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Airport hotels and the night before: stay near the terminal or book an early car?
Whether to stay at a Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted or Luton hotel before an early flight, which hotels you can walk to the terminal from, and what a fixed-fare car from home at 4am costs instead.
Hotels you can walk from
Heathrow: Sofitel (T5), Hilton Garden Inn and Aerotel inside T2/T4 areas; Gatwick: Bloc, YOTELAIR and Hilton at South Terminal, Premier Inn North; Stansted: Radisson Blu; Luton: Courtyard by Marriott is a short walk. Everything else needs a shuttle bus, which may not run early enough.
Night-before car or hotel?
A hotel plus a shuttle is worth it for flights before 6am from far away. From London, Kent or Surrey a fixed-fare car at 3-4am is often cheaper than a room and lets you sleep at home. We confirm the driver by text the evening before.
After a late landing
If you land after midnight, a hotel by the terminal and a car the next morning avoids a 2am journey; the guides below list the options at each airport.
What a fixed-fare car costs
| Destination | Heathrow saloon / 8-seater | Gatwick saloon / 8-seater | Stansted saloon / 8-seater | Luton saloon / 8-seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central London | £85 / £145 | £107 / £167 | £121 / £181 | £113 / £173 |
| Canary Wharf | £85 / £145 | £90 / £150 | £104 / £164 | £99 / £159 |
| Richmond | £85 / £145 | £93 / £153 | £114 / £174 | £103 / £163 |
Fixed fares from our live rate card, per vehicle one way, tolls and airport charges included; exact fare confirmed before you pay. Christmas & New Year airport taxis · Book now
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Further reading
- Heathrow hotels guide (Rushxo)
- Gatwick hotels guide (Rushxo)
- Southampton cruise port hotels the night before (Woodford Chauffeur Cars)
- Pre-cruise stopover: Winchester, New Forest, Stonehenge (Woodford Chauffeur Cars)
More travel help from Get London Transfer
- Left Luggage & Cloakrooms at London Airports
- Airport Check-in, Security & Timing Guide
- UK Immigration, eGates & Airport Security Explained
- SIM Cards, eSIMs & Mobile Data for UK Visitors
- Things to See and Do at Christmas & New Year
- Christmas Dinner & Festive Restaurants by Taxi
- Taxi vs Train vs Coach from London Airports
- Airport Parking vs Taxi: Christmas Costs Compared
- Christmas & New Year airport taxis
Updated October 2026. Operated by Get London Transfer Ltd, TfL private hire operator licence 11588.