London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) is enormous. Late arrivals and short connection times can lead to missed flights and the need for a reasonably priced hotel room. Staying close to the airport might be the best choice for early departures or late-night arrivals. Or a hotel park-and-fly rate might be the cheapest option for travelling to and from the airport by private vehicle. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option to fit one of these scenarios, here is my Thistle London Heathrow T5 review.

Thistle London Heathrow T5 Review

The hotel is one mile (1.6 km) from Terminal 5, accessible by automated, driverless pods operating between 04:00 and 00:15 at a cost of 8 GBP per person per journey (2024 rate), payable at the hotel registration desk.

Conveniently located in the Terminal 5 parking garage, the Heathrow Pod Station is easy to find. For the return trip, the pod station (Station B) is a short walk from the hotel.

The eco-friendly pods are a faster and greener alternative to taking a bus or taxi. The trip to and from the hotel takes approximately 5 minutes.

An alternative to taking a pod is the London Transport #43 bus that stops on Bath Road directly in front of the hotel. The fare is £1.65.

Thistle London Heathrow T5 is much cheaper than the in-terminal Sofitel and most airport hotels.

The Runway View Restaurant and Runway View Bar and Terrace appeal to plane spotters while enjoying a meal or drink on the terrace. Also, a runway-view guest room might be available upon request.

The hotel’s location on Bath Road gives guests easy access to nearby pubs and eating establishments in Longford. The Kings Arms at 593 Bath Road and the White Knight at 530 Bath Road offer meals and drinks in a village pub atmosphere.

When reserved with accommodation, a Park-and-Fly Package for 4, 8, 15, or 22 days is available for parking at a discounted rate in the hotel parking lot.

The hotel is dated, but guest rooms are basic and clean, the bathroom is well equipped, and the Wi-Fi signal is strong.

My stay at Thistle London Heathrow T5

My flight from Canada was on August 29, 2022, with a scheduled arrival time of 21:00. Many examples of cancelled and delayed flights were circulating on the internet, so an overnight stay close to the airport felt like a better choice than finding my way into central London late at night.

I found a reasonable price at Expedia at a base rate of CAD 89.74 (54.49 GBP or 66.85 USD) and paid in advance using points (TD Rewards at Expedia for TD).

How to find the driverless pods

The T5 pod station is on Level 2 of the parking garage. Get off at Level 2 and look for signs to the pod station.

Head to one of the touch screens to select your destination (Station B) that triggers the opening of doors to access a pod.

For first-time users, the pods are a novelty. They operate on demand and run on an elevated track. Each pod is small, yet large enough to accommodate two people with luggage.

The destination, Station B, is the pod station attached to a T5 outdoor parking lot. The Thistle is at the edge of the lot, a short walk of perhaps 50 metres. Walk through the gate to access the hotel property.

Final verdict

I was unaware of the cost to use the pods until writing this post. Based on several critical reviews at Trip Advisor, many other guests seemed oblivious to this as well. I assumed it was a free service, as there was no way of paying for access at either of the two pod stations. I prepaid for one night’s accommodation, and there was no reference to a cost to use a pod on my invoice or when I checked in and checked out of the hotel.

I’ve since seen references to the pods at the Thistle Hotel site and in several hotel reviews on Trip Advisor. There’s mention of a gate code received after paying the fee. During my stay, the gate between the T5 outdoor parking lot and the Thistle Hotel was unlocked and open both times I entered and left the hotel property.

There’s no elevator in the hotel, so accessing higher floors with luggage could be a challenge.

Fancy, it’s not. The price is commensurate with its age and condition. It’s much cheaper than most hotels within a reasonable distance of Heathrow. My room was clean and comfortable, represented good value, and was adequate for my overnight stay.

For a budget-friendly option in Central London, see Attractive budget accommodation in London: Palmers Lodge.

If you found this post helpful, please share it by selecting one or more social media buttons. Have you stayed at the Thistle London Heathrow T5? If so, what was your experience? Is there another hotel you would recommend for an overnight stay at Heathrow? Please share your thoughts in the comments. Thank you.

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