Hotel of the Week: Hilton London Gatwick Airport
I’m not an early riser so when I realised my flight to last weekend’s Advantage Conference in Bodrum was at 7am from Gatwick, meaning I’d have to leave home at 4.30am, I decided to spend the night before at the airport so I could get an extra half an hour in bed.
The Hilton London Gatwick Airport is right next to the South Terminal, making it one of the best places to stay if you want to max out on sleep the night before an early flight.
I was a little worried after reading some of the hotel’s reviews on TripAdvisor, with some past guests warning that they’d been kept awake by noise from the corridors and others complaining that the staff were rude and the rooms dirty, but I needn’t have worried.
The first thing I noticed when I rode the escalator to the reception was the delicious smell of fresh apples, which pervaded throughout the hotel. It was unusual and designed, no doubt, to put guests in a holiday mood.
The reception, located in a large lobby area, was busy, but I was checked in within a couple of minutes by a cheery member of staff who gave me directions to my room and explained where and when I could get breakfast, served from 5.30am.
I was given an Executive Room on the fourth floor, which was spacious with a double bed, ottoman, a desk and flat screen TV. Most importantly, it was spotlessly clean and blissfully quiet. I heard one plane taking off, one couple laughing in the corridor outside at around 10pm, but aside from that, nothing.
The mosaic-tiled bathroom was positively gleaming. It had a roomy, walk-in shower and a separate bath and was stocked with Peter Thomas Roth products.
Dining options are more extensive than at many airport hotels. You can get bar snacks at Amy’s or Charlie Fry Sports bar, both of which are open till late, or dine a la carte at Amy’s restaurant or go for the buffet option in the Garden Restaurant.
The Hilton also offers 24-hour room service. Having already eaten before I left home, I only glanced at the room service menu in the interests of research and found it had a reasonable choice, including burgers, pastas, salads and one or two deserts. Prices were a bit hefty, starting from around £9 for a sandwich, so if I’d been peckish I would probably have headed to Costa Coffee in the lobby, which is open from 5am to 7pm.
However, the fourth floor has its own executive lounge, which is a quiet space where those staying in Executive Rooms can get complimentary drinks, plus complimentary breakfast from 6am and canapes from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. I popped in for a night cap and found it was a little bright for my taste and lacking in atmosphere, but a member of staff quickly whipped me up a hot chocolate, so I was happy.
The next morning, after a reasonably good, undisturbed night’s sleep, it took me only about five minutes to go from my bedroom to the airport check in desk, which made for a unhurried, stress-free start to what was bound to be a busy weekend ahead.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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