Is Heathrow a good place to stay in London?

Heathrow is the place to stay when your flight matters more than your sightseeing. The big hotels along Bath Road and at the terminals are a short bus or shuttle ride from check-in, so an early departure or a late arrival becomes much less stressful. From the terminals, the Elizabeth line, the Piccadilly line and the Heathrow Express take you into central London.

The area is built entirely around the airport. Bath Road is a long, busy road of hotels, car parks and offices, with planes taking off and landing right alongside. Most hotels have their own restaurants, bars and gyms, and some have pools, because there's little else around them. If you have time to spare, the medieval Harmondsworth Great Barn is close by, and plane spotters gather at Myrtle Avenue near the eastern end of the runways.

The downside is that there's nothing here for a city break. Every trip into London takes a bus and a train, evenings revolve around the hotel bar, and the shuttle buses between hotels and terminals usually cost extra. It's a place for a short stay rather than a whole trip.

What makes Heathrow worth considering is the peace of mind. You can sleep later before a morning flight, recover quietly after a long-haul arrival, and pay much less than in central London for a large, modern room, which is exactly what you need at the start or end of a trip.