Matt, you don’t need to do the walk. It depends on the time of day, but the 'easiest' way to get from T5 to T4 is by bus. Both the 490 or 482 run that way and are a lot easier than a tube via Hatton Cross. For the Premier Inn they stop right outside - no need to get off at T4 and walk. That makes it just as simple as anywhere on the Bath Road. I drive to the airport and I often use T4 long stay, which is walkable to T4 - and thence the hotels or train to T3. But there are also 482/490 bus stops right outside the car park for T5. I was one of the original Premier recommenders, and still have it on my shortlist. But for a night after, rather than a night before, I'd also look at the Holiday Inn Express at T4 as it includes free breakfast. I agree though that I have never managed to self check in but do usually find they ask whether you would like to be near the lifts and with or without a view of the airport - maybe less so with a later check in when there might be less choice. Wifi also always seems to be pretty poor and the phone signal varies greatly around the hotel.
Have you tried the hilton garden inn that is connected to T2, and has a rooftop bar overlooking runways and gates? Great for JetBlue early morning departure out of T2!!
I stayed there fairly recently and managed to get a plus room for just £43 only a few weeks out , which I felt was exceptional value. I had my flight the next day from T5 and caught the 482 / 490 bus services from 100m down the road direct to T5. Given the number of BA crew boarding at the same time as me suggests that this is a good option for T5.
I do like a hotel in walking distance from the terminal and an "all you can eat" breakfast even more. 😄 I have stayed at ome of Gatwick's Premier Inns - and very convenient it was too. I think you're spot on though - this one looks good for T4 but not much else.
Nice review. I would recommend the Courtyard by Marriott on Bath Road. The triple glazed windows in the recently renovated property make the room very quiet indeed!
I’d definitely recommend the Hilton Garden Inn (formerly the Jury’s Inn). It’s a few minutes walk to Hatton Cross tube station (which is now free within the Heathrow travel zone), and you can be at any of the terminals within a few minutes.
Hi Matt, I always enjoy your videos and it’s good seeing your point of view on airport/airline operations etc. I work at Heathrow, and just a quick one I would advise at the moment due to recent liquid changes by DFT, the lines for security are a lot larger and slower than before, just give yourself a bit more time at the moment as I wouldn’t want you missing any flights or lounge experience.
We usually stay in the T2T3 one on bath road as good access to the purple parking. They can be hit and miss on price. Some are expensive for what you get , we do like the Plus rooms if we can get them
Another great Video Matt as always. I learn so much from you and throughly enjoy your videos ❤️💯 also thank you for the shout out 😂 look forward to creating some more adventures with you and watching as you execute them perfectly (my anxiety wouldn’t allow me) but watching you Fills my heart with joy ✈️ keep up the Great work. They really need to give you a TV travel show. Im manifesting it for 2025 for you 🙏🏽
Thanks Harvey - this would have been the last video of the series as I stayed here for the last night of the trip, but I like to mix the content up and not post airline reviews for more than 3 weeks in a row.... Pleased you noticed the message as I really, genuinely couldn't have done it without you!!!! I do have an eye on what the next one will be!
My partner and i have recently made this Premier Inn our nigjht stay before a early flight. We used bath room PI for a number of years but found the travel options to the termials expensive compared to being at t4. Early morning, we found the H30 to t3 very reliable
@MattsPlanet simple but packed in the early morning, so I couldn't get on, so I ended up with Uber. So, the H30 has been the better option for us. I do miss the bath road hotel though
Great vid Matt! Almost stayed at this hotel back in December but got a good rate at the Hilton Garden Inn at Hatton Cross instead (another nice hotel with public transport access to all LHR terminals). I do love a Premier Inn though... as you say, nothing luxurious but good honest fayre!
That Hilton is on my shortlist although I tend to come through on the Lizzie line these days which makes Hatton Cross a bit of a pain to double back to!
@@MattsPlanet it’s nice, was handy for me travelling down by train from Leeds and then a dash over on the Picadilly line. Just included a shirt segment in my most recent vid on BA’s economy from LHR-MIA
I stayed in Premier Inn at Heathrow T4 in November last year. The walk way was freezing and the buffet breakfast the next morning wasn't much warmer. There was only 1 lift was in service for the duration of the stay, also, a 25+ minute wait the next morning on the connecting tube was far from ideal. However, all that being said, the room itself was rather good. The room was clean, comfortable, quiet, and a good size bath to relax in. I have travelled twice from Heathrow since then and both times, have stayed at the Travelodge in Hounslow. You have the amenities of Hounslow High Street/Uber Eats for meal options and a frequent tube service sub 10 minutes to Heathrow terminals.
I've stayed at one of the other Premiers at Heathrow, the one on the Bath Road next to Purple parking, a great hotel with Costa, pub/restaurant and outside terrace ideal for watching aircraft, my last visit was in October 23 and they were completing room refurbishment on all the rooms, not the closest to T5 but the facilities are excellent and if you have parked your car in the adjacent Purple parking car park there is a free shuttle bus to all terminals, but obviously allow extra time for the journey.
I think that's the one I stayed in before the refurb and I agree it's quite well equipped. Very convenient bus stop too! If they now have plus rooms it's well worth a look
And for desert, the third course and completed trifecta… an overnight stay in the purple palace T5, opposite the Thistle is required. The 423 bus from T5 drops you right at the door, or from my experience the 423 empties of passengers because they’re ALL staying there. To be fair, the cost of an Aperol Spritz in the Thyme restaurant is very reasonable with the room rate too. For a very cheap LHR option (when driving) is the Travelodge at Stockley Park, which I stayed at for just over £30 last Easter (the Luxembourg trip). 15 minutes drive at most to Purple Parking and shuttled to T3 in quick succession. Heathrow on the cheap, there’s a topic to cover!
Haha I'm always at the furthest room from the lift too! Bayliss and Harding I'd call that more TKMaxx than luxurious, but nice enough :D And the price you paid, for an actual airport hotel, seems decent (considering we were in a LGW Yotel 'pod' a couple of weeks back for £146, with check-in at 6pm and turfed out time of 9am) Great review and I'd stay there in a heartbeat
For the cost of a single fare, you can take the 490 (there's another bus route too) bus from T5. Takes around 15 mins. It can drop you either at T4 or the next stop on the road next to the Premier Inn and Crowne Plaza. So it will mean a lot less walking and not going back on yourself.
Matt. At the Sofitel Heathrow T5, u dont need to take a bus nor do u need to walk very far. Its literally a five minute walk direct from the terminal, connected!
1) I recognise that brand of toiletries. they sell it in Morrisons. your milage may vary as to if that says luxury! 2) I recently tried the Renaissance hotel on Bath Road. and other than the check in, I was quite impressed!
I'm not an expert but I was reporting how Premier Inn describes that stuff!!! But it seems to be a little less premium than they may want you to believe!! The Renaissance is on the shortlist for the next stay!
@MattsPlanet it was very nice, other than my room wasn't ready on check in (I had to wait in a very busy lobby for an hour, would have expected an offer of a drink / coffee in the circumstance) The £20 extra for a runway view was very worth it & was on the right side of the road for the busses from Houndslow / to the terminal
The fridge is the main / only reason to upgrade. Internet as you mentioned is rubbish, I always use my phone's hotspot but even then the signal depending on your room location my not be good
I disagree. The better ambience and decoration of the room, a proper coffee maker (admittedly less of an attraction in this Premier Inn which has a 24/7 Costa), a better bathroom and an iron and ironing board in your room are all reasons that, collectively, encourage me to upgrade. It's nice to have a chilled bottle of water, but it wouldn't stop me from upgrading in future if they removed the fridges.
@@oliverbatt3559 I prefer the sofa and the decor is not a big difference. Fridge is the difference. Another reason might be because these rooms are relatively new so are cleaner etc
Staying there again in September and hoping to luck out for the airport views. The Crowne Plaza/Holiday Inn Express on the walkway is a bit quirky as they share the same building. It’s pretty much split down the middle.
Not stayed there but will look out for it as the price seems very reasonable. It's very nice being in a hotel that is walking distance from the terminal. I've stayed at Holiday Inn at T4 which was pretty nice.
Walking distance does make a nice difference, even if it's not a short walk! I suppose all UK hotels are in walking distance of LHR if you have enough time!!!
I have stayed at the Hilton at Terminal 4 - also available by gerbil tube transport. It was a nice hotel and I got a government rate, which made it competitive. Delta now flies out of Terminal 3, so I won't be visiting that particular Hilton. Thanks for the review!
I've stayed at the T4 Premier Inn several times now. It is usually the cheapest Premier Inn at Heathrow by some margin, and since it is so easily accessible to T5 by bus (482/490 every few minutes, stopping right outside the hotel) and to T3 by train/Tube (Elizabeth/Piccadilly lines every 10-15 mins) I'm happy to spend an extra few mins travel time in exchange for that saving.
Thanks - the buses can be great around LHR and I'm all for saving a few quid so perhaps I was too quick to discount this place in the video! Especially if I don't have the breakfast next time....
@@MattsPlanet Premier Inn breakfasts have become a lot more expensive since Covid. It's still a decent option but only really worthwhile if you make full use of the fact it's "all you can eat". I usually just get something at a local shop instead.
Matt. These hotel videos are always a great help to me personally, as most of my travel is out of Heathrow. I have stayed at some of the same hotels and used your transport options. Thanks for your honest opinion of all and the recommendations. Just slightly off subject. I have just checked my BA Amex account and they have announced that from November 1st 2024, the companion voucher spend threshold will be increased to £15.000, a jump of 50%. to me this is disgusting and unnecessary. A 10 or 20% rise maybe, but 50%. what are your thoughts on this? does it make it poor value for money and does it make all but long distance flights to places like south East Asia, Australia, New Zealand etc the only worth while redemption options? Maybe this is a subject you could do a video on. VFM etc. Cheers mate. Yours sincerely, Steve. C. YNWA.
G'day Steve. I'm planning to talk about this Amex change in next week's video - its annoying but I don't think it renders the card valueless... How they're converting to the new limit is annoying...
Hi Matt. Just a quick question. Is the tunnel to the Premier inn on the ground level as you walk into T4 or up on the 1st level as some video's seem to suggest! Many thanks. Dave
Stayed there many times. I think it offers excellent value and I've even used it as a base for visiting London. On a nice day it's an easy morning leg-stretch to Hatton Cross for the tube, with a bit of plane-spotting on the way! As @geoff544 says, the simplest way there from T5 is the regular service bus, which stops right outside the hotel. During Covid, when T4 was closed, I did actually bag a room there for less than 30 quid! Never stayed in a Premier Plus room, so that was interesting to see. Breakfast is getting pricey. I notice it's gone up since I was last there (not that long ago).
@@MattsPlanetIn there tonight, prior to an Avios flight in Club to Warsaw. Last minute trip and flights down from Inverness were extortionate, so I’m going the slow way; Citylink bus to Edinburgh then Lumo to London! I’ll be ready for my bed when I arrive!
The furthest room from the lift,or stairs,is good as you don't hear the people talking loudly as they get in/out of the lift or the possibility of banging doors at the stairs.
I didn't say in the video but have said in a reply to another comment - take my hearing aids out and I don't really hear anything! But of course you're 100% correct when my ear bungs are in position!
I've stayed in Premier Inns for very many nights. I was in the one at Gatwick North for weeks. Generally very good, but that Premier Plus room didn't look much different to a standard room. Also, as you mentioned, their wifi is very slow unless you pay for an upgrade. I still haven't witnessed the vegan sausages they advertise either at breakfast.
How was the mobile reception and data speed? I recall staying at this very hotel a few years back and it was almost impossible to use mobile data, I had asked and they told me it was due to some nearby antennas.
Hi, Matt. I was one of those to recommend the Premier Inn T4 in the comments of your Thistle review video. Given I was an early commenter that time, I think I was the first to recommend it to you (although I later noticed others doing the same). I think your review was very fair. The only point of difference between us is that I don't find it such a nuisance to get to a terminal other than T4 from the hotel (the perimeter road buses are a minute's walk from the hotel which doesn't involve a trek back to the terminal if you want to avoid that). I suppose I should be grateful that most see things as you do otherwise it wouldn't be as cheap as it often is. Speaking of which, the last time I stayed there (early this year), I nabbed a Premier Plus room for two for £43. I'll be staying there again in September for another early morning flight, but I don't think it will be quite so cheap - in fact, I think this has prompted me to go and book it now!
Thanks Oliver. I was heading back into town after this stay and wanted to be able to comment on the intra terminal trains so skipped the buses this time... For £43 you really can't complain!
Lol re the furthest possible room. I stayed in a Stoke Premier Plus P.I. for work last week for work, with the room being the penultimate down a very long corridor. It was very comfortable and was reminiscent of a Doubletree. I liked that the Nespresso coffee pods were original and not copies. I felt the breakfast was expensive and not brilliant. All the food was tepid and black pudding was just grease, so wouldn't bother with it.
We've stayed here before as a family of 4 (with 2 young children) in 2022 for £45. Parking was convenient but very tight. They had a luggage trolley which was great. Rooms were pretty standard but we definitely had a long walk from the lift to the room. Breakfast range was good but the hot food was awful and breakfast staff were unhelpful and unbothered. If i had to stay at Heathrow again, I'd opt for the Premier Inn on Bath Road.
We've stayed here before and its a good reliable "Heathrow Hotel" ticks the boxes ideally, How do you find this T4 Premier Inn against the T2/T3 Premier Inn on the Bath Road? Guess you'll potentially be doing the Terminal 5 Premier Inn a short walk from the Thistle to complete the set? -Tyler
The Bath Road PI felt more like a holiday camp than the T4 one did! At the time the Bath Road one didn't have the plus rooms so it wasn't a great comparison. And T5 one is on the list but I think others are closer to the top!!!
we normaly fly from t5 and use the renaissance hotel its ok for the night have you stayed there matt also the sofitel thats ok but about £180 for the night very steep have you stayed there hope you are feeling well
Having stayed there, I generally agree with the review. One caveat, phone signal/WiFi, it could have just been my network (Three) but the signal in my room was awful (and outside the building too). Unfortunately, Premier Inn has terrible WiFi at the best of times, free is ~3/4 of a mbit and Premium ~6 mbits (from my checking at several hotels). However, even worse than a normal Premier Inn, the WiFi signal was barely there and frequently became unusable, the worse signal of any Premier Inn I've stayed at. I ate at the restaurant and was overcharged, but I couldn't be bothered arguing over £10 after nearly 30 hours of travelling. Premier Inns are generally, Ok, I wheeled my luggage trolley into my room as I had 2 large suitcases, a backpack, a boot on my broken leg and two crutches, you wouldn't be able to do that at an Ibis Budget. They were running a check-in at that mini-booth you walked past to go to the lifts, seemed to work ok but quickly created a large queue as people came off the walkway.
Surprise they don't give a discount for pre booking breakfast...I would be far more tempted at a discount as opposed to the same price as on the day ...
@MattsPlanet Tbf it's not the worse in the world but it's on par with some pub chain breakfasts which are £8 or so really need to have a fill breakfast, a coffee and a juice to probably break even.
Tis Matt. Must be a Sunday... 🎉 I stayed there a couple of months ago for a very few hours. The check-in process was not working then either and, half an hour later I told them I'd forgo the room key if they'd just open my door, pretty please? Which they duly did. Crack o'sparrows the following, I discovered the only real gotcha. I'd woken to take the first train to T5, but the lifts in T4 were still not unlocked, causing a bunch of trepid explorers to fan out in an attempt to discover an alternate route into to bowels of London. I regret I only ever saw one of them again, and fear the rest may be doomed to sail the T4 Marie Celeste for eternity. The only guy around at that time responded in true British fashion "I dunno mate". Ah, Blighted, don't ya just love her?
I did the T4-T5-T4 shuffle a number of times over a combination of options shortly before I met you in BKK, and my final vote was for the free H30 bus over the tube and/or Elizabeth line/Heathrow Express combo, but you do need to acquaint yourself with the timetable, and where the bus stands are at T5 and T4. Sitting around at Hatton Cross wating for the right train is never much fun. I was departing from T5 and arriving back into T4, and my car was parked up at the T4 short stay for the duration of my trip. I stayed at the T4 Crowne Plaza which is along the same alley way from T4 although about half way down before you get to the Premier Inn. Walking up and down that alley way is quite a drag. The T5 Sofitel was booked up which tipped my decision in favour of staying at T4 rather than T5. The cost and hassle of getting over to off-airport hotels at LHR is a big determinant for my choice of hotel. The lack of dedicated buses for nearby off-airport properties is the reason I've never bothered with those. The Hoppa bus is hugely overpriced and is slow, stopping at many properties. The local buses are no longer free, not great if you have baggage, and don't drop off at the property. My end game would be a cab in these circumstances. Thus, I prefer to stay somewhere close to a convenient tube or overground line, which usually means in town, and thus decent options for nosh.
I laughed when I saw this because I recently stayed in the room right next to yours. If you were there at the same time and had a wild all-night party then I didn't hear it as the soundproofing is excellent. I stay at this hotel very regularly for work purposes, which include being handy for LHR and it's useful for commuting to any office in SW London. Outside, the 482 and 490 buses come from T5 in 15 minutes and go on to Hatton Cross for the Tube. The 490 goes on to Feltham station in 15 minutes for South West Trains. I have stayed at the hotel often enough to know it is not perfect. There is no orange juice at breakfast time for "supply reasons" and it can be irritating when dazed and dopey holidaymakers get in the way when you are trying to toast some bread. The restaurant seating can be very far away from the buffet counters, always half way to T5 it seems. I haven't dined in a PI since the You Know What led to a downgraded dinner service. For all that, it is one of the best value PIs you will find anywhere in London and the transport connections aren't bad. No need to faff around with trains to and from T4, the public buses are fine. The Premier Plus rooms are fantastic: I've spent a lot more for inferior rooms at Hilton and Marriott. I just wish there was a safe in the rooms and the mobile signal wasn't a bit spotty depending on the room. If you want something really good to eat and you can hack 25 minutes on the 490 bus, there is a great Italian restaurant called Da Alfredo in Twickenham. The 490 bus stops are right next to it.
Fantastic! Thanks for that - I should have mentioned the buses in the video but didn't actually use them this trip - I do like a bus though! And for the price, you really can't complain, even without OJ!
I have stayed here earlier this year ahead of a relatively early flight from T5. I paid around £40 for a standard room which I thought was a bargain, and was significantly cheaper than the Thistle for the same night. I didn't find the transfer to T5 too painful, though the Elizabeth line was running smoothly for me.
Hi Matt, Hope you are well. Thank you for your video, and thank you for calling that.....thing on the wall art!😂 This looks like a very clean, very basic, but very good choice if one needs an overnight stay at LHR T4. As always, thanks a million for your video, Stay well Thomas
The one thing that spoils many Premier Inn hotels for me, is that STUPID fixed "rain" shower. There's nothing clever or cool about it. You cannot easily remove the soap from your inner thighs, bollox and bum, unless you have a directable shower head. A Bum Jet is absolutely essential in a hotel bathroom ! Price is not an arbiter here. Expensive hotels can make the same mistake.
Bayliss & Harding is a cheap-n-nasty clone of the respectable Molton Brown brand, with remarkable similar shape and design packaging. The sort of thing certain people will buy relatives for Christmas, over-packaged and bought from Asda or similar. Premium brand it is not.
Matt, you don’t need to do the walk. It depends on the time of day, but the 'easiest' way to get from T5 to T4 is by bus. Both the 490 or 482 run that way and are a lot easier than a tube via Hatton Cross. For the Premier Inn they stop right outside - no need to get off at T4 and walk. That makes it just as simple as anywhere on the Bath Road.
I drive to the airport and I often use T4 long stay, which is walkable to T4 - and thence the hotels or train to T3. But there are also 482/490 bus stops right outside the car park for T5.
I was one of the original Premier recommenders, and still have it on my shortlist. But for a night after, rather than a night before, I'd also look at the Holiday Inn Express at T4 as it includes free breakfast.
I agree though that I have never managed to self check in but do usually find they ask whether you would like to be near the lifts and with or without a view of the airport - maybe less so with a later check in when there might be less choice. Wifi also always seems to be pretty poor and the phone signal varies greatly around the hotel.
Cheers Geoff. I quite like buses so will certainly look that way next time. If there is a next time.... It is great value!
Have you tried the hilton garden inn that is connected to T2, and has a rooftop bar overlooking runways and gates? Great for JetBlue early morning departure out of T2!!
I've only done the Sofitel that's attached to a terminal - before the channel sadly... I'll get to them all eventually!
I stayed there fairly recently and managed to get a plus room for just £43 only a few weeks out , which I felt was exceptional value. I had my flight the next day from T5 and caught the 482 / 490 bus services from 100m down the road direct to T5. Given the number of BA crew boarding at the same time as me suggests that this is a good option for T5.
Thanks - that's a great rate. And the buses are a good option - I didn't actually check this time on bus options from T4 to T5 but that sounds good!
I do like a hotel in walking distance from the terminal and an "all you can eat" breakfast even more. 😄 I have stayed at ome of Gatwick's Premier Inns - and very convenient it was too. I think you're spot on though - this one looks good for T4 but not much else.
It does what it says on the tin!!!!
I hope that you are keeping well Matt and the treatment is not too harsh for you , best wishes .
Thanks norm. All good here - no treatment yet as the impact would be worse than doing nothing. Active surveillance is what they call it
Nice review. I would recommend the Courtyard by Marriott on Bath Road. The triple glazed windows in the recently renovated property make the room very quiet indeed!
On the list to review!
"plusification"..... great word!
Its not just Shakespeare that can make up words!!!!
I’d definitely recommend the Hilton Garden Inn (formerly the Jury’s Inn).
It’s a few minutes walk to Hatton Cross tube station (which is now free within the Heathrow travel zone), and you can be at any of the terminals within a few minutes.
Backtracking to Hatton Cross is definitely an option. I need to engineer more reasons to spend a night at Heathrow
Hi Matt, I always enjoy your videos and it’s good seeing your point of view on airport/airline operations etc. I work at Heathrow, and just a quick one I would advise at the moment due to recent liquid changes by DFT, the lines for security are a lot larger and slower than before, just give yourself a bit more time at the moment as I wouldn’t want you missing any flights or lounge experience.
Thanks for that. Next trip is through Gatwick so I'll be warned. A little strange that the DFT changed its mind about this.....
Thank You ✈️
Thanks for watching!
Thanks Matt, may well give the room a go on my net T4 trip.
It's worth a try for sure!
We usually stay in the T2T3 one on bath road as good access to the purple parking. They can be hit and miss on price. Some are expensive for what you get , we do like the Plus rooms if we can get them
You know what you're going to get with a PI, which is good.
Better than i expected!
Me too!
Another great Video Matt as always. I learn so much from you and throughly enjoy your videos ❤️💯 also thank you for the shout out 😂 look forward to creating some more adventures with you and watching as you execute them perfectly (my anxiety wouldn’t allow me) but watching you Fills my heart with joy ✈️ keep up the Great work. They really need to give you a TV travel show. Im manifesting it for 2025 for you 🙏🏽
Thanks Harvey - this would have been the last video of the series as I stayed here for the last night of the trip, but I like to mix the content up and not post airline reviews for more than 3 weeks in a row.... Pleased you noticed the message as I really, genuinely couldn't have done it without you!!!! I do have an eye on what the next one will be!
My partner and i have recently made this Premier Inn our nigjht stay before a early flight. We used bath room PI for a number of years but found the travel options to the termials expensive compared to being at t4. Early morning, we found the H30 to t3 very reliable
Bath Road is simple on a bus to T2 and 3 but its a right pain to the others!
@MattsPlanet simple but packed in the early morning, so I couldn't get on, so I ended up with Uber. So, the H30 has been the better option for us. I do miss the bath road hotel though
Great vid Matt! Almost stayed at this hotel back in December but got a good rate at the Hilton Garden Inn at Hatton Cross instead (another nice hotel with public transport access to all LHR terminals). I do love a Premier Inn though... as you say, nothing luxurious but good honest fayre!
That Hilton is on my shortlist although I tend to come through on the Lizzie line these days which makes Hatton Cross a bit of a pain to double back to!
@@MattsPlanet it’s nice, was handy for me travelling down by train from Leeds and then a dash over on the Picadilly line. Just included a shirt segment in my most recent vid on BA’s economy from LHR-MIA
Great video Matt
Thanks!
I stayed in Premier Inn at Heathrow T4 in November last year. The walk way was freezing and the buffet breakfast the next morning wasn't much warmer. There was only 1 lift was in service for the duration of the stay, also, a 25+ minute wait the next morning on the connecting tube was far from ideal. However, all that being said, the room itself was rather good. The room was clean, comfortable, quiet, and a good size bath to relax in.
I have travelled twice from Heathrow since then and both times, have stayed at the Travelodge in Hounslow. You have the amenities of Hounslow High Street/Uber Eats for meal options and a frequent tube service sub 10 minutes to Heathrow terminals.
Thanks - that Travelodge is now on the shortlist next time I'm there
I've stayed at one of the other Premiers at Heathrow, the one on the Bath Road next to Purple parking, a great hotel with Costa, pub/restaurant and outside terrace ideal for watching aircraft, my last visit was in October 23 and they were completing room refurbishment on all the rooms, not the closest to T5 but the facilities are excellent and if you have parked your car in the adjacent Purple parking car park there is a free shuttle bus to all terminals, but obviously allow extra time for the journey.
I think that's the one I stayed in before the refurb and I agree it's quite well equipped. Very convenient bus stop too! If they now have plus rooms it's well worth a look
And for desert, the third course and completed trifecta… an overnight stay in the purple palace T5, opposite the Thistle is required. The 423 bus from T5 drops you right at the door, or from my experience the 423 empties of passengers because they’re ALL staying there. To be fair, the cost of an Aperol Spritz in the Thyme restaurant is very reasonable with the room rate too.
For a very cheap LHR option (when driving) is the Travelodge at Stockley Park, which I stayed at for just over £30 last Easter (the Luxembourg trip). 15 minutes drive at most to Purple Parking and shuttled to T3 in quick succession. Heathrow on the cheap, there’s a topic to cover!
Cheers L. Grey Gap Year made an excellent video about driveway parking close to LHR with the bus onwards....
Haha I'm always at the furthest room from the lift too! Bayliss and Harding I'd call that more TKMaxx than luxurious, but nice enough :D And the price you paid, for an actual airport hotel, seems decent (considering we were in a LGW Yotel 'pod' a couple of weeks back for £146, with check-in at 6pm and turfed out time of 9am) Great review and I'd stay there in a heartbeat
Cheers Steve - I clearly need to brush up on my hand washing brand knowledge!
For the cost of a single fare, you can take the 490 (there's another bus route too) bus from T5. Takes around 15 mins. It can drop you either at T4 or the next stop on the road next to the Premier Inn and Crowne Plaza. So it will mean a lot less walking and not going back on yourself.
Sounds like a much better option!
Matt. At the Sofitel Heathrow T5, u dont need to take a bus nor do u need to walk very far. Its literally a five minute walk direct from the terminal, connected!
Oh yes it's great! But it costs 3-4x the premier inn!
1) I recognise that brand of toiletries. they sell it in Morrisons. your milage may vary as to if that says luxury! 2) I recently tried the Renaissance hotel on Bath Road. and other than the check in, I was quite impressed!
I'm not an expert but I was reporting how Premier Inn describes that stuff!!! But it seems to be a little less premium than they may want you to believe!! The Renaissance is on the shortlist for the next stay!
@MattsPlanet it was very nice, other than my room wasn't ready on check in (I had to wait in a very busy lobby for an hour, would have expected an offer of a drink / coffee in the circumstance)
The £20 extra for a runway view was very worth it & was on the right side of the road for the busses from Houndslow / to the terminal
Very noisy bedroom doors at the Renaissance.
The fridge is the main / only reason to upgrade. Internet as you mentioned is rubbish, I always use my phone's hotspot but even then the signal depending on your room location my not be good
I disagree. The better ambience and decoration of the room, a proper coffee maker (admittedly less of an attraction in this Premier Inn which has a 24/7 Costa), a better bathroom and an iron and ironing board in your room are all reasons that, collectively, encourage me to upgrade. It's nice to have a chilled bottle of water, but it wouldn't stop me from upgrading in future if they removed the fridges.
@@oliverbatt3559 I prefer the sofa and the decor is not a big difference. Fridge is the difference. Another reason might be because these rooms are relatively new so are cleaner etc
Cheers - the internet really is rubbish!! And as Oliver says, the decor is better, but when it's dark and you're asleep, who cares???
Staying there again in September and hoping to luck out for the airport views. The Crowne Plaza/Holiday Inn Express on the walkway is a bit quirky as they share the same building. It’s pretty much split down the middle.
I'm sure if you ask on check-in you might have better luck with the views...
Not stayed there but will look out for it as the price seems very reasonable. It's very nice being in a hotel that is walking distance from the terminal. I've stayed at Holiday Inn at T4 which was pretty nice.
Walking distance does make a nice difference, even if it's not a short walk! I suppose all UK hotels are in walking distance of LHR if you have enough time!!!
@@MattsPlanet Haha, true! I was thinking 5 mins or less :)
I have stayed at the Hilton at Terminal 4 - also available by gerbil tube transport. It was a nice hotel and I got a government rate, which made it competitive. Delta now flies out of Terminal 3, so I won't be visiting that particular Hilton. Thanks for the review!
Thanks for watching! T3 opens up the bath road which has lots of options
I've stayed at the T4 Premier Inn several times now. It is usually the cheapest Premier Inn at Heathrow by some margin, and since it is so easily accessible to T5 by bus (482/490 every few minutes, stopping right outside the hotel) and to T3 by train/Tube (Elizabeth/Piccadilly lines every 10-15 mins) I'm happy to spend an extra few mins travel time in exchange for that saving.
Thanks - the buses can be great around LHR and I'm all for saving a few quid so perhaps I was too quick to discount this place in the video! Especially if I don't have the breakfast next time....
@@MattsPlanet Premier Inn breakfasts have become a lot more expensive since Covid. It's still a decent option but only really worthwhile if you make full use of the fact it's "all you can eat".
I usually just get something at a local shop instead.
Matt.
These hotel videos are always a great help to me personally, as most of my travel is out of Heathrow. I have stayed at some of the same hotels and used your transport options.
Thanks for your honest opinion of all and the recommendations.
Just slightly off subject. I have just checked my BA Amex account and they have announced that from November 1st 2024, the companion voucher spend threshold will be increased to £15.000, a jump of 50%. to me this is disgusting and unnecessary. A 10 or 20% rise maybe, but 50%. what are your thoughts on this? does it make it poor value for money and does it make all but long distance flights to places like south East Asia, Australia, New Zealand etc the only worth while redemption options?
Maybe this is a subject you could do a video on. VFM etc.
Cheers mate.
Yours sincerely,
Steve. C.
YNWA.
G'day Steve. I'm planning to talk about this Amex change in next week's video - its annoying but I don't think it renders the card valueless... How they're converting to the new limit is annoying...
Hi Matt. Just a quick question. Is the tunnel to the Premier inn on the ground level as you walk into T4 or up on the 1st level as some video's seem to suggest! Many thanks. Dave
Pretty sure its elevated
Stayed there many times. I think it offers excellent value and I've even used it as a base for visiting London. On a nice day it's an easy morning leg-stretch to Hatton Cross for the tube, with a bit of plane-spotting on the way! As @geoff544 says, the simplest way there from T5 is the regular service bus, which stops right outside the hotel.
During Covid, when T4 was closed, I did actually bag a room there for less than 30 quid! Never stayed in a Premier Plus room, so that was interesting to see. Breakfast is getting pricey. I notice it's gone up since I was last there (not that long ago).
I do like buses! And £30 is an absolute steal!
@@MattsPlanetIn there tonight, prior to an Avios flight in Club to Warsaw. Last minute trip and flights down from Inverness were extortionate, so I’m going the slow way; Citylink bus to Edinburgh then Lumo to London! I’ll be ready for my bed when I arrive!
The furthest room from the lift,or stairs,is good as you don't hear the people talking loudly as they get in/out of the lift or the possibility of banging doors at the stairs.
I didn't say in the video but have said in a reply to another comment - take my hearing aids out and I don't really hear anything! But of course you're 100% correct when my ear bungs are in position!
I've stayed in Premier Inns for very many nights. I was in the one at Gatwick North for weeks. Generally very good, but that Premier Plus room didn't look much different to a standard room. Also, as you mentioned, their wifi is very slow unless you pay for an upgrade. I still haven't witnessed the vegan sausages they advertise either at breakfast.
Even the upgraded WiFi is pitiful!
Good verdict - nice choice and can be had very cheap (as low as £40). WiFi is atrocious though!
£40 would turn my head!! Although a regular room wasn't much more than that the night I stayed.... Cheers Callum
How was the mobile reception and data speed? I recall staying at this very hotel a few years back and it was almost impossible to use mobile data, I had asked and they told me it was due to some nearby antennas.
I had no problem with mobile connections, but I was on the top floor. The super WiFi was still poor
Hi, Matt. I was one of those to recommend the Premier Inn T4 in the comments of your Thistle review video. Given I was an early commenter that time, I think I was the first to recommend it to you (although I later noticed others doing the same). I think your review was very fair. The only point of difference between us is that I don't find it such a nuisance to get to a terminal other than T4 from the hotel (the perimeter road buses are a minute's walk from the hotel which doesn't involve a trek back to the terminal if you want to avoid that). I suppose I should be grateful that most see things as you do otherwise it wouldn't be as cheap as it often is. Speaking of which, the last time I stayed there (early this year), I nabbed a Premier Plus room for two for £43. I'll be staying there again in September for another early morning flight, but I don't think it will be quite so cheap - in fact, I think this has prompted me to go and book it now!
Thanks Oliver. I was heading back into town after this stay and wanted to be able to comment on the intra terminal trains so skipped the buses this time... For £43 you really can't complain!
Lol re the furthest possible room. I stayed in a Stoke Premier Plus P.I. for work last week for work, with the room being the penultimate down a very long corridor. It was very comfortable and was reminiscent of a Doubletree. I liked that the Nespresso coffee pods were original and not copies. I felt the breakfast was expensive and not brilliant. All the food was tepid and black pudding was just grease, so wouldn't bother with it.
Gets your steps in I suppose! I wouldn't have paid that for a breakfast if I wasn't videoing it - at least that made it tax deductable!!!
We've stayed here before as a family of 4 (with 2 young children) in 2022 for £45. Parking was convenient but very tight. They had a luggage trolley which was great. Rooms were pretty standard but we definitely had a long walk from the lift to the room. Breakfast range was good but the hot food was awful and breakfast staff were unhelpful and unbothered. If i had to stay at Heathrow again, I'd opt for the Premier Inn on Bath Road.
You can't really complain at that price though!
@@MattsPlanet Exactly! 😂
Wow, a bargain considering! The Westin at Denver International Airport charges 400 quid a night for the privilege of being onsite.
That's outrageous.... Presumably there's a "resort fee" added on top of that too???
Matt in intro: "If you'd like to see me attempt to eat my body weight in bacon.. stick around".
Proceeds to have 2 rashers of bacon.
I really wasn't that hungry when I woke up!! I got through what I had on my plate but that was a struggle!!!!
We've stayed here before and its a good reliable "Heathrow Hotel" ticks the boxes ideally, How do you find this T4 Premier Inn against the T2/T3 Premier Inn on the Bath Road? Guess you'll potentially be doing the Terminal 5 Premier Inn a short walk from the Thistle to complete the set?
-Tyler
The Bath Road PI felt more like a holiday camp than the T4 one did! At the time the Bath Road one didn't have the plus rooms so it wasn't a great comparison. And T5 one is on the list but I think others are closer to the top!!!
The PI T5 rooms weren't great when I last stayed there in 2021. PI T4 is much superior.
we normaly fly from t5 and use the renaissance hotel its ok for the night have you stayed there matt also the sofitel thats ok but about £180 for the night very steep have you stayed there hope you are feeling well
Not tried the renaissance but it's on the list... £180 is a lot though!!!
This is my go to Heathrow hotel especially since they got rid of the free buses in the travel zone since the you know what 😂
And the hoppa is awful! A few minutes brisk walking before a flight is a great idea anyway!
Having stayed there, I generally agree with the review. One caveat, phone signal/WiFi, it could have just been my network (Three) but the signal in my room was awful (and outside the building too). Unfortunately, Premier Inn has terrible WiFi at the best of times, free is ~3/4 of a mbit and Premium ~6 mbits (from my checking at several hotels). However, even worse than a normal Premier Inn, the WiFi signal was barely there and frequently became unusable, the worse signal of any Premier Inn I've stayed at. I ate at the restaurant and was overcharged, but I couldn't be bothered arguing over £10 after nearly 30 hours of travelling. Premier Inns are generally, Ok, I wheeled my luggage trolley into my room as I had 2 large suitcases, a backpack, a boot on my broken leg and two crutches, you wouldn't be able to do that at an Ibis Budget. They were running a check-in at that mini-booth you walked past to go to the lifts, seemed to work ok but quickly created a large queue as people came off the walkway.
I'm with Vodafone and had no issues with the mobile network but I got about 4 mbits through the premium WiFi which is poor!
Bayliss and Harding toiletries are a “luxury brand” according to Premier Inn? LOL. It’s about £1.50 in Asda.
I clearly know nothing about handwash brands!!!! Which is not a terrible thing to know very little about, on reflection!!!
Surprise they don't give a discount for pre booking breakfast...I would be far more tempted at a discount as opposed to the same price as on the day ...
Indeed - I was expecting it to be more on the day. If I hadn't been videoing I probably would have skipped it but wanted to show it on the channel!
@MattsPlanet Tbf it's not the worse in the world but it's on par with some pub chain breakfasts which are £8 or so really need to have a fill breakfast, a coffee and a juice to probably break even.
Tis Matt. Must be a Sunday... 🎉 I stayed there a couple of months ago for a very few hours. The check-in process was not working then either and, half an hour later I told them I'd forgo the room key if they'd just open my door, pretty please? Which they duly did.
Crack o'sparrows the following, I discovered the only real gotcha. I'd woken to take the first train to T5, but the lifts in T4 were still not unlocked, causing a bunch of trepid explorers to fan out in an attempt to discover an alternate route into to bowels of London. I regret I only ever saw one of them again, and fear the rest may be doomed to sail the T4 Marie Celeste for eternity. The only guy around at that time responded in true British fashion "I dunno mate". Ah, Blighted, don't ya just love her?
It's the blitz spirit! Not synching with the trains is a bit daft!
I got a cold now 😭
Not been a good weekend for you!
@@MattsPlanet ye im getting better tho
I would not call Baylis & Harding a “luxury brand” considering you can buy it for £1.69 at Boots.
That's amazing!!! I wouldn't be able to distinguish luxury from dross anyway!
I did the T4-T5-T4 shuffle a number of times over a combination of options shortly before I met you in BKK, and my final vote was for the free H30 bus over the tube and/or Elizabeth line/Heathrow Express combo, but you do need to acquaint yourself with the timetable, and where the bus stands are at T5 and T4. Sitting around at Hatton Cross wating for the right train is never much fun.
I was departing from T5 and arriving back into T4, and my car was parked up at the T4 short stay for the duration of my trip. I stayed at the T4 Crowne Plaza which is along the same alley way from T4 although about half way down before you get to the Premier Inn. Walking up and down that alley way is quite a drag. The T5 Sofitel was booked up which tipped my decision in favour of staying at T4 rather than T5.
The cost and hassle of getting over to off-airport hotels at LHR is a big determinant for my choice of hotel. The lack of dedicated buses for nearby off-airport properties is the reason I've never bothered with those. The Hoppa bus is hugely overpriced and is slow, stopping at many properties. The local buses are no longer free, not great if you have baggage, and don't drop off at the property. My end game would be a cab in these circumstances. Thus, I prefer to stay somewhere close to a convenient tube or overground line, which usually means in town, and thus decent options for nosh.
All good points. Not found the perfect LHR hotel yet but I'll keep looking! The Sofitel is probably the best but you pay for that convenience
I laughed when I saw this because I recently stayed in the room right next to yours. If you were there at the same time and had a wild all-night party then I didn't hear it as the soundproofing is excellent. I stay at this hotel very regularly for work purposes, which include being handy for LHR and it's useful for commuting to any office in SW London. Outside, the 482 and 490 buses come from T5 in 15 minutes and go on to Hatton Cross for the Tube. The 490 goes on to Feltham station in 15 minutes for South West Trains. I have stayed at the hotel often enough to know it is not perfect. There is no orange juice at breakfast time for "supply reasons" and it can be irritating when dazed and dopey holidaymakers get in the way when you are trying to toast some bread. The restaurant seating can be very far away from the buffet counters, always half way to T5 it seems. I haven't dined in a PI since the You Know What led to a downgraded dinner service. For all that, it is one of the best value PIs you will find anywhere in London and the transport connections aren't bad. No need to faff around with trains to and from T4, the public buses are fine. The Premier Plus rooms are fantastic: I've spent a lot more for inferior rooms at Hilton and Marriott. I just wish there was a safe in the rooms and the mobile signal wasn't a bit spotty depending on the room. If you want something really good to eat and you can hack 25 minutes on the 490 bus, there is a great Italian restaurant called Da Alfredo in Twickenham. The 490 bus stops are right next to it.
Fantastic! Thanks for that - I should have mentioned the buses in the video but didn't actually use them this trip - I do like a bus though! And for the price, you really can't complain, even without OJ!
I have stayed here earlier this year ahead of a relatively early flight from T5. I paid around £40 for a standard room which I thought was a bargain, and was significantly cheaper than the Thistle for the same night. I didn't find the transfer to T5 too painful, though the Elizabeth line was running smoothly for me.
£40 is excellent! And if the trains are working it can be very easy
Hi Matt,
Hope you are well. Thank you for your video, and thank you for calling that.....thing on the wall art!😂
This looks like a very clean, very basic, but very good choice if one needs an overnight stay at LHR T4.
As always, thanks a million for your video,
Stay well
Thomas
All good here thanks mate. Art is very subjective!!!
The one thing that spoils many Premier Inn hotels for me, is that STUPID fixed "rain" shower. There's nothing clever or cool about it. You cannot easily remove the soap from your inner thighs, bollox and bum, unless you have a directable shower head.
A Bum Jet is absolutely essential in a hotel bathroom ! Price is not an arbiter here. Expensive hotels can make the same mistake.
Well put, sir!!! I am now fairly confident you are a sir!!!
@@MattsPlanet Well I'm a cat really, but yes, I'm a male cat. My bath brush has a special adaptor for paws.
Bayliss & Harding is a cheap-n-nasty clone of the respectable Molton Brown brand, with remarkable similar shape and design packaging. The sort of thing certain people will buy relatives for Christmas, over-packaged and bought from Asda or similar. Premium brand it is not.
I've been educated! Thanks - premier inn take note!!