Early flight out of Heathrow

If it's a Saturday or Sunday morning then there is the night tube- the Picc line runs all night Friday into Saturday and Saturday into Sunday.

Or take the N205 bus at 0344 or 0414 (15 minute journey) or taxi to Paddington- then the Elizabeth Line starts from there at 0436 to T5 and 0440 to T4, then 0454 to T4 and 0503 to T5.
There is also a Heathrow Express at 0451 and 0510.

So the first EL gets to Heathrow before the first HEx.

Note that so early (when the Elizabeth line originates at Paddington) it leaves from the main line platforms #10 and #12 NOT from it's own underground platforms.

National Express also run from Victoria Coach Station at 0330- arriving at 0415 (then 0500).

Check to make sure your airline's check in desk will be open at 5:30. No need to get there if the desks aren't open.

You could also take a pre-booked car service to Heathrow.

Or, splurge for a cab to Paddington (it won't be much) and then either the Heathrow Express or Elizabeth Line to Heathrow.

Early morning flights do create a quandary. The other option is to spend your last night at airport hotel.

I had a similar flight time on my trip, and stayed near Heathrow my final night, and took the airport shuttle bus. Convenient, but next time I may spend a bit more and stay at the Hotel directly connected to the terminal.

Check to make sure your airline's check in desk will be open at 5:30. No need to get there if the desks aren't open.

What Frank said. That has happened to me twice. Unless you have a nonstop back to the states (and even then it could happen) I would only get there 2 hours ahead of time, as the agents will not start showing up until around 6:15 am.

I'm spending my last night at the Holiday Inn Express at Terminal 4, as my flight leaves at 6:30am. I got a very good price there. But I would probably do so if my flight left at 8:30 am also, as I HATE rushing around in the morning. 😊

What Mardee said :)
We started staying at LHR only recently, in July 2022, b/c of the transit strikes (and b/c my best friend had paved the way in June 2022) and it is a game changer!! Never again the schlep across London, or even taking a bus from a 'nearby' hotel.

I'm not a morning person so if my flight leaves before noon I will probably spend the night before at the airport as well.

But if you want to spend the last night in London itself, I will keep my answer from above.

Thanks everyone. Our flight (Air Canada) is out of T2 on a Tueday morning. It seems DH agrees with the majority here, so we'll move to an airport hotel the night before.

A wise move!

The Hilton Garden Inn at Terminal 2 & 3 is literally attached to Terminal 2. I've stayed there numerous times and will be back next month.

I think you've made the right move

... and get a new travel planner, so you don't have to deal with ugly early flights. :-)

I think your choice to stay at airport is the best out of an unattractive array of options.

Joe, I am that travel planner. And that ugly early morning flight was our only choice for a direct flight home that would land early enough for us to drive home that day, and not cost over $700 (each) more. I'm not thrilled at having to get up before dawn. But I'll do it to save $1400.