Question for those who have flown into Heathrow night before a cruise?

[jujubiee4]

We originally planned to stay at Hilton as it looked the closest and we could walk to it. However I just
watched a video and it looked quite long. There is no onsite hotel correct? No uber? Any suggestions
for a hotel with easy access from airport? Or just stick with Hilton Garden Inn? Will be traveling 12 hours so will be ready to crash. lol

 

[Mommb]

We have stayed twice at the Hilton Garden. Yes, the walk is a bit long, but it is well-labeled and you can bring a luggage cart (which is available at no cost at baggage claim) all the way.

 

[jujubiee4]

We have stayed twice at the Hilton Garden. Yes, the walk is a bit long, but it is well-labeled and you can bring a luggage cart (which is available at no cost at baggage claim) all the way.

Did DcL transport pick you up at Terminal 2?

 

[Mommb]

We didn’t use DCL transportation, since we flew in 2 days before our cruises. The first time we used a bus service that stopped at Stonehenge on the way to Southampton, and the second time we took a car service to a hotel in central London. I would guess there is a way to walk back to the airport to catch the DCL bus, but I haven’t looked into it.

 

[travellingwithnikki]

Just be aware as there are two Hilton Garden Inn's at Heathrow and only one of them is connected to a terminal.

The "Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Airport" is located a taxi ride away

The "Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3" is located a short walk from both terminals - I've stayed there many times myself.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

https://www.ihg.com/staybridge/hotels/us/en/west-drayton/lonbr/hoteldetail

We stayed here for the night before our cruise to Norway. It was very clean and offers a free breakfast, in 2019. lol.
I could see it from the runway as soon as our plane touched down. I would not attempt to walk there. We took a taxi.
There was an Italian restaurant in between the Staybridge and an adjacent Holiday Inn. It had pretty good pizza.
We'll probably stay there again in September when we sail from Southampton. (non-DCL cruise)

 

[AgentMama]

We haven't cruised out of London, but we have Ubered and found the fares reasonable. The pickup is in the parking garage.

 

[angel's momma]

For the 2024 WBTA we booked the Sofitel (terminal 5) through DCL, and used DCL transfers which pick up at the Sofitel. It was a long walk & train from our terminal 3 arrival, but it was easy, and we like to book through DCL. We have it booked again for the 2025 WBTA.

 

[lois00525]

Last year we booked the Sofitel on our own only because we stayed 2 nights, and DCL offered one night only. We booked DCL transfers from the Sofitel. We arrived at Terminal 3, and took a taxi to the Sofitel because we were tired from the flight and chose not to walk. This year we are taking the WBTA also. On the day we arrive at LHR, we are taking an Uber to Windsor and staying there for 2 nights, and then booked one night at the Sofitel through DCL and plan to use DCL transfers to the port. It was easy, and the Sofitel is a great hotel.

 

[yowcruiser]

The terminal in which you arrive will guide the answer here... Arriving at T2, I'd say that the Garden Inn is it if you are looking to avoid transportation (taxi, paid shuttle, inter-terminal train). I have stayed there before - no issues. I did stay at the T4 Hilton as well which requires a bit more "planning", but remains a decent option. There appears to be another option next to T3 called Aerotel - never stayed, so can't comment. As was mentioned by others, at T5 is the "nice" option is the Sofitel

 

[Aquagirl]

We have stayed at the Sofitel several times when in Londaon and my family loves it. I have not reserved via DCL, it seems to be cheaper to reserve on your own. I usually book via my credit card and save.

 

[tlprice]

When we went on our Northern Europe/Norway cruise in September 2023 we took a taxi to Courtyard by Marriott London Heathrow Airport (it's not too far and I had a free night through Marriott). They had a kiosk in the lobby to arrange a ride back to the airport in the morning. We returned to Heathrow in the morning to take our DCL bus to Southampton. It was all really easy.

 

[jujubiee4]

When we went on our Northern Europe/Norway cruise in September 2023 we took a taxi to Courtyard by Marriott London Heathrow Airport (it's not too far and I had a free night through Marriott). They had a kiosk in the lobby to arrange a ride back to the airport in the morning. We returned to Heathrow in the morning to take our DCL bus to Southampton. It was all really easy.

Do you remember how much the taxi rides were? I assume there was a taxi stand by the curb. And the
DCL bus picked you up at any terminal you requested or was there a general one for pickups?

My husband thinks we should hire car service when we arrive and go straight to a Southampton
hotel to stay there. After a long flight im hesitant to want to be in a car another couple of hours. I wonder
if anyone has done that?

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

We didn’t use DCL transportation, since we flew in 2 days before our cruises. The first time we used a bus service that stopped at Stonehenge on the way to Southampton, and the second time we took a car service to a hotel in central London. I would guess there is a way to walk back to the airport to catch the DCL bus, but I haven’t looked into it.

which bus service did you use? Going on a Non-DCL cruise out of Portsmouth and we would love to do this if the timing works out.

 

[Mommb]

which bus service did you use? Going on a Non-DCL cruise out of Portsmouth and we would love to do this if the timing works out.

We used International Friends (https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/). Their website indicates they drop off at Southampton and Dover but not Portsmouth, but you could inquire whether Portsmouth is possible.

 

[CarolynU]

There is a difference depending upon which terminal you are flying into. There is a hotel inside the terminal of 2/3 I believe but Im not sure about the others. I always stay at The HIlton Garden Inn Terminal 2 and its only a short walk across the car park from 2 and a little further from 3.

 

[jujubiee4]

There is a difference depending upon which terminal you are flying into. There is a hotel inside the terminal of 2/3 I believe but Im not sure about the others. I always stay at The HIlton Garden Inn Terminal 2 and its only a short walk across the car park from 2 and a little further from 3.

That is currently what I reserved. Did you walk back to Terminal 2 for DCL pickup the next morning?
Was it far? thanks

 

[Girl of the South]

Stayed at Hilton Garden Inn T2 in October. You just walk through the parking lot on a painted path. If you are looking at the parking lot, walk towards the left end. The path is along the office where people pay for parking. It’s across from the Marks & Spencer’s end of the terminal. Yeah, grab a luggage cart. They are free! In the morning we walked back over to T2 to catch the DCL bus. Took less than 10 minutes. Incredibly convenient.

We ate hamburgers (expensive) at the bar on the top floor of the Hilton. But you can grab sandwiches or salads (pre made) at Marks & Spencer’s or Boots (at opposite ends of Arrivals).

 

[Girl of the South]

Here is a photo of the way there. See the striped sidewalk on the right? Just follow it to the hotel. There are signs, too.

 

[bookbabe626]

We stayed at the LHR Hilton T2/T3 overnight last week on the way home from a non-Disney cruise. We were flying in and out of T3, and it was convenient because our flight home was pretty early. It’s a decent hotel, not fancy but there’s good soundproofing on the windows so you can’t hear the planes or traffic.

The walk is only about 15 min from T3, but it feels longer because it’s mostly underground and pretty twisty. It’s a lot easier than catching the hotel shuttle to other nearby hotels, though, since you are relying only on your own feet and don’t have to worry about delays with shuttles, etc. We used this video to “see” the walk beforehand, there’s lots of walkthroughs on YouTube.