Arriving at Heathrow late, Premier Inn near terminal 2

Head to your place at Victoria Station. If you don’t want to take the tube with your kids, arrange for a car service to take you.

I usually take a daytime flight that puts me in London around 10pm. I take the tube to my hotel on arrival. I live on the east coast so 10 pm UK time is only 5pm To me and I am wide awake. It is nice to be able to sleep in a bit the next day without having to worry about changing hotels.

eindame,

Another option is to consider the Premier Inn at Terminal 4. You can go from T2 to T4 by connecting on the free transfer train. You will have to get a free train ticket from the kiosk. Once inside Terminal 4, you get to the hotel by a skywalk. There will be other travelers making this transfer and there is airport staff/security standing along the way that will direct you and even help you work the kiosk. There are no hotels actually attached to T2. All the hotels near T2/T3 are serviced by a Hoppa bus that shuts down at midnight.

I know there are many people that don't mind riding the tubes late at night, but I prefer not to especially if the plane is delayed. I am originally from the UK and If I was booking this, I would get a private driver to your main hotel in central London or stay at the airport and make your way into London during daylight hours.

Margaret

I need to correct the above poster. There is a Hilton Garden Inn inside Terminal 2. (It's a new hotel).

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/lhrhegi-hilton-garden-inn-london-heathrow-terminals-2-and-3/

It will probably cost a little more than the Premier Inn but you don't have to get transport to change terminals.

Don't confuse this with the Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow which is off airport grounds. Make sure you make your reservation at the one mentioned above.

Einedame,
Initially I was going to suggest going into Victoria but then I read two things. First your earlier post in January:

But I don’t want to navigate a city I’ve never been to with 2 kids at that late at night.
We are taking a day flight to London to hopefully avoid major jet lag. I think we will find a hotel close to Heathrow for the first night

And then I read that there is a Hilton Garden in terminal 2. This is a good mid-price member of the Hilton chain (perhaps you know it?) and will have predictable amenities. Although I’m not normally a chain hotel person, I quite like it for a night or two in the US.

Maybe you should go with your first instincts. If the boys haven’t stayed at an airport, could this be sort of an adventure? And possibly a good nights sleep for you. Whatever you decide, I’m sure you all will have a great time!

Einedame,

Depending upon where you are coming from and the time difference, either the option of staying at the airport or going straight to your hotel world work.

My preference is you can manage it with your boys is to take a car service to your Victoria Station hotel. At that time of night, you won't have traffic (so it should take about 45 minutes) and then you can wake up in London without having to spend a part of your next morning commuting into the city.

If you do stay at the airport, would recommend staying at the Hilton Garden Inn, so you don't need to switch terminals or get a shuttle to one of the nearby airport hotels.

Have a great trip.
Sandy

Thank you all for your responses! I booked the Hilton Garden Inn at Terminal 2. I had no idea there was a hotel right in the terminal and it will be so convenient. It is a bit more expensive, but I booked it with points. The convenience will be worth it, especially since we’ve never been to London and it will be late there (although only 5pm our time, but I’m sure we will be tired). We can start our trip the next day in the daylight. And our boys will think it’s a fun adventure to stay at the airport.

You all are so helpful! Thanks again!

I think it’s a good idea as well. I’ve been a convert to the day flight, Heathrow hotel combination for my last two trips.

Plus, I’ve found it to be far less expensive than paying central London prices. And, yeah, even with the time zones, I’m still pretty tired after the airport/security/flight/immigration ‘fun’

Of course. I have a coupe of cocktails at the hotel bad which won’t be an option for you with the kids!

Just was in London 2 weeks ago with similar travel. We stayed at the Hotel Leonardo and grabbed a cab from Terminal 2 for about 12gbp. The next morning we took a cab back to Terminal 2 and grabbed the Heathrow Express into central London for the remainder of our trip. No one in the party ended up with jet lag because we were well rested from that first night!

I'm returning April on a red eye from the east coast and arrive at 10am instead of pm so it will be interesting to compare the trips!

Dale and jobdoer, I’m so excited to try a day flight! I can’t sleep on a plane, so those overnight flights are a killer. If it goes well, that may be the only way we do Europe from now on.

You got what you wanted, and even better, were able to book it with points! Hurrah.

Glad this worked out for you.

I’ve taken the daytime flight from DC to London more than a dozen times (I am definitely a convert). While I much prefer to head into London, you have to do what is right for your family. Hope that you have a great trip.

Laura, we’re flying out of DC too. We’re driving up there and staying the night at a nearby hotel. The tickets ended up being $300 less per ticket flying directly out of DC and I don’t want to deal with a connecting flight and possibly miss the day flight. I can’t wait!

I’ve stayed at the HGI at T2 Heathrow. I arrived by car and was dropped off on the top level of the T2 parking structure. You can see the hotel from there but the entrance was a little hard to find and there weren’t many signs indicating how to get there. I wandered around for a bit until I figuring out. Coming out of the arrivals area it should make it easier to find.

IIRC when departing T2 on the arrivals level you walk straight into the parking structure and then past 4 or 5 rows of cars where you will find a marked doorway for the hotel. The doorway leads to a hallway and then reception.

Have a great trip.