Accessibility. No lifts, so rooms above the ground floor are reached by stairs. Contact the hotel for further information.
Thistle Heathrow Terminal 5 is a basic 3-star hotel on Bath Road near T5. Rooms typically run £55 to £90 a night. Terminal 5 is 6 minutes away on the 423 bus and Terminal 2 is 18 minutes on the U3 bus. Terminal 4 takes about 22 minutes on the Elizabeth line then U3 bus. It suits travellers flying from Terminal 5 who like plane spotting.
The review
The Thistle is one of Heathrow’s more characterful options at the budget end. It is a 3-star property with basic, functional rooms and rates that regularly come in under £100 a night. What makes it stand out is the Aviator Restaurant terrace overlooking the northern runway, which is genuinely worth a visit, particularly when runway 09L is in use for landing. The POD shuttle link to Terminal 5 is unique to this hotel and takes five minutes, though it costs £8.75 per person on top of your room rate. The rooms are dated, there is no gym, no wellness facilities and no lifts anywhere in the building. Eyes open on that last point if you have heavy luggage.
Located on the western side of Heathrow Airport overlooking the 09L touch down zone, with direct access to Terminal 5 via the POD shuttle system.
The Thistle Heathrow T5 is a 3-star hotel with 266 rooms offering convenient access to Terminal 5. Rooms are simple but functional, with free WiFi and essentials for overnight stays. The hotel also features an on-site restaurant, bar and terrace overlooking the northern runway. They offer ‘stay, park and fly’ deals.
Rooms are typically in the £55 to £90 range per night. With short notice, rates can be much higher.
Who is this hotel best for?
- Budget-conscious travellers flying from T5 who want an on-airport location without paying Sofitel prices.
- Aviation enthusiasts who will appreciate the runway views from the Aviator terrace.
- Drivers who need short-stay parking with a straightforward stay and fly option.
- Not suitable for anyone with mobility issues or heavy luggage given the absence of lifts.
- Not the right choice if you want modern rooms, a gym or any wellness facilities.
Summary
The Thistle offers a solid no-frills stay with the unique advantage of POD access to Terminal 5. Best suited to travellers on a budget.
Gallery
Getting to and from terminals
Choose your terminal and direction. Click the red bus stop icons for directions via Google Maps.
The rooms
- Rooms come in Double, King, Twin, Family and Deluxe categories, with up to four occupants in some room types.
- All include free WiFi, air conditioning and tea/coffee facilities.
- Some rooms have a mini fridge.
- Bathrooms are compact but functional.
Food and drink
- The Runway View Restaurant and Bar serves British classics and pub style fare with direct views of aircraft. Breakfast is available from 06:00. Room service is available from 14:30 to 22:00. No fitness or spa facilities.
- The White Horse pub is either one stop on the 423 bus or just under a 10 minute walk.
Hotel location
Places nearby
Pubs, restaurants, shops and fuel within reach of the hotel. Times are approximate and taken from our own visits. Tap Website for the establishment or Map for directions. Where we have written a review of our own there is a link to it.
Worth knowing
Check in and out
Check in from 15:00. Check out by 11:00.
Getting to Terminal 5
The 423 bus stops directly outside the hotel (Stop J). Get off at Stop 6 at T5. Journey time 6 minutes, cost £1.75. The POD shuttle takes 5 minutes but costs £8.75 per person per journey. It runs 04:00 to 00:15 daily. A separate means of contactless payment is required for each bus passenger.
No lifts in the building
The hotel does not have any lifts. If you have heavy luggage or mobility requirements, plan accordingly.
