotel and leaving the car there while you travel, a taxi from the hotel to the terminal in the morning and back again when you return is often cheaper than the airport car parks, and the car is waiting safely at the hotel. Ask your hotel about park-and-stay rates, then book the two short transfers with us. On your return, the driver meets you in arrivals and takes you straight back to your car.
Long Layovers and Separate Tickets
If you have a long connection at Heathrow on separate tickets, or an overnight wait between flights, a hotel can be much better than a night in the terminal. You will need to go through UK passport control, and if you are not a British or Irish citizen, you may need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation, which costs £20 and is applied for online. Check the rules for your nationality on GOV.UK before you travel.
If your second flight goes from a different terminal, or even from Gatwick, we can take you from the hotel to the right place in the morning. A saloon from Heathrow to Gatwick is currently about £88.
From a Heathrow Hotel Into London
If you are staying at an airport hotel and want a day in London, the Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express and Piccadilly line all run from the terminals, and the Hotel Hoppa gets you to the terminal first. By car, central London is 45 to 75 minutes from the Bath Road, and a saloon to Trafalgar Square is currently about £67. Windsor Castle is only 20 to 30 minutes away, and a saloon is about £45, which makes it a good half-day trip from an airport hotel.
Heathrow Hotels for Groups
Tour groups, school parties, sports teams and wedding guests often stay at the larger Bath Road hotels before or after a flight. For groups, a single vehicle to the terminal is simpler than getting everyone onto a public bus with luggage. A people carrier takes six passengers with four cases. Our 8-seater and executive minivan take eight passengers and eight cases. Larger groups can book a 12-seater or 16-seater minibus.
What to Tell Us When You Book
When you book a hotel-to-terminal transfer, give us the name of the hotel and your flight number. The flight number tells us the terminal, and the hotel name tells the driver where to wait. For an early flight, we will suggest a pickup time based on your departure, usually two to three hours before the flight, depending on whether it is short-haul or long-haul. If you are travelling with children, tell us their ages so we can fit the right child seats.
At most Heathrow hotels, the driver waits at the main entrance or in the lobby. If your hotel has a specific pickup area, let us know and we will pass it on to the driver.
Heathrow Hotels at a Glance
| Type of hotel | Getting to the terminal | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Connected to a terminal (Sofitel T5, Hilton T4, Hilton Garden Inn T2/3, Aerotel T3) | Walk | Early flights from that terminal |
| Bath Road hotels | Hotel Hoppa bus (£6.80 each) or taxi (from £37 per car) | Lower room rates, families with a taxi |
| Hotels further out (Hayes, Slough, Staines, Windsor) | Taxi | Longer stays, combining a trip with the flight |
Questions About Heathrow Hotels
Which Heathrow hotels can I walk to the terminal from?
The Sofitel (Terminal 5), the Hilton London Heathrow Airport (Terminal 4), the Hilton Garden Inn (Terminal 2) and the Aerotel (Terminal 3).
How much is a taxi from a Heathrow hotel to the terminal?
From a Bath Road hotel to Terminal 5, our booking system currently quotes £37 for a saloon, fixed when you book.
Does the Hotel Hoppa go to Terminal 4?
The Hotel Hoppa network serves Terminals 2, 3 and 5. For Terminal 4, check with your hotel or book a taxi.
Can I book a pickup at 3am?
Yes. We run 24 hours a day, every day.