Airport Stay Guide
LHR · T5 · Long layover

Where to rest on a long layover at Heathrow Terminal 5

The short answer: Terminal 5 has no hotel you pay for by the hour, so you pay for a room either way. With seven hours or more, take the cheaper pod hotel and use the time you have.

3 stays · Last checked · How we check

Your trip

The short list at a glance

Three stays compared on what you pay for a few hours of rest, and how much of the layover goes on getting there and back.

StayHow you reach T5Door to check-inRoom, typicalTransferTypical total
Our pickLowest totalThistle London Heathrow Terminal 5Heathrow PodRuns 04:00 to 00:1515 min£80–£140£35£115–£175
Also considerSofitel London HeathrowCovered walkwayNothing to book5 min£170–£280£0£170–£280
Also considerHilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5Hotel Hoppa busRuns 04:00 to midnight25 min£100–£170£26£126–£196

Totals are a typical room rate plus getting to the hotel and back to the terminal, for two adults. A day rate may be lower; we have not sampled those. Checked October 2026; your dates may cost more or less.

The stays, and why

Our pickLowest total

Thistle London Heathrow Terminal 5

Heathrow Pod15 min to check-inRuns 04:00 to 00:15
Photo to come
Room, typical
£80–£140
Transfer
£35Pod, £8.75 each, two adults, both ways
Typical total
£115–£175
Who it suits
Layovers of seven hours or more, where the pod ride fits inside the time you have.
Why we would choose it
A five minute pod ride each way, usually at the lowest rate of the three, with a full room to rest and shower in.
The compromise
The pod leaves from the Terminal 5 car park, so allow about 15 minutes each way, and you pay for a full room whatever the hour.
Worth paying more?
Over the walkable hotel, usually not. The saving on a layover is large and the extra minutes are not.
Also consider

Sofitel London Heathrow

Covered walkway5 min to check-inNo transfer cost
Sofitel London Heathrow
Room, typical
£170–£280
Transfer
£0
Typical total
£170–£280
Who it suits
Shorter layovers, or anyone who wants the most rest from the least time.
Why we would choose it
A five minute covered walk each way, so more of the layover goes on resting.
The compromise
Usually the highest rate on this list, for a room you may use for a few hours in the day.
Worth paying more?
Only if your layover is short enough that every minute counts. On a long one, the cheaper stay does the same job.
Also consider

Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5

Hotel Hoppa bus25 min to check-inRuns 04:00 to midnight
Photo to come
Room, typical
£100–£170
Transfer
£26Bus, £13 return each, two adults
Typical total
£126–£196
Who it suits
Layovers of eight hours or more, where a bus every half hour does not matter.
Why we would choose it
The Hotel Hoppa bus runs from 04:00 to midnight and takes about ten minutes, with a full-service hotel at the end.
The compromise
The bus comes about every half hour each way, so waiting takes more of the layover than the pod does.
Worth paying more?
Not over the pod hotel unless you prefer the Hilton. It costs a little more and takes a little longer.

Not quite your trip?

The right stay changes with the situation and the terminal.

Dep 06:40

Early flight

Sleep close enough that the morning is a short walk or a short ride.

Early flight staysArr 23:55

Late arrival

Get from the gate to a bed without waiting on a shuttle that has stopped.

Late arrival staysConnect 9h

Overnight connection

Decide whether to stay inside the terminal, next to it, or head out.

Connection staysFamily × 4

Family trip

Rooms that fit everyone, and a transfer that works with bags and a buggy.

Family stays
Long layover from another terminalTerminal 2Terminal 3Terminal 4Everything for Terminal 5The Heathrow guide