Author: Bob Handford
At Heathrow Airport complementary hotel buses to the airports hotels were banned years ago as they were causing severe congestion around the passenger terminals.
In their place the airport authority introduced Hoppa Buses which run scheduled routes from the passenger terminals, each servicing 4 or 5 airport hotels.
The only airport hotels you can walk to at Heathrow Airport are the expensive Hilton Terminal 4 and Sofitel at Terminal 5.
The Hoppa Buses work out quite expensive, considering the distance. About £4 per person each way. Typically they run about every 30 minutes between about 5 a.m and midnight.
For many hotels at Heathrow you can use public buses free of charge along the airport perimeters where many of Heathrow’s hotels are.
This includes the main hotel strip, the Bath Road.
The local buses run more frequently than the Hoppa Buses and some of the main routes run 24×7.
They won’t take you to the hotel reception door like Hoppa, but often a very short walk away at the nearest bus stop.
Heathrow’s terminals are miles apart, best choice and frequencies are if you are using Terminals 1 and 3 as the main bus station is between them.
From Terminals 4 and 5 you can take the Heathrow Express train free to Heathrow Central which is beneath the bus station, though a 5 minute walk.
These free buses from the Central Bus Station run far more frequently than the Hoppa Buses. Many routes also run 24×7, unlike the Hoppa Buses.
From Terminal 5, choice is much more limited. The 423 bus starts from Terminal 5 and runs along the length of the Bath Road about every 20 minutes past all the hotels there and at night the N9 night bus runs along a very similar route.
Terminal 4 is on the far side of the airport from most of the hotels. There are less frequent buses from T4 to T5 and others that loop around the east side of the airport before travelling the eastern end of the Bath Road before going into the bus station at Heathrow Central.
Full details of routes and hotels serviced by these free buses are on the main web site at the Local Buses At Heathrow page
Below is a short video clip I shot showing a trip from the bus station on one of the buses, route 105 along the Bath Road passing many of the most popular hotels that you can identify.
Heathrow Hotels – Comparison of all mainstrean Heathrow Hotels
Heathrow Bath Road Hotel District – What to expect in vicinity
50 Comments
Dear Bob,
Picking our daughter up at Terminal 3 Friday morning at 06.30hr. we plan to arrive by car the evening before and stay at a hotel. How easy is it to catch the bus into the airport. Any ideas which hotel will be the easiest hotel to go in and out on free bus. The video is great.
The line of hotels along the Bath Road are the easiest (Renaissance, Park Inn, Radisson Edwardian, Sheraton Skyline, Marriott, Holiday Inn Ariel and Ibis.
But you should factor in the overnight parking charges of staying at these hotels it can be eye watering.
Hi,
I have a booking at Crown Plaza. Is Hoppa bus service the only option?
The Crowne Plaza is quite isolated.
There is a public bus that goes by the Crowne Plaza but it doesn’t go into the airport just around the airport perimeter, so while technically it is possible to shave a little of the cost over the Hoppa, realistically Hoppa is your only viable option, bar a taxi
Arriving T3 going to Premier Inn T5. In a prior reply you suggested Heathrow Express train from Heathrow Central to T5, then 423 bus. But if I was willing to pay the Hoppa fee (carrying some heavy luggage) would H4 from Heathrow Central be the right route? It does not show Premier T5 as a destination but does show Thistle London which is across the street.
The official documentation for the Hoppa Bus only shows a Hoppa Service from Terminals 4 and 5.
But the Premier Inn T5 is a new hotel and I think its probably a matter of the information not being updated and a service is running.
As you say the Thistle opposite has a hotel hoppa service from T1/T3 and I’ve seen Hoppa Buses come out of the Thistle and go into the Premier T5 but that could have been a T4/T5 bus
What is so frustrating with so many airport hotels is that they don’t give any details themselves how you are expected to get to the terminals on their web sites.
To make 100% sure you’d need to contact the hotel.
Dear Sir,
May we take the free bus to and from Termianl 5 to Ibis Hotel or Premier Inn T5?
we are not sure, because we are a couple with a child of 7 years, BUT with 6 luggages.
so, may we?
thanks
You can take the 423 bus from T5 to Premier Inn T5 free, but not the Ibis.
The bus goes past the premier inn on your left and stops about 75 yards past it.
If your party can carry all your luggage on boarding the bus without assistance there is no reason why you cannot use, otherwise use the Hoppa Bus.
Dear Bob,
which are the free buses from Heathrow Airport to Premmier Inn Bath Road
and other way round, from Premmier Inn to Airport?
Thanx in advance
Maria
The Premier Inn Bath Road is outside the free bus zone.
The 105 and 111 run a 24×7 service with stops outside the hotel and terminating at Heathrow Central Bus Station. Fare is £2.40
Dear Bob,
I thank you very much for your prompt answer
Maria
Dear Bob
My family is visiting london and will stay at the holiday inn m4 j4 sipson way, west drayton is there a bus to oxford street. ?
I’m afraid that hotel is quite isolated. There is only one local bus and that goes noweher near London.
You’ll have to make your way back to the airport and then get the Underground or train into London.
Unless you take the expensive Heathrow Express train the journey is going to be about 90 minutes.
It might be more convenient and cheaper if you found a hotel in London itself.
If you ask your concierge there is an alternative. You can get the 222 bus from in front of the hotel to West Drayton Station then get the train to Paddington then a bus to Oxford Street
In Sipson Village there is a convenience store that will sell you a Travelcard which will cover all 3.
Staying at Ibis on Bath road and i have to meet my daughter at 0630 @T4 Tuesday 16th April as shes flying in from Bangkok.What is the best way to get to the terminal for this time from this hotel?
There are many London buses from bus stop by the lights/traffic junction close to the Ibis.
Get any bus going to Heathrow Central, this journey is free and many of the routes run 24×7
From the bus station follow the signs to the Heathrow Express train station and get a train over to T4, this is also free. Trains run every 15 minutes
Thank you, very much appreciated.
HI Bob,
Thanks for taking the time to un-confuse all us travelers through Heathrow. We will be landing in T4 around 9pm and figured we would just stay at the Hilton T4 as they are having 20% off right now and it is simpler. But when researching options on how to get to T3 the next morning around 5:45am, I was drawing a blank. It is a Sunday morning and it looked like the Heathrow Connect didn’t run until 6am. Are there public buses we could take earlier?
First Heathrow Express shuttle train from T4 to Central is 05:53
First London Underground train from T4 to Central is 05:46 on Sundays.
My understanding is that the London Underground is now free as well as the Heathrow Express trains in Hetahrow
The 555 London bus is also due T4 to Central Bus Station at 5:00 and is also free but goes around the airport perimeter and takes 15 minutes
Thanks so much!
Hi Bob
I’m scheduled to arrive on 29 March 2013 at 10.00pm into T4 from Doha after clearing immigration etc, maybe too late for Heathrow Connect and Heathrow Express and any national express buses (all ceased operations after 11.30pm).
My hotel is situated in Sussex Garden Paddington.What is the best/cheapest way of completing the trip to Paddington. Awaiting for your reply and thanking you in advance.
Rgds,
Rafidah
Last Heathrow Express train from T4 is 23:41 which you should comfortably make with a floight at 22:00
Dear Bob,
Thank you for your advise but where to buy the HE ticket at Terminal 4? Please guide me all the way.
There is a Heathrow Express ticket office at the station beneath the terminal and in the arrivals hall.
From within the terminal look up at the yellow signs and follow directions to Heathrow Express
Hi Bob
I’m arriving 11.00pm into T3 from US, after clearing immigration etc, too late for buses.
However, if I am reading this correctly, I could book a room at Jury’s and get the tube to Hatton Cross and walk to the Hotel. The Tube runs until 12.00am correct?
Thx
Joe.
Unless you are arriving on a Sunday you should get down to the Underground before the last one at 00:20 to Hatton X
If not just walk over to the bus station and the 285 bus runs all night also to Hatton Cross and is Free
Great – thank you very much……
Joe
Wow, thank. You. So. Much Bob for. That info. What. A. Great help. You are awesome.keep up the good work.
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Hi Bob,
Great information. My family are travelling from Los Angeles to Heathrow.next week. We will be staying at Premiere Inn 15 Bath Road. Can you tell us which Terminal deals with International flights arrivals. I think it is # 1.What is the best way to get there.and where would we go. eg . which bus # and from where, ? Will there be a charge?
All Heathrow terminals are dominated by International flights. From LA, BA fly to T5, Delta to T4, United & Aie New Zealand to T1, American and Virgin to T3
The Premier Inn Bath Road is a fair way from the airport, from T4 and T5 a long way.
There are Hoppa Buses from each terminal to this Premier Inn (note there are 3 Premier Inn’s at Heathrow all served by different Hoppa Bus routes) that run about every 30 minutes. This costs 4 GBP per person.
This Premier Inn is outside the free bus zone. From the bus station at Heathrow between T1 and T3 the 105 and 111 red London bus run about every 5 minutes 24×7 and stop the other side of the road from the Premier Inn. These cost 2.40 GBP.
FRom T4 and T5 the Heathrow Express train runs free every 15 minutes from underneath these terminals to the centre of the airport where the bus station is.
Hi,
I have a booking at Premier Inn, Bath Rd. As you said this hotel is outside of free city buses. Do these buses charge for kids ages 8 & 13 yrs? Otherwise Hoppa gives kids free ride. And what about taking a short sight seeing in London say if I have around 7-8 hours before I have to reach airport for connecting flight.
Your 8 year old travels free on London’s red buses, your 13 year old pays child fares which on a one off single fare is the same as adults £2.40.
There is no reason why you cannot do some sightseeing if you have a late flight, buying a 1 day Travelcard if you are going into London, or a local bus from Terminal 5 to Windsor.
http://www.londontoolkit.com/briefing/travelcard.htm
There is also quite an economical option for families where a local taxi company takes you to Windsor or Legoland, stores your luggage then takes you to your passenger terminal at a time of your choosing
http://www.londontoolkit.com/tours/heathrow_windsor_tour.htm
Where you are going to store your luggage is going to be an issue, left luggage at Heathrow is 8.50 GBP per item for example.
Hey, Bob, can you help us get to our Jury’s hotel after or around midnight? We are arriving at Gatwick at 9:30pm, on March 27 on a charter from Jordan, returning from a one month cruise, and after clearing customs, getting our baggage and then get the National Express to Heathrow, we expect to arrive at Tl-3 not earlier than midnight, probably after. We leave from T-4 the next day, back to the States, in the early afternoon, so no problem getting to the terminal there, but looks like all buses or trains that would go near Jury’s quit before midnight. If no hope, do you have any idea how much taxies would cost to get to this hotel? Sure would appreciate your help. We leave the States next week. Thanks so much!
The 285 bus (a London red bus) from the same bus station (Heathrow Central) that the Gatwick bus stops at runs through the night.
Get off at Hatton Cross Underground Station and your hotel is about 300 yards away.
The journey should be free.
We are staying at Heathrow Central Travellodge and departing from T4 at 10am. Is it possible to walk to T4 or perhaps walk half way and pick up a free bus? many thanks
The Travelodge Central must be about 4 miles from T4.
There are red buses from outside the Travelodge routes 105 and 111 that will take you to Heathrow Central for £2.40 then you get the Heathrow Express train free over to T4
If you really are out of cash walk for about a mile up the Bath Road towards Heathrow, when you get past the Holiday Inn Ariel you are in the free bus zone and the buses to HEathrow Central are free.
You are doing a great service by providing the transportation info that you are providing…thank you.
I have 2 questions:
1. What number HOPPA bus would I take between Heathrow Terminal 1 and the Arora International Hotel?
2. What number public bus or buses could I take to get to Greenwich from the Arora International Hotel?
Thanks in advance for your help, Bob.
The Arora is not serviced by the Hoppa Buses.
From T1 get the U3 public red London bus to a stop opposite the Arora from the Central Bus Station at Heathrow. This trip is free.
Greenwich from Heathrow is not someting you’d do by bus as its the other side of London from Heathrow.
You’ll need to go back the bus station at Heathrow and go downstairs to the London Underground.
You’ll need to change trains at Hammersmith, Westminster and Canary Wharf to Greenwich Cutty Sark , a journey of about 90 minutes
Hi Bob, we are arriving at T3, ‘overnighting’ at Premier Inn T5 and flying out of T5 the next day. We then have the reverse journey on our return (ie; T5 arrival, overnight at Premier Inn T5 and depart T3 the next day) – what would our cheapest/convenient transport options be?
Regards
M
Cheapest way (i.e. free) is Heathrow Express train from Heathrow Central to T5, then 423 bus from outside arrivals hall to a bus stop about 50 yards past the Premier Inn.
Both bus and train are free for these journeys
Brilliant – thanks Bob!
About how long can we expect that trip to take?
Thanks again!
The trains take 5 minutes and go every 15 minutes. The bus takes 5-10 minutes and go about every 20 minutes
Sorry another comment!!! Changed mind and thinking of stopping at Travelodge Heathrow central as it is cheaper. We are travelling from terminal 5 and next day back to terminal 4. Any advice on buses etc would be greatly appreciated. Website is brilliant!!!
The Travelodge Central is just about the furthest hotel from T5 as you could find.
No free buses – get the free Heathrow Express train from T5 to Heathrow Central then upstairs to the bus station and get the 105 or 111 bus, £2.40.
Get off by the DoubleTree Hilton and the Travelodge is the other side of the lights.
Hi Bob.
This is fantastic information so keep up the good work
Just a quick one for you.
Me and a few of my friends will be staying in the Ibis later in the year as it is one of the cheaper hotels in London.
Now with regards to getting in to London is it possible to get a bus to the central bus station from the Ibis and get on the Piccadilly line in Terminal 1 straight in to London or is the underground only for people using the Airport for flying.
Thanks in advance.
The Ibis Heathrow is the last stop on the free bus zone from the bus station (buses 105 or 111). You get off by the Holiday Inn Ariel and the Ibis is about 75 yards further up the road from the bus stop.
You could get the same buses back to Heathrow to get the Underground, its public transport for everyone.
The Travelcard covers the red buses so you can use the Travelcard on the bus to the Underground Station.
It would be quicker if you got the bus to Hatton Cross or Hounslow West Underground from the Ibis, ask reception for bus numbers.
If you are going into London more than one day I’d seriously consider getting the 10 bus from around the corner of the Holiday Inn to Hayes and Harlington Station where you can get “normal” trains into Paddington – much faster than the Underground and you can use your Travelcarda as well.
Hi Bob.
Thank you so much for the info this will make our trip to London a lot easier
Hello Bob
I will be staying at the Novotel Hotel
What bus should I use from T3 for the free ride. I do not mind walking a few blocks
Thanks
Zac
The Novotel is one of the more remore hotels outside the free bus area.
Might as well take the Hoppa Bus.
I note your comment to a previous question re going to Heathrow T3 from Travelodge Central. I am going to pick up a friend at Heathrow T3 and come back to the Travelodge. Do we catch the 105 and/or 111 back from Heathrow and will it stop opposite Travelodge Central please? Or do we catch a different numbered bus? We would be grateful for your assistance and thank you very much.
The Travelodge is on the corner of crossroads with lights. The 105 and 111 turn around the corner opposite the Travelodge on the crossroads, on this corner is the DoubleTree Hilton Heathrow.
From in front of the Travelodge you will have to walk up the Bath Road wastwards about 200 yards to a bus stop (I think in front of a Tesco supermarket) where the 105/111 stops after coming round the corner. On the way back get off outside the DoubleTree Hilton.
At Heathrow the buses terminate at the Central Bus Station above the Underground. You follow the signs to Terminal 3 which will take you downstairs to the Underground Station and then by moving walkways to Terminal 3. Make sure you follow the signs at a fork for Terminal 3 arrivals, not departures as they are separate buildings with separate access.
The 105 and 111 between them run about every 5 minutes throughout the day and are double deck London red buses.