flygirl

Good afternoon

Has anyone done this flight and if so, did you just opt for a hotel near Paddington? I would be landing at 10 PM which means midnight arrival at Paddington is my best guess.

I would only be in town three nights, the first of which will be arrival night which means only two full days. I've been to London many many many many times so not being on top of attractions is no big deal. I can walk to a few things and tube to the rest. A friend is coming into town (middle of two biz trips, not worth it for him to fly home) and actually is staying at the Paddington Hilton... I would be going on the Eurostar to Paris so for convenience I could either stay near one or the other train stations, I suppose. And being able to coordinate my day with him more easily makes sense. I know Paddington isn't exactly in the middle of the action.

good logic? Or not...

janisj

10PM isn't too late -- I wouldn't throw away a night at Paddington. I'd book where I wanted to stay all 3 nights and book a car service to the hotel At that time of night the traffic won't be bad.

Unless you want to stay at the Paddington Hilton to be close to your friend -- I'd pick a hotel in an area I liked better. And any area on the Piccadilly line will be very convenient to St Pancras.

Gardyloo

We prefer the day flights and usually just book a Priceline hotel near the airport, then go into the city the next morning. In numerous trips we've never paid more than US$100 for a 4-star place at LHR, such as the Marriott, Sheraton Skyline, Crowne Plaza, etc. By the time you get through the border controls and sort out the bus to the hotel, you have enough time for a snack and hit the sheets. Assuming you've been up since early on the east coast (or Chicago) you're plenty tired enough to turn in, and it really seems to knock jetlag way down - for us, at least.

janisj

I also have pricelined hotels at LHR several times -- usually for less than $75. But One of my main reasons for not suggesting that is because of the short trip and having to check in/check out/unpack twice. Not that you'd necessarily fully unpack for the one night, you'd still have the extra hassle.

So I'd stay in a nice central hotel (OR at the Paddington Hilton if being near the friend trumps neighborhood)

There would be no time difference between the Hilton and a LHR hotel - in fact you could be at Hilton quicker (if you were to take the Hotel Hoppa to the LHR hotel)

A car service to a central hotel might take 15-20 mins longer door-to-door (when factoring in the walk to the HEX and wait for the next train)

flanneruk

At 2300 GMT there's surprisingly little difference between the time it takes to get from baggage reclaim, with the driver from a prebooked car waiting with your name outside Customs, to a truly central London hotel and the time it takes to wait for a bus and get to an offairport "airport" hotel. And however nackered you think you might feel, it's still only 1800 EST. Even if I've got a car booked for the 90 mins drive back to the Cotswolds, I'm still not really ready for bed when I get home.

But there's a huge difference between the time, and pleasantness, the following morning of walking straight to where you want to start doing whatever you want to do, compared to repacking, checking out, waiting for a bus back to a terminal getting a rush-hour tube into central London, then having to dump your bags somewhere before starting your day.

If you're arriving at T4, this doesn't quite apply to staying at the hotel attached to the terminal. At all the other four terminals, the problem's more or less the same. No other hotel can be walked to. The other exceptions to this rule are possibly the Paddington Hilton, or the London Metropole, since I don't share janisj's distaste for the area round Paddington and they're at most 30 mins via the HEX from baggage reclaim (few other London hotels have such a choice of fabulous walks within a few yards of their lifts - or such enjoyable walks to anywhere else you want to get to.)

Otherwise, I'm 100% with janisj on this.

flygirl

Thank you everyone!

Flanner, you bring up a great point. DUH. I land at 10 PM but that's only 5 PM on my time - despite the fact that I will be waking at 5 AM to get ready/catch a cab etc... it's still early.

I'd never stay at a LHR hotel - not even if I had an early flight.

My favorite hotel was the (prior) Renaissance Chancery Court. I've stayed there when it was still a Marriott property, and then again after the first new owner... now a luxe company purchased them and I wonder if I can still them. Perfect location and just a wonderful hotel.

I did book Hilton Paddington (where my friend is staying) for 224L a night and I can always cancel. I do think his presence there might make this decision, though, as the time is limited and it would be nice to chat over OJ in the morning as to our plans. We only have two mornings together as the Sunday he flies off very early on another biz trip and I am on a train...

Right now my first priority is to get to Borough Market first thing (landing on a Friday) and get some more of that divine ginger fudge as well as the toasted cheese sandwich. My friend is on board with this. There is an exhibit at the IWM we both want to see, and, he wants to go back to the British Museum. I may or may not... I had a membership in 2013 in order to walk straight in to the Pompeii exhibit but never re-upped it.

I guess I better check out what other exhibits are on... still haven't decided on this. Will poke around at other hotels. I am likely to take a cab to St. Pancras as I will have luggage. I hate taking the tube with luggage.

Thank you again, all.

Ackislander

Having taken day flights often from Boston, I concur with gardyloo, janisj, and flanner.

With a 5 or 6 PM body time, I would want more than a bag of crisps on arrival. From Boston, we got in early enough to book dinner and beat the post-theater crowd.

Can anyone recommend a place to eat to fit your schedule? I care, even if a packet of crisps is enough for you

flygirl

Good idea! Will start a thread on late night London dining...

Gardyloo

Different strokes, etc. I'd only note that some of the day flights, e.g. ORD-LHR (AA) arrive late enough that any delay at all passing through I&C can make you miss the last HEX. The Chicago flight, for instance, arrives at 22:40, and the last HEX leaves around 23:30, as does the last train on the Piccadilly line, so in that case you have to use a car service. The Satanic Hotel Hoppa runs all night, bless their bloodless little hearts.

mirandaverandah

I take the AA flight that gets in at 2245, and it gets in early many times. I book a car service on the off chance that it doesn't, and because I have had a very long day. the last time I was in the arrivals hall by 2300, and the driver was still parking the car.

flygirl

For anyone still reading this:

Do you like the Grange Hotel line of hotels?

Which location would you prefer, for just three nights/two days - this chain have locations near the below:

St. Paul's (near Borough Market at least)
Tower Hill (seems a bit farther out from what we may be doing)
Holborn (I usually stay in this area and like it)
Russell Square - Bloomsbury - bonus, not far from ES train?
St James Park (nice area)
Gloucester Road (very cheap)

Thank you.

flygirl

I decided on the Grange Beauchamp hotel. A friend has stayed there and it's quite nice - it's in Bloomsbury. I'm saving almost 300 pounds for the three nights over the Paddington Hilton. And it's near St. Pancras which will be nice for the Eurostar.