Where to Stay in London

I stayed at Hotel 63 on Bayswater Road across from Kensington Gardens. This is a small historical hotel that was recommended to me on this site.

I really loved the location. The breakfast was small but suitable. Walkable from and to Paddington Station. Easy to get to from airport, a block away from Lancaster Gate Tube Station.

And yes, the name is Hotel 63.

Thank you. I will check out Hotel 63.

"I see Premier Inn (Paddington?) may be an option - 15 minutes by train/subway from the airport?"

There are a number of Premier Inns in London. The Paddington location in central London would be significantly farther than 15 minutes from LHR - minimum 45 minutes.

Check here for Premier Inn locations at or near LHR - probably with "Heathrow" in the location name. Notice the first 3 listings:
https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/heathrow-airport.html

There are a number of Premier Inns in London. The Paddington location in central London would be significantly farther than 15 minutes from LHR - minimum 45 minutes.

Paddington isn’t central but you can reach LHR in 15 minutes on the (vastly overpriced) HEX or the slightly slower Elizabeth Line in 25 minutes. Central London via tube is 45 - 55 minutes.

As for whether to stay your final night near LHR or in London, I have done it both ways. Personal preference and circumstances of your visit, IMHO. I couldn't say that one versus the other has been consistently "best" for me.

You can check the potential transit times in the early AM to LHR using a navigation app. This on is TFL - I use this frequently for both planning and when on the ground in London.
https://tfl.gov.uk

Also, some people like Citymapper and even google maps can be helpful. I haven't used them as often.

Cornwall - LOL. I knew I would get an argument when indicating Pddington as "central". So, I looked it up before keying it in - just to see what other "sources" said. Not that Wikipedia is definitive, but from the site:

"Paddington is an area in the City of Westminster, in central London, England."

Point is Paddington is much closer to typical London sites than it is to LHR.

I knew of the HEX transit time also, but didn't feel the need to get overly complicated.
https://www.heathrowexpress.com/timetable/timetable#/

Hi, Terri. I think with 2 nights to spend and a flight that does not leave until 10 am, you could spend those 2 nights at a central hotel in London. I really like Premier Inns as they are very reasonably priced and would fit within your budget. I have stayed at a number of them throughout the UK and they are very clean, very comfortable and consistently good. You can find them all over London, but there are some that would be better for you given your circumstances.

Paddington Station fits that bill, I think, and there is a new Premier Inn that just opened up in that area. It is the Premier Inn Paddington Station, and would give you easy access to Heathrow, in that it is right next to Paddington Station. You can easily to to the sights from there. Yes, the Heathrow Express is more expensive than other modes of transport but it's very quick (as noted above by Camborne), and would definitely get you back to LHR quickly on the morning of your Italy flight. FYI, there is another Premier Inn nearby called the PI Paddington Basin, and is about a 5-minute walk from Paddington Station, so that would also be an option. But the newer one is closer and has gotten good reviews from those who have stayed there.

You could certainly stay at the airport, but I don't really see the need for it, as you have 2 nights in London, and it would take time and money to go back and forth.

ETA: Breakfasts are not included in the price at PIs but you can buy them separately and they are usually quite good. They offer a continental breakfast as well as a full cooked breakfast buffet for a slightly higher price. They also offer flexible prices for their rooms in that the highest price will be fully cancellable and the lowest will be non-refundable. Sometimes they offer a hybrid price where you pay upfront but the room is cancellable up to 28 days beforehand.

Hi Terri

Adding a link to Hotel 63

https://hotel63.co.uk

Also, when I said that it is walkable to and from Paddington Station, that would depend on luggage, weather and mobility.

And London is very expensive. I do not know how easy it will be to find something for around $200 a night.

but you can reach LHR in 15 minutes on the (vastly overpriced) HEX

If you book in advance Heathrow Express can often be found with an Early Bird fare for £10 (less than the Elizabeth Line).

When the £10 fare is sold out there are often other tiers of Advance Discounted Single fares of £17 and £20.

Even as close as tomorrow (22 September) there are £20 fares available, so it is quite hard (unless you just turn up and buy) to pay full price on the Heathrow Express.

Stay at 63 often. Book it.

No longer as cheap as it used to be…what is? However, easy stroll from Paddington.

63 is located across the road from the Lancaster Gate entrance into Hyde Park at the Serpentine. Believe there’s a coffee spot there now. Anyway, I’d walk from there along the adjacent path, past the Peter Pan statue, the Princess Diana memorial and to the Lido. Hopefully, the cafe at the Lido is operating. You could then follow a path up to Kensington Palace. Hopefully the green parrots will be out.

Pub experiences ( NOT the Swan) can be enjoyed at The Mitre Paddington or The Victoria Paddington. The latter has beautiful etched glass, and if you sit upstairs it’s a nice respite for a meal.

Lastly grew up in the South Bay before it became known as Silicon Valley. We’d drive up 101 passing Moffett Field and on up into The City to visit my aunt.

Think that neighborhood is called the Outer Sunset.

PM if you want more London intel.

We fly out of Terminal 5 at 10 am on our 3rd day

Is this a separate consideration from whether or not to stay a night or two in London?

If the flight to Italy is "international" - LHR is x-Schengen - should you be at the airport close to 7? How early would you have to leave your hotel in London for that scenario?

You could stay at the Premier Inn at Terminal 5 the night before, or one of the other terminal 5 hotels, and have an easier morning.

Then find a hotel in London for the first night with an easy connection to the airport. Store your bags on morning 2, enjoy London, and head back to the airport early evening.