We have stayed at many of the leading hotels in the Heathrow airport area on our previous travels but I would rate the Sofitel London Heathrow as one of the very best, especially if you are travelling with children. Let me tell you why.
One of the reasons why we chose the Sofitel Heathrow is because of its location. It’s the only hotel directly connected to Heathrow Terminal 5 – the main terminal used by British Airways.
If you have an early morning flight the hotel’s location is super convenient and no more than a 5 minute walk straight into Terminal 5 through covered walkways. You could also stay here if you are travelling from Terminals 2 and 3 as they are easily accessible from Terminal 5 using the Heathrow Express.
The Sofitel also has its own secure on-site underground car park and their park and fly package is often better value than the official Heathrow airport premium car parking options such as short stay and valet parking.
As we were arriving into Heathrow by car, being able to park at the hotel and not having the hassle of moving our car to another car park early in the morning or having to take a hoppa bus to get into the airport terminal was so convenient
Because of the pandemic it has been a few years since we were last here at the Sofitel so we were keen to find out if it was as good as we remembered, so with an early morning flight to Paris we decided to try it out
The Sofitel is not your typical airport hotel, this 5 star hotel has an ambience that oozes luxury. As you would expect from a hotel of this standard, it was superior in terms of its rooms, service, location and facilities and more importantly was very welcoming to families.
The lobby here is just as impressive as I remember with modern and contemporary décor. Once we were inside, we felt instantly removed from the noisy hectic surroundings of Heathrow and surrounded by a calm and chic interior design.
After a long drive along the M4 to Heathrow, it was so refreshing that the check in process was very quick and efficient and within minutes we were handed the keys to our rooms and we were looking forward to see our home for the night.
This is a big hotel with 605 rooms spread across six wings which link off the central spine of the property. The hotel has all the facilities you’d want and more for an airport hotel – a gym, a plethora of bars and restaurants, a gift shop and tea lovers will enjoy tea from around the globe at their Tea Salon, and most of these are accessed off the main lobby area.
What had changed since our last visit was the removal of the dedicated British Airways check-in and back drop desks that were in the lobby of the hotel. When we travelled to Texas having the ability to check in our luggage at the Sofitel and skip the lines at the terminal was so convenient and I hope they bring this service back. There is also a spa here which looks impressive with a hydrotherapy vitality pool, sauna and steam room, but unfortunately we didn’t have enough time on this stay to enjoy this.
For families there are a range of room options available at the Sofitel, on previous visits we have stayed in their interconnecting rooms but this time we were upgraded into one of their most luxurious rooms, a prestige suite.
We were impressed with the interconnecting rooms at the Sofitel but the suites offer an even higher level of luxury and comfort – perfect for an overnight stay before a flight. The room was spacious with a separate living area, master bedroom and a large entrance hall to the room which had a small toilet and washroom located off it.
Some reviews mention that the rooms are starting to look dated in its décor with a strong dark wood theme but I like the rooms here, they are well maintained and spotlessly clean.
Our room contained all the facilities you’d expect in this standard of hotel – evening turn down, two large flat screen TVs, complimentary high speed WiFi, air conditioning, Nespresso machine and a selection of magazines.
Luxury and suite rooms like ours also have other benefits including bathrobes, slippers, complimentary mineral water and more importantly lounge access.
Added perks to your stay include complementary afternoon tea, evening drinks and canapes and breakfast the next morning. These savings typically more than cover the upgrade cost. We quickly settled in and made our way to the afternoon tea service in the lounge.
Afternoon Tea is served between 3pm – 5pm with a selection of teas, coffees, soft drinks and a choice of freshly made sandwiches, cookies, cakes, scones and jam to choose from.
The girls really loved it here as did my husband and I as it is such a relaxing way to begin our stay – the Club Millesime executive lounge at Sofitel was just as good as I remembered. It’s a huge space, with great service and still remains as one of the best lounges that we have been to at the Heathrow hotels.
One of my favourite parts of staying here at the Sofitel Heathrow are their beds, they are super comfortable with a thick duvet and huge pillows and will be one of the most luxurious beds that you will sleep in at an airport hotel.
The soundproofing of the rooms is superb with triple glazed windows, so even with our room overlooking the runway we didn’t hear any aircraft noise and together with the blackout curtains we all slept wonderfully and were well-rested for our flight the next morning.
The bathrooms in our room were as just as impressive as the rest of the room. The lavish bathroom had a large walk-in shower, separate bath complete with its own television (a bonus of staying in the luxury rooms and designer toiletries from Balmain.
We didn’t eat breakfast this time at the Sofitel given our early start and opted for breakfast in the the BA lounge after check in. However, I popped in to have a look at what was on offer at breakfast and their buffet looked as good as what we have enjoyed here on previous visits.
Overall and is it family friendly?
Definitely, from the moment we arrived, the whole family was taken care of. The level of service received during our stay was exceptional and this high level of customer service is a credit to the hotel management because it really does make a difference to your stay.
If you are looking for the best airport hotel to stay at in Heathrow airport if you are travelling from T5, you won’t be disappointed with the Sofitel Heathrow Airport Terminal 5. We highly recommend it, the convenience of being within walking distance to T5 and flawless service justifies its five star rating and pricing.
Ready to book?
Prices at the Sofitel London Heathrow are more expensive than other hotels close to Heathrow, but if you can get a good rate it really is worth every penny. Rooms start from £156 for a classic room.