Planning a family trip often involves a lot of moving parts, and finding the right hotel near Heathrow Airport can feel like a daunting task. With over 30 hotels in the area, choosing the best option for families can be overwhelming. After searching for a family-friendly hotel for our early morning flight to Chicago from Heathrow Terminal 3, we decided on the Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 based on recommendations. It was a fantastic choice!
We were initially a little unsure about choosing a hotel at Terminal 5 when our flight departed from Terminal 3. However, Terminal 3 only offered limited onsite hotels (Hilton Garden Inn at T2 and Aerotel at T3), and the Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 seemed like the ideal choice. Especially with our Hilton Gold Elite status, which promised a few extra perks.
We’ve stayed at several leading hotels in the Heathrow area on previous trips, and the Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 easily stands out as one of the best, especially for families. Let me explain why.
A Welcoming Oasis
Stepping into the stylish lobby, it was immediately apparent that this wasn’t your typical airport hotel. The moment we entered, we felt transported from the noisy hustle and bustle of the M25 and Heathrow, surrounded by a calming and elegant design.
Even though the hotel is located directly under Heathrow’s flight path, the rooms are incredibly soundproofed. We couldn’t hear any plane noise despite the exciting spectacle of huge aircraft flying just a few hundred feet overhead during our arrival.
The reception staff welcomed us with warmth and friendliness, especially treating our daughters like little VIPs from the moment they checked in until they left. Despite the hotel’s popularity with business travelers, it had a distinct family atmosphere and caters to children beautifully.
After a long drive along the M4 to Heathrow, we were delighted by the quick and efficient check-in process. Within minutes, we were handed our room keys, and our daughters excitedly led the way to their room.
Family-Friendly Accommodations
We opted for king and twin interconnecting rooms on the executive floor, and these rooms are definitely worth the extra cost. The hotel offers 36 interconnecting rooms ideal for families, providing ample space, which is crucial when traveling with older children who need extra space. There are also four dedicated family rooms, though they don’t have the interconnecting feature.
Having separate rooms means our daughters didn’t have to sleep on sofa beds, and we avoided the inevitable bedtime squabbles that occur when everyone’s crammed into a single room.
The bathrooms were a delight with both a bathtub and a separate shower, along with some stylish design touches like colorful lighting behind the vanity units, perfect for a modern Instagram post.
Executive Perks
Booking an executive level room comes with the added benefit of access to the executive lounge, which is definitely worth upgrading to if you don’t hold certain Hilton status.
The lounge provides numerous perks including complimentary afternoon tea, evening drinks and canapes, and breakfast the following morning. These savings often outweigh the cost of the upgrade. We quickly settled in and enjoyed the delightful afternoon tea service in the lounge.
The afternoon tea is served between 3pm and 5pm and offers a variety of teas, coffees, soft drinks, and a selection of freshly made sandwiches, cookies, cakes, scones, and jams. Our daughters loved the selection, as did my husband and I. It’s a relaxing way to start your stay, and the executive lounge at the Hilton T5 is truly impressive. Chloe and Holly received their own selection of homemade treats like scones and jam, chocolate cake, and more.
Thoughtful Touches
The warm welcome continued when we returned to our room and found a selection of cakes, chocolates, drinks, and, to our daughters’ delight, a box of sweets each. It’s these little touches that make the Hilton Terminal 5 a truly special family-friendly hotel.
Our spacious modern rooms featured all the amenities you’d expect from a hotel of this caliber: a large flat-screen TV, complimentary high-speed WiFi (free for Hilton Honours members, which is free to join), tea and coffee making facilities, and a selection of magazines. Executive rooms also include bathrobes, slippers, and two bottles of mineral water.
Restful Nights and Delicious Dining
One of the main reasons I enjoy staying at Hilton properties is their serenity beds. They are so comfortable to sleep in! With blackout curtains and triple-glazed windows, we slept soundly and were well-rested for our nine-hour flight the next morning.
In the evening, between 6 pm and 8 pm, the executive lounge offered a selection of canapes and drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. It was a great way to start the evening with pre-dinner drinks. Chloe and Holly made themselves at home, enjoying the complimentary snacks and drinks while relaxing on their iPads or using the lounge computers.
After a long day of travel, we decided to dine at the hotel’s Mr. Todiwala’s Kitchen restaurant for our evening meal. Cyrus Todiwala is one of Britain’s most unique and characterful chefs.
Dining in an AA rosette restaurant with kids can sometimes be daunting with limited menus, but not at Mr. Todiwala’s. The restaurant’s style and décor are distinct from the hotel’s, but they work exceptionally well, featuring open kitchens. Roy, the large wooden elephant centerpiece, was a hit with Chloe and Holly, as they each received a Roy elephant squishy toy in their room.
Culinary Delights
The restaurant is truly family-friendly and a great way to introduce children to some of the finest Indian cuisine. If Indian food isn’t to your liking, they also offer a range of English dishes.
We started with a selection of papads (poppadoms in the UK) along with a variety of pickles and chutneys. The girls enjoyed chicken samosas but their favorites were the dosas (Indian pancakes). For mains, the girls and I had the Chicken Tikka, and my husband chose the Murgh Makhani Pasanda along with fresh naan.
Beyond the delicious food, the service was exceptional. The staff was so welcoming and friendly, especially towards the girls, and nothing was too much trouble for them.
A Fantastic Start to Your Trip
Hilton breakfasts are known for their quality, and the buffet-style breakfast in the Gallery restaurant did not disappoint. There was a vast selection of options, from hot cooked breakfast items to pastries, yogurts, fruit, and cereals.
One of the girls’ favorite parts of breakfast is always the pancake machine. I think they have more fun making the pancakes than eating them!
Although this hotel is not located at the airport, despite the T5 in its name, it’s in a convenient location near J14 of the M25. It was just a 25-minute drive to our pre-booked parking at the short stay car park in T3 the next morning. If you are flying from Terminal 5, it would be a 10-minute drive or Hoppa bus ride away.
We encountered a slight detour when Google Maps decided to take us to T5 instead of T3, adding another 10 minutes to our journey. If you’re flying from T5, I also recommend checking out the hotel’s park and fly packages, which offer good value and are cheaper than booking your hotel stay and parking separately.
A Family-Friendly Gem
From the moment we arrived, the entire family felt well-cared for. The exceptional level of service during our stay was a credit to the hotel management, as it truly enhances the overall experience.
If you’re looking for one of the best airport hotels in the Heathrow area, you won’t be disappointed with the Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5. We highly recommend it, but be sure to opt for the executive level rooms, they are definitely worth it.
Prices at the Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 start at a reasonable £164 per night for an executive king room when booked directly on Hilton.com.
We were guests of the Hilton Heathrow T5.
