Arr Stansted; Dep LHR, one night in London: where?
 

For my Sept trip, flying from Perugia, Italy and arriving Stansted 1 p.m.; I depart from Heathrow the next day at 10:35 a.m. for LAX (then to SFO) after two 2 weeks in Italy. I've been to London a bit but always enjoy it.

Would you recommend staying in town a night or heading out toward Heathrow? City hotels are pricey but I can always stay at Victory Services Club for excellent price and decent location (am on my own this part of trip).

Recommendations? Thanks!

Personally I'd take the bus to Heathrow and stay near the airport. I'd spend what remains of the afternoon and evening in Windsor rather than having to deal with central London and <i>then</i> be up super early to get to the airport in time.

Thanks, Gardyloo -- I haven't spent time in Windsor area and I would like to avoid fuss, so I am looking at staying near Terminal 5 and then spending the afternoon before flight in Windsor.

I'd also do Windsor -- except don't plan on having 'an afternoon' there-- with a 1 PM arrival at STN you likely won't arrive at LHR until maybe 5 PM-ish. The coach only runs once an hour and takes between 90 mins and 2 hours (depending on traffic on the M25). By the time you take the Hoppa to your hotel and check in, then catch a cab or local bus to Windsor. So you will have time for dinner.

I should have said what is left of the afternoon.

Stay in Windsor rather than an airport hotel. Get a Windsor based taxi company to pick you up from Heathrow and return you there the next day

I have a tentative res at a Terminal 5 Thistle hotel! But am open to Windsor -- any recs?

I'd stay at the Thistle just to use the POD to the terminal. http://www.thistle.com/hotels/united...hrow_pods.html

I would stay at T5. The weekday traffic in the morning to LHR can be bad from Windsor and that general area.

I wouldn't completely forget about staying in central London. If you stay near Covent Garden or Leicester Square, you can go to a show, then take take the Piccadilly Line direct to Heathrow. Takes an hour from Covent Garden or Leicester to Heathrow. Downside is that hotels in that part of town tend to be more expensive than elsewhere.

If you want to stay near T5 the Sofitel there is a very nice airport hotel....

Thanks, everyone! I did stay at Terminal 5, Thistle (downmarket, noisy during the day and early evening, but accessible by POD (for 5 eu) and good price) The Sofitel did look a whole lot nicer!

Unfortunately I was pretty beat from the travels and didn't make it into Windsor this trip.

National Express bus worked fine once it arrived (late), and local management of the numerous busses at Stanstead was a bit inept (contrary information about where LHR bus was to pick up, etc.) but otherwise an easy trip.