This will be a twist on our normal hotel review — we only stayed here for several hours after our United flight to London. After landing at Terminal 2 and getting through immigration, the Hilton Garden Inn is just a short walk away. There’s not a ton of signage in the terminal, but my advice is to go outside, pass the crowd of people waiting for arrivals, and head across toward the car park/garage. The hotel is accessible through an entry inside the garage, so we never even saw the exterior of the building — which apparently looks like this:
Booking a Day Room
We booked a day-use room directly through Hilton’s website, which is surprisingly easy to do. (Here’s our post on how to book day rooms.)
The cost was £99 (about $134). We arrived around 7:00 a.m., and even though the booking stated check-in at 9:00 a.m., the front desk immediately let us head up to our room — a big win after an overnight flight. For us, we’d rather spend a little less on the flight, skipping business class, and spend the money to get a few hours of sleep in a real bed upon arrival. This also helps us get over jet lag.
Location & View
The hotel’s biggest advantage is convenience. It’s attached to Terminal 2 via a covered walkway, and you can reach Terminal 3 in about 10 minutes. We had a view of Heathrow’s surface roads, with planes visible in the distance.
The Room
For what we needed — a quiet, dark, and comfortable space to crash for a few hours — the Hilton Garden Inn delivered exactly that.
The bed was firm but comfortable, with crisp linens and decent pillows. We both got solid rest despite being right next to the airport — the soundproofing was excellent, and we didn’t hear a single plane or hallway noise. There were plenty of plugs to recharge devices before or after a flight.
The room stayed completely dark thanks to full blackout curtains, and while the air conditioning controls were a bit more complicated than necessary, they did work once we figured out how to turn it on.
The bathroom was compact but modern, with good water pressure and an overhead rain shower — exactly what we needed after a red-eye flight.
Amenities were minimal — a small fridge, kettle, and instant coffee packets — but for a few hours of rest, we couldn’t have asked for more.
Hotel Layout & Amenities
The Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 is laid out in a triangular shape, which means all the rooms have exterior views — a nice touch for an airport hotel.
The lobby isn’t large or fancy, but it’s comfortable and functional. There are a few chairs for waiting guests, and check-in was quick and friendly, even early in the morning.
Next to the front desk, there’s a grab-and-go section with snacks, drinks, and a self-serve coffee machine labeled “Caffeine Station.” It’s exactly the kind of setup you’d expect from a business traveler–friendly hotel connected to a major airport.
There’s also a fitness center and an all-day restaurant and bar, which reviews suggest are popular with travelers catching early-morning flights. The Runway Bar, located upstairs, reportedly offers some of the best tarmac views at Heathrow — though we didn’t have time to check it out this visit.
Earning Points
For those wondering whether day-use stays earn Hilton Honors points — the answer is yes. We earned 2,233 base points, plus 1,786 Gold Elite bonus points and the 750-point MyWay bonus for choosing the points option at Hilton Garden Inn.
However, the stay didn’t count as a qualifying night toward elite status. That’s not a surprise since it wasn’t an overnight booking, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re chasing status.
Final Thoughts
For travelers arriving early at Heathrow or connecting through for just a few hours, the Hilton Garden Inn at Terminals 2 and 3 is hard to beat. The location couldn’t be more convenient, the rooms are quiet and comfortable, and being able to book a short day stay makes it ideal for catching up on rest after a long flight.
It’s not a luxury stay, but it delivers exactly what it promises: a solid, reliable airport hotel steps from your arrival gate — and that’s often all you really need.
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1 comment
I’ve stayed there several times. When returning to SEA from Europe I usually fly to LHR and stay there the night before taking the morning BA flight home. The only caveat is if you’re departing from T5, allow plenty of time to get there as it’s a bit of a hike to the tube.