Best Heathrow hotels for a flight before 7am
The short answer: Book a hotel connected to your terminal. The shortest walks are the Holiday Inn Express at Terminal 4, the Sofitel at Terminal 5 and the Hilton Garden Inn or Aerotel at Terminals 2 and 3.
Key takeaways
- A bus hotel is a poor fit for a flight before 07:00, because the Hotel Hoppa starts at 04:00 and you still need to wait for it.
- At Terminal 4, the Holiday Inn Express has free breakfast from 05:00 on weekdays.
- At Terminals 2 and 3, Aerotel is inside Terminal 3 and its front desk is open 24 hours.
- At Terminal 5, the Sofitel is joined to the terminal, while the Thistle pod only starts at 04:00.
A flight before 07:00 means checking in around 04:00 to 05:00. That is when buses are sparse and breakfast has not started. The simplest fix is a hotel you can walk to from your terminal, and the best choice depends on which terminal you fly from.
Terminals 2 and 3
- Hilton Garden Inn: joined to Terminal 2 by a covered walkway, about five minutes on foot, and reaches Terminal 3 through the underpass in roughly ten minutes. It is the only walkable full hotel for these terminals.
- Aerotel: a small hotel in the Terminal 3 arrivals hall, landside and next to the car rental desks. You can book by the hour, and the front desk is open 24 hours. The rooms have no windows, so they stay dark, but it is a functional place to sleep, not a full hotel.
Terminal 4
- Holiday Inn Express: the shortest walk, and breakfast is included. It starts at 05:00 on weekdays.
- Hilton: a covered walkway to the departures level, with a paid buffet breakfast from 05:30.
- Crowne Plaza and Premier Inn: both connected too, and the Premier Inn is usually the cheapest.
Terminal 5
- Sofitel: joined to the terminal by a covered walkway, so you can be at check-in in under five minutes.
- Thistle: its pod runs from 04:00, so it works for most early flights but not one that needs you at the terminal before then.
Do not rely on a bus for the very first flights
The Hotel Hoppa runs between 04:00 and midnight, and the Premier Inn's 423 bus has its own timetable. If your check-in is at 04:00, you will be waiting for a bus at the worst time. For a mid-morning flight a bus hotel costs a good deal less and works well. For a flight before 07:00, a hotel you can walk from is the safer choice.
A note on breakfast
Several hotels start breakfast at 06:00 or later, for example 06:30 at the Hilton at Terminal 5, which is too late for a 06:00 flight. The Holiday Inn Express at Terminal 4 and the Hilton at Terminal 4 start earliest, at 05:00 and 05:30. Elsewhere, ask the hotel about a packed breakfast, or plan to eat in the terminal.
Hotels mentioned
Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow
About 5 min, indoors
View hotel
Aerotel London Heathrow
About 5 min, indoors
View hotelHoliday Inn Express London Heathrow T4
About 5 min, indoors
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Sofitel London Heathrow
About 5 min, indoors
View hotelFrequently asked questions
What is the best Heathrow hotel for a 6am flight?
A hotel connected to your terminal. At Terminal 4 that is the Holiday Inn Express, at Terminal 5 the Sofitel, and at Terminals 2 and 3 the Hilton Garden Inn or Aerotel.
Is there a hotel inside a Heathrow terminal?
Yes. Aerotel is in the Terminal 3 arrivals hall, landside. You can book by the hour, and the front desk is open 24 hours.
What time do Heathrow hotel buses start?
The Hotel Hoppa runs between 04:00 and midnight. The Heathrow pod to Terminal 5 starts at 04:00.
Can I get breakfast before a very early flight?
At Terminal 4, the Holiday Inn Express serves breakfast from 05:00 on weekdays and the Hilton from 05:30. Several other hotels start at 06:00 or later, so ask about a packed breakfast.
Sources
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