Oxford to Heathrow bus

I'd book a room the night before, just to be safe. You'll need to be at the airport a few hours before, given current security and check-in snafu's. All you need is some kind of accident or heavy traffic to slow you down significantly enroute to the airport. I don't know about you, but I hate to feel any extra stress prior to making a flight connection.

The timetabled duration is 80 minutes at all times of the day to Terminal 5 and 100 to the Central bus station for 2/3. So a specific journey is not anticipated under normal conditions to take more but conditions aren't always normal.

The M25 can go from flow to slow in the blink of an eye, any time of day. From where the motorway from Oxford, the M40, joins the M25, the main motorway of London, completely encircling the greater area, to the M4, the motorway for Heathrow, is always one of the busiest parts of the motorway network. M40 to M4, always problems.

The schedule of 80 minutes to Terminal 5 is about right.

But - if your flight is 10:15 you need to be checking in 2 hours ahead for domestic flights, 3 for the USA. So 7:15 at Heathrow, and having to leave Oxford by 5:45? Pretty early for me. Stay overnight is my advise.

For a flight 2 hours later maybe a slightly later get out of bed and a quick breakfast in Oxford?

Is your flight international or going home, or a short hop?

It may be different when you fly but if you are going to the US you need a covid test no later than the day before you fly. You will need to build in time for that, if that's your destination....

Thanks to all of you. I appreciate the info and the wisdom. Yes I am flying back to the US, I did not realize recommendation is to arrive at airport 3 hours in advance of flight. I will look for a hotel near the airport for the previous night. Hopefully I can find a hotel with a free shuttle.

Thank you!

There are several hotels at the Heathrow terminals. Off the top of my head

• Sofitel at T5
• Hilton Garden Inn T2/T3
• T4 is supposed to reopen this summer. It has a Premier Inn, Hilton and I believe one or two others.

There are other hotels that are mostly clustered around Bath road. Usually these are reached via bus or taxi/Uber.

T4 is supposed to reopen this summer

Next week, 14 June. (Qatar is moving back there on the first day.)

There is also the Hilton Garden Inn at Hatton Cross.

Ahhh I see, T5 is a bit out there! thank you for the suggestions. Looks like the Sofitel is not part of my future.

Thank you for the info about T4. Is it possible to walk from T4 hotels to T5?

No T4 and T5 are at different sides of the runway. There is a bus between them though or free transfer via either the Underground or Elizabeth line / Heathrow Express via Terminals 2/3 with a change