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London Hotel Recommendation - easy travel from/back to LHR Terminal 5

We are a couple traveling to Italy via London with a 2-day layover. Two of our children live in Italy so when we visit we always bring each a suitcase full of gifts/goodies from USA. Thus we will be traveling with at least 3 checked bags and 1 carry-on. We have two days/nights in London arriving and departing Terminal 5 LHR at 10 am.

We want to visit the City to take in sights and see a performance, but don't want to schlep bags between hotels. That is, we don't want stay in different hotels for one night each or have to stress about getting back to Terminal 5 with our bags if we stay in the both nights city.

I am considering the Sofitel Hotel at Terminal 5 (the cost is minimal because I have points to cover the entire stay), which will store our bags and have very nice rooms. I just don't know if this is a realistic option, such as distance from the city. I realize there is a cost of taking the train into London each day for sight seeing but in this case convenience to our incoming/departing terminal is more important.

I always get great feedback from this forum, so hoping someone has insight as I have only been to London once (for a day) and my husband has never visited.

Thank you in advance!

Posted by
9266 posts

Well you could pay for the Heathrow Express roundtrip tickets now to lessen the cost.

You’ll go from Heathrow to Paddington Station in 15 minutes.

Or you could board the newer Elisabeth Line train which also goes from Heathrow to Paddington but takes a longer.

Posted by
1238 posts

The Sofitel is an excellent but expensive hotel. If you can do it on points then that’s great.
Transport from T5 to the city is easy but does take a little. You wouldn’t want to do it for days but for a couple of days with your plan it will be fine.
Two main ways into the city. Piccadilly line tube, £5.60pp each way. 45-60 minutes.
Elizabeth line train £13.30pp each way* - maybe 15 minutes quicker and more comfortable. Different routes so one may make more sense on the day.
* Whilst the above are the single fares you will only spend up to the daily cap, which is £15.60pp per day, whichever route you take and whatever other journeys you make.

Posted by
124 posts

Thank you! I think I will stay at the airport and train in.

Posted by
124 posts

The suggestion to store luggage is brilliant. I already booked my hotel at the airport, but it's good to know about this option for the future.

Posted by
34047 posts

you've made a good choice. I have never been disappointed with a Sofitel, and always had a good experience at both Heathrow and Gatwick.

Posted by
124 posts

Good to hear this is a good hotel. We will be tired after traveling from California.

Posted by
510 posts

We stayed at the Sofitel for our last night in May. It was so easy with our British Airways flight. We loved it.

Posted by
124 posts

Thanks for the posts! We did wind up staying there and it was actually perfect after a long flight. I highly recommend this hotel. Took the HEX into London and, while pricey, it was fast and convenient.