If you are flying early from Heathrow, the choice is a hotel near the airport or a room in central London. Heathrow is about 15 miles west of the centre, and you pay for that distance twice: once in the night before, and once in the morning. This is how to weigh a night in the city against a night at the airport.
Why people stay in central London
It is where the things you want are. If you land in London a day before a flight and want dinner, a walk or a few hours of sightseeing, a central room makes sense. For a late-morning or afternoon flight it can also work well, because you can sleep normally and take a train at a reasonable hour.
Why Heathrow wins for an early flight
- The trip out is the risky part. Across London in the dark means one train, one delay, or one engineering closure between you and the plane.
- Trains start at a set hour. The Heathrow Express is reported to start at about 05:10, and other lines have their own first trains. A flight that checks in at 04:30 can leave you too late for them, so you are looking at a taxi, which can cost a lot.
- You gain sleep. A hotel you can walk to turns a 03:30 alarm into a 05:00 one.
- Several hotels are joined to the terminal. At Terminals 4 and 5 you can walk under cover, which makes the morning a short, dry step.
How long the trip from central London takes
| Way | Takes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Heathrow Express | About 15 minutes to Paddington | Fastest and dearest. Runs about every 15 minutes |
| Elizabeth line | About 35 minutes to central London | Runs through the centre, so it can suit you better than Paddington |
| Piccadilly line | About 50 to 60 minutes | Cheapest and slowest |
These are rail times only. Add the walk to the station at your end, the wait, and the walk at the airport. Check the first train against your check-in time before you commit.
The cost isn't what you think
A central room is not always cheaper, so compare the whole cost rather than the room rate. For central London, add the train fare for everyone travelling, and a taxi if you leave before the trains run. For a hotel at Heathrow, a walkable one has no transfer cost at all. A bus or shuttle hotel adds the fare per person.
A rule of thumb
- Flight before about 09:00: stay at Heathrow.
- Flight from late morning onwards, and you want the evening in town: central London is fine.
- Early flight and a late evening in town: go back to the airport the night before and eat there, or accept a taxi in the morning.
Hotels near Heathrow for an early flight
Which hotel depends on your terminal. Our early-flight short lists give the walk, the cost and our pick for each.
- Early-flight hotels for Terminal 2 and Terminal 3
- Early-flight hotels for Terminal 4
- Early-flight hotels for Terminal 5
Our guide to choosing the best hotel near Heathrow sorts all fifteen by terminal and budget, and the early-flight stays start from your situation.