Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 – Not around the corner but with plenty of pleasant relaxation

General Info and Location

Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, is, as the name suggests, at Heathrow airport in west London. The, “Terminal 5” part, can, however, easily be misleading if you think that the hotel is in close proximity to the airport terminal with the same name. In fact, the hotel is almost one and a half kilometers from terminal 5, and the only reason for the choice of name was to distinguish it from the other Hilton hotel at Heathrow, at Terminal 4.

The hotel is located in a residential area, west of the airport, and is accessible by the hotel shuttle bus, ‘Hoppa’, which, unfortunately, is not free. A bus ticket back and forth is £8. Buses depart from all terminals and take between 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the terminal and time of day. There are no public buses or trains that run between Heathrow and the hotel. The hotel is very close to the M25, and not far from the M4 and M40, making it easy to get to by car.

The Room

The standard room had a modern interior but was otherwise fairly dark. The room, however, was in perfect condition and to a high standard, as one might expect in a relatively new hotel. The interior consists of a large bed, a desk with chair, armchair with table, wardrobe and kettle. The bathroom was fairly simple but had some very attractive lighting.

Standard Room at the Hilton Heathrow Terminal 5

The hotel is located right under the approach to Heathrow’s northern runway, which means that planes fly right over the hotel. When the wind is blowing in the opposite direction, planes fly over the hotel directly after take off. The hotel and the rooms are, however, completely soundproof and you can not hear the planes passing.

Stylish bathroom decor

Eating and Drinking

The hotel has several bars, cafes and restaurants, all located in or around the hotel’s spacious lobby. There is a choice between a relaxed British restaurant (where breakfast is served), an Indian restaurant, two bars and a coffee shop. If you live on the executive floor, you are also given access to the executive lounge on the top floor.

The breakfast is served on the balcony in the atrium, and there is a pretty good range of dishes, with both continental breakfast and English breakfast. The food is fresh and the buffet well managed.

The atrium with bar and coffee shop

Other Facilities

The hotel has a surprisingly good spa, gym and relaxation area, which, unlike many other hotels, are run by a separate company that specialises in spa treatments. The relaxation area includes a sauna, a swimming pool (which at the touch of a button can be made into a large jacuzzi), lounge chairs, state-of-the-art showers, and a steam room with music. During my visit, traditional French Chanson was played.

The relaxation area is well worth a visit, great for winding down after a long journey, and it is also included in the rate.

Internet Connection

WIFI is available throughout the hotel, however, you have to pay for it.

Service and Status Benefits

The service at reception and in the restaurants was both efficient and friendly. As a silver member of Hilton HHonors, I also received the benefits I was entitled to. When the hotel staff failed to arrange the two bottles of water in my room, which I was expecting, I took the equivalent from the minibar, and these were removed from the bill without a blink.

Verdict

A modern hotel with many amenities, great service and a very good relaxation area. The main drawback is the location, quite far from the airport and with a hotel bus that you have to pay for.