Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow Airport review: “AvGeek Manor” would have been a better name IMHO
After a recent one night stay at the Hilton Garden Inn at Heathrow Airport (Terminals 2 and 3), I’m convinced that they made a mistake in naming this place.
Of course it’s extremely convenient. Especially if you’re flying in or out of Terminal 2.
What they didn’t tell you is that this is probably one of the best plane spotting hotels in the UK. Something more like “Hilton AvGeek Manor” would have been more appropriate IMHO. Especially considering that I didn’t even see a single weed (let alone an entire garden) during my visit.
Location
This Hilton Garden Inn is located directly across from Terminal 2. You do have to go outside to reach it, but it’s a covered walk through a parking garage.
Those of you coming from Terminal 3 can expect a 10 to 15 minute walk. Reaching it will require walking through a series of underground tunnels. At least everything is clearly marked.
The lobby (and checking in)
There will be no mistaking this for a Hilton Garden Inn the moment you step into the lobby. Of course it’s nice, clean, and brightly lit. But fancy it is not. Those of you who stayed the previous night at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge may feel your sphincter clenching as you approach the reception desk. Don’t worry. This is normal.
Checking in was fast and easy. There was only one person ahead of me when I arrived, but I had my room key in hand in less than five minutes.
It’s also worth noting that there is food and drink available for purchase in the lobby. Even though it’s just a self service kiosk featuring light snack snacks, I found it to be a convenient place to load up on bottled water.
Getting to my room
The elevators are located just 100 feet from the reception desk. I was highly appreciative of this given how heavy my backpack was with all that freshly-obtained bottled water. I mean, when they straight up tell you during the check-in process that bottled water isn’t included, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Room overview
I booked a room on a high floor with one goal in mind: to have a killer view of the airport. I’ll show you that view in a moment, but first we need to have a look at the room. It was OK. Nothing fancy. Because airport Hilton.
Not going to lie, this room felt a bit small to me. Perhaps it was because I had spent the previous night in a large suite at the Premier Inn at London County Hall? To be fair to Hilton, I probably should’ve managed my expectations better.
The view
It goes without saying that I recommend paying extra for a top floor room. You’ll have an excellent view of everything (terminals, runways, and taxiways) by doing so. And because Heathrow Airport is active 24/7, good luck getting any sleep even if you’re only slightly interested in watching airplanes.
The bathroom
The bathroom was everything that I needed it to be. It was bright, super clean, super easy to wipe down after getting water splashed everywhere, and perfectly sized. I’m not a fan of the half shower door thing, but I did appreciate the decently strong water pressure.
Pros and cons
This hotel is going to be extremely convenient if you need quick and easy access to Terminal 2. I think it was a bit of a stretch to call this a “Terminal 3” hotel though, as it’s a bit of a walk to and from there.
Pros
- It’s basically plane spotters paradise. At least if you get a top floor room.
- Despite being located right next to the runways, they did a really good job soundproofing the windows. It’s quiet.
- It’s a quick and easy walk over to Terminal 2 to grab food and drink drinks from one of the many cafés and minimarts.
Cons
- Having to navigate a very busy parking garage to reach this hotel from T2 may be hazardous to your health. I mean, good luck not getting mowed down by overstressed rideshare drivers.
- The convenience of being located so close to the airport comes with a cost. It’s a bit pricey compared to hotels located just off airport property.
