Hyatt Place London Heathrow Airport

Housed in a nondescript building with a white façade and green windows, the mid-range Heathrow Hotel Bath Road caters to those traveling through London’s busiest airport. Throughout, the property is a little dated and uninspired, as evidenced by the mix of older and updated features found in common spaces. The lobby is spacious and bright, with white walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, a curved wood front desk, and a contemporary wiry lamp. But tan floors with black borders, plus a small seating area with blue hospitality-style carpeting and generic furniture are passé. To the left of the front desk is a small shop selling souvenirs, postcards, snacks, and bottled water. Adjacent to it is the hotel’s restaurant and bar, which has a fresh feel with wooden floors, contemporary furniture, brown accent walls, and chocolate and grey chairs. This property caters mostly to business travelers and leisure travelers that are in transit, including families.

The hotel is located within the grounds of Heathrow, London’s busiest airport. There are one or two casual restaurants and a couple of office buildings down the road, but little else can be found within easy walking distance. A free public bus to all terminals and the airport’s tube station stops right outside the hotel. Although the bus ride to the airport takes about 15 minutes in normal driving conditions, some guests prefer to take a cab, which is just slightly faster, but perhaps easier with luggage. Central London is about 75 minutes away by public transport. 

This hotel has 350 rooms, all spacious and clean but also somewhat dated and uninspired, with basic carpeting, generic wooden furniture, and a subdued beige palette. In-room amenities, however, are a notch above many other mid-range hotels in London and include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, safes large enough for a laptop, air-conditioning, electric kettles, and a few Gilchrist and Soames toiletries. Despite the hotel’s location right across the street from one of the runways, all rooms have triple-glazed windows, which allow for surprisingly quiet nights. Walls are mostly bare. Bathrooms are basic but clean, with white tiles, black granite countertops, and shower/tub combos with white fabric curtains. Premier Rooms have a little more space and more attention to decor, including wine-colored accent walls, burgundy and beige flowery drapes, and a few matching accent pillows on the bed. Additionally, these rooms offer perks such as runway views, free continental breakfast, and robes. Family Rooms have a queen bed and two twins, and the hotel’s only Suite features a small living area, a lofted bedroom, and a large bathroom with a separate shower and jetted tub.

Smith’s Grill serves breakfast and a decent international menu in a contemporary dining room with wooden floors and large windows. The adjacent bar has a small lounge area and a daily happy hour complete with cocktails, beers, and snacks. A windowless fitness center features an array of cardio and strength-training machines, as well as free weights, Pilates balls, and a small stretching area. The hotel also offers Wi-Fi throughout, has seven meeting rooms with audiovisual equipment, and a business center with two computers and a printer. A machine in the lobby sells tickets to the Hoppa Bus, connecting nearby airport hotels to the terminals, but a free public bus stops right outside the property and has a similar route. On-site parking is available for a daily fee.