Heathrow hotels after midnight

What day of the week are you arriving? The tube runs late on Friday and Saturday night.

I would recommend that you travel into London. Book a car service to take you to your hotel. Keep in mind that it will only be 5:45 East Coast time, so you probably won’t be as tired as you think. You’ll be ready to go the next morning.

I am arriving on a Saturday night. I do not want to go into the city because I am going to meet up with a friend at Heathrow the next day. Do you know exactly which trains run past midnight on Saturday? I don't think there is tube service between Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 at this hour, even on the week-end. Thank you.

Ask the Hilton how to get there at that time of night?

Thing is Terminal 4 is not really 'near' where you are landing, but the other side of the runways (it is somewhat of the unloved stepchild these days). You might find it more convenient to stay at one of the hotels along the Bath Road (edit - I now see you are meet someone the next day ... Is this at T4?)

However, there is one interesting option if you don't have checked bags which is to take the airside bus and go through immigration in T4.
Another is to stay at a hotel at Hatton Cross.

Thanks. I will have checked bags, but will look into the Hatton Cross hotel situation.

Also, I learned that there are cab companies that will gladly take you from one terminal to another for about 19 pounds.

If you aren't wedded to the idea of the Hilton, check out the Premier Inn near T4. It is a bit farther from the terminal, but you have an enclosed walkway. I bet you could save enough on the room to cover at least twice the cost of the taxi. The hotel is relatively new, large, and apparently under-utilized. Every time I check rates there, I'm surprised at how reasonable they are. You may find a single (refundable rate) under £50.

acraven, isn't the walkway to the Terminal 4 Premier Inn the same walkway as the one to the Hilton, which begins in Terminal 4?

Marilyn, it will cost more that time of night but we recently had the Hilton book a car for us from there to Terminal 3 for an early morning flight(we were too tired and it was too early for us to deal with the walkway and the possible wait for the train to the other terminal) and it was 20 pounds that I think was well spent given our condition at that point. I can't imagine that the taxis would have a problem with it.

Cala, thanks for the input. I recently heard a new hotel Aerhotel (?) is going to be opening soon in Terminal 3. That would be my first choice, but if that doesn't work out, then I will probably take a cab to the hotel. Thank you again.

Also, I learned that there are cab companies that will gladly take you from one terminal to another for about 19 pounds.

Of course they will because they are ripping you off really as it is a shortish drive round the perimeter road. However, ultimately I guess it depends on the value to you I suppose. What are you doing anyway after meeting these people at T4? Might help.

I'm just trying to get to a hotel near Heathrow. There is a nice Hilton within walking distance of T4. Picture this: I will be tired from traveling all day, it will be midnight and I will be alone. The trains and buses that normally service the Heathrow hotels shut down at midnight (who knew!), except I think the Tube does run a few hours past midnight. I don't want to go into Central London, however because I am meeting up with a friend the next day at Heathrow.

Yes, Cala, the Premier Inn is off the same walkway as the Hilton, which I should have mentioned because, as of last year, there weren't many signs for the Premier Inn.

I was just at that Premier Inn last month, there are now plenty of signs, including a few humourous ones since it is quite a long walk to the hotel.

Is it safe to walk from T4 to the Premier Inn late at night?

I stayed at the Premier Inn, Terminal 4, Heathrow in May, and I've stayed at the Hilton, T4, Heathrow in the past. As noted above, they both link to T4 via a covered walkway (if walking from the terminal, initially you are on the same walkway for both hotels, then Premier Inn's walkway branches off to the left and Hilton's to the right.) Well marked signs. I think it's about the same walking distance from the terminal to both hotels.

I view the Hilton as overpriced and the Premier Inn as a really good deal (perhaps due to introductory rates, since it's new).

I have not walked to/from the terminal and Premier Inn or the Hilton late at night. However, I felt perfectly safe doing so alone at 9 p.m.

If you choose to take a cab from Terminal 3 to Premier Inn, even if you give a nice tip to make up for the short journey, you would be saving alot of money in total as compared to staying at the Hilton.

Thanks for your perspective, Elizabeth. Unfortunately, I think the prices between the two hotels are similar.

It's perfectly safe to walk it, your only risk is from cranky toddlers who are tired and need a nap.

I will also be arriving in LHR at 10:45 PM Terminal 3 this July and plan on staying at the Premier Inn (T4) so I can meet up with a family member at Heathrow the next morning. I Have only stayed at the Sofitel coming in late at night (T5) and it is easy reachable by the Heathrow Express from T3. T4 is not as easy to get to. Heathrow is very quiet that time of night but I never feel unsafe there (We are also middle age female travelers). I am not sure about the logistics for getting to T4 (I know you cant walk it) but I will figure it out when I get there (whether I take a taxi or train I'm not sure). I can always give you step-by step directions upon my return from my trip if you decide to use the Premier Inn T4.

I actually like the day time flights to the UK. You arrive late but you can get a good nights sleep and be refreshed for the following day.

Margaret

Margaret,

Thanks so much for your note. It is my understanding that the trains between terminals shut down around midnight, so you may have to get a cab to get to Terminal 4/your hotel.. One option I'm looking at and it might work for you as well, is to book a room at Aerotel London Heathrow in Terminal 3. It is my understanding that this hotel opened earlier this year, but then closed due to some problems (no idea what they were). I expect them to reopen soon. Their website is www.myaerotel.com.

I would love to know how it goes for you. I also like the idea of arriving in the evening at Heathrow--a much better sleep schedule.

Best,

Marilyn

Marilyn, per your PM you are arriving Saturday. The Piccadilly line runs all night on Friday and Saturday. Technically, you could take the tube from the T1-2-3 underground station to Hatton Cross and then backtrack by picking up a tube heading to T4. It would be the cheapest option after midnight, but that may not be your preference if you just want to easily get to the hotel and don’t mind spending 20 GBP.

You may get through immigration early enough to make the last train. For many years, I have taken a daytime flight that lands between 9pm and 10pm. Except for one time when my flight arrived 3 hours late, I have gotten through immigration well before public transit stops running. The immigration queue tends to be relatively short at that time of night. For those of you who think you will be tired, keep in mind that 10:45 pm is only 5:45 pm East Coast time. I generally am wide awake and find it well worth it to head straight to London so that I can start my first full day in London without having to repack, checkout, and travel.

Thanks for your note Laura. I'll just have to see what happens. Is the Tube safe at night? I will be by myself.

Just as a little fyi, I try to adjust my body clock before going oversees to alleviate some jet lag. About 2-3 months before the trip, I go to bed earlier and get up earlier, so that by the time I leave for my trip, I usually am going to bed at 8:30 or 9PM and getting up at around 4AM. I find this really helps.

Note that the Night Tube does not run via T4. It runs from Hatton Cross directly to T2/3 and terminates at T5 only. As I said, T4 is the poor relation these days. There is a Hilton near to Hatton Cross but note that station has an unavoidable flight of stairs.

Sorry, my mistake on the tube to T4.

I am arriving on a Saturday night. I do not want to go into the city because I am going to meet up with a friend at Heathrow the next day. Do you know exactly which trains run past midnight on Saturday? I don't think there is tube service between Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 at this hour, even on the week-end. Thank you.

We were just there 2 weeks ago. Landed at T3, stayed at Premier Inn at T4, left early the next day for our connection to Rome at T5.

Here's what we did...
We arrived at Heathrow T3 at around 10:30-10:45PM. We took the free train connection from T3 to T4.
Stayed at Premier Inn overnight.
Took the free bus (482 or 490) just outside the Premier Inn to T5.