Ann

We have an overnight layover in London in July. Will land in Heathrow around 1PM from Rome and will depart Heathrow around 6:30AM the next morning. Where should we stay that won't break the bank and is convienent to our schedule. Our son has never been to London and wanted to at least do a quickie overview or show in the West End. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

janis

With at flight that early you'd better stay at one of the airport hotels - since you need to be a LHR 2 hours ahead of time. The biggies (Marriott, Fortes, etc) are fairly expensive bur there are several moderate chains nearby that won't break the bank. Try Londontown.com and other hotel brokers for discounts.<BR><BR>Once you check in to the hotel - then you can take the Paddington express (fast) or tube (cheap) in to London and spend the rest of the day. Then you can take the train or tube back to LHR and the Hotel Hoppa bus back to your hotel.

Wayne

A good alternative that is only about a 10 minute taxi ride to Heathrow, and a beautiful place, is the village of Windsor. You might like Sir Christopher Wren's House, a nice hotel right on the Thames where you can relax on the patio and feed the ducks on the river. And of course, there's Windsor Castle right in town overlooking the village. If you choose to go into London, you always have that alternative, but at least when you return for the night, you can pre-arrange for an early taxi pickup to go to the airport in the morning.

Lori

With a flight that early in the a.m. (remember you need to be at the airport at 4:30 a.m. - which means getting up probably about 3 a.m.) I would stay no place but right at Heathrow. There are a number of hotels there, unfortunately most are somewhat expensive. Check the websites for Holiday Inn Crown Plaza, Sheraton (there are 2 of them), Radisson, etc. We've stayed at the Hilton which is connected to Term 4 by a walkway which we found very convenient. It's fairly expensive but check it out anyway, you never know. Be sure to ask the hotel you do decide on if they have transportation to the terminals at 4 a.m. Some say 24 hours but they don't actually have a regular run in the middle of the night and it has to be requested. Whatever you do don't stay anyplace but the airport, I would not run the risk of missing the flight.<BR><BR>As for going into London - we'll I'd not do a show when I had to get up at 3 a.m. but each to their own. Show's get over between 10:30-11:00 and it takes about one hr. to get to Heathrow by Tube - you are not talking much sleep here. You can get a taxi to Paddington and take the Heathrow Express which is faster but it all takes time just the same and taxi's and the Express are more expensive. I'd probably just take the Tube into central London (Picadilly) and walk around, you have plenty of time for that. Remember, getting into Heathrow at 1:00 does not necessarily mean that - planes are often later and immigration takes a little while (more if there are a lot of planes at one time).<BR><BR>Again, be sure to ask about transportation to the a/p when you book the hotel if you don't stay at the Hilton. If they don't have bus service be sure you can get a cab at that early hour.

Grasshopper

I always stay at the Heathrow Holiday Inn. It's moderately priced and the staff will drive you to the airport in the morning, even very early (in a Mercedes Benz!) Takes about 5 minutes.<BR><BR>I've flown out of Heathrow twice since 9/11 and both before 9 am. Both times I walked through everything with no lines. Check with the hotel but my guess is 2 hours early is plenty of time to, and he'll still have to stand around and wait.

beth anderson

hi<BR><BR>given that it is not an international flight, you should be fine with an hour ahead of time. if you are nervous, give yourself an hour and a half. <BR><BR>that early in the AM - you won't have issues though with lines and what not. getting there by 5 for a 630 AM flight might actually be overkill.<BR><BR>Beth

Ann

Thanks for the advice. I think that staying at the airport is the way to go. You all are also right about attending a show. Just going into town and seeing a few sights will be plenty. I will check the HOliday Inn/Crown Plaza options. I know that they have a 21 day advance purchase non-refundable rate in US hotels but will check for international as well. Any suggestions on where to eat that night?

beth anderson

Hi Ann<BR><BR>Most shows start at 730-800ish. It usually wouldn't be an issue (staying out too late to get up in time to get to the airport by 5 AM) but... never underestimate the jet lag/dark room factor. SNOOZE!<BR><BR>zipping around town on an open air tour bus would be just the ticket for your day in town. You can hop on hop off everywhere. 14 pounds for 24 hours, last I checked.<BR><BR>too many places to select from foodwise. what is your favorite?<BR><BR>Beth

Dot

Do you have a link for Sir Christopher Wren's house hotel mentioned above? TIA One fairly reasonable place we stayed was a Quality Inn -- I think the town address was Slough, but not positive.

Ann

I checked and got a pretty decent rate at the HOliday Inn closest to Heathrow. There was also a decent one at the Le Meridian hotel by the airport. <BR><BR>Foodwise.......we are game for anything. We will have just spent two weeks in Italy so something a little different would be nice. Nothing fancy but a good place for a last meal in Europe before heading back to the US.<BR><BR>

Grasshopper

If you're in town anyway, just pick a place that appeals to you. Trying to aim for a particular place will really cramp your style when you're seeing the sights that appeal to you. More often that not you won't be too unhappy if you do something along the way.<BR><BR>

eric

I too would stay at a hotel at the airport. After checking into the hotel, I would jump on the subway and go into London and have a ball. When tired and ready for bed, take the subway back to the airport hotel and get ready for your early morning flight. You are already at the airport so there is NO worry about traffic,ect. Also, I never go to the airport earlier than 60-90 minutes before my flight leaves. Three hours in advance is a bunch of bull as far as I am concerned. Others will disagree....

tom

Don't ask for the "subway", since that will only get you to a pedestrian underpass. (I think I would be suspect of any advice given by someone telling you to take the subway into London)

curt

Your ONLY choice is the Hilton located in the airport and connected to Terminal 4 by an enclosed walkway. It may cost a bit more but believe me it will be worth it. No worry about depending on the hotel driver or finding a taxi to take you to the airport, no frets over possible traffic tie ups, etc. Go directly to the hotel after arrival, check in, drop your bags, and head into London on either the underground or the Heathrow Express train. Once in the city, explore, eat, go to show, whatever, then after you are finished back to Heathrow by tube or train, off to bed, and up and at it early the next morning. You might get a good rate, check the Hilton web site for specials...a few weeks ago it was possible to book rooms at Heathrow Hilton for under 100 pounds a night (on certain nights, etc). Have fun.

Ann

Thanks everyone. I checked out the rate at the Hilton and it is almost twice as much as the Holiday Inn a mile away. It wouldn't be that big a deal but we need two rooms for our family. I will keep watch for a good rate there. Do you know what flights go into Terminal 4? We are coming from Rome on British Airways.

ttt

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Andre

Ann<BR><BR>Much more important than where your first flight lands is where the early morning one takes off!<BR><BR>The Hilton is interesting ONLY if you are DEPARTING from Terminal 4, which is almost a separate airport! For all other terminals, you will have to take the Heathrow Express train one stop and walk through miles of tunnels!<BR><BR>Your airline's website or www.baa.co.uk should tell you which terminal you are leaving from.

kam

A classic restaurant in London is Rules---good choice for someone who's never been there and has limited time. They have a pretheatre fixed price dinner that begins at 5pm, but you don't have to be going to the theatre. We took our son there on his first trip to London when he was 12. Food is British, but good---game and roasts. Good boys' food!

Ann

We are flying into Terminal 4 around 1PM on British Airways but leaving at 6:50AM from Terminal 3 on American Airlines. It still may be convienent for arrival to stay at the Hilton so we are near the express train to Paddington Station etc. Any thoughts?

London resident

Heathrow Express to Paddington is accessible from inside all of the terminals, so it really doesn't matter which airport hotel you stay at so long as they have a shuttle service to the terminals. Cheers,