London Hotel Help!

[SisterA]

Wondering if anyone can help - I’m looking for a hotel for one night in February for a family of 4 (2 kids ages 5 and 1.5).

we are travelling into Heathrow and out of Gatwick the next day. Flight in is early and flight out next day 1pm so ideally somewhere we can drop luggage off early before check in opens? I’d imagine many hotels in London would be happy to do this but I just am not sure where to look. I suppose we’ll want somewhere with easy transport links to Gatwick airport ideally.

not quite sure where to start! I’m not sure of budget - can be flexible but would prefer a book now pay later situation.

Most hotels have luggage storage facilities, even Premier Inn etc. If you what to stay in Central London I'd book around Victoria so it's easy to transfer to Gatwick the next day.

Do you need to go into London to stay? Or am I reading you wrong and this is a trip to London?

We do have a full day so would like to use it to explore London with the kids and make the most of it as it’s a rare occurrence. We get in around 9am and then don’t leave until 1pm the next day so we’ve got time to kick off our holidays with a mega day in London (and tire out my children before a long haul flight the next day… wishful thinking)

I will have a look at Victoria area!

Any of the Premier Inn's. You'll get the kids breakfast for free if you buy breakfast. You could also stay near Kings Cross St Pancreas as trains go to Gatwick from St Pancreas.

There is a big Premier Inn right next to Victoria - if you book that, you'll have access to all of central London on your doorstep and then can jump on the gatwick express the next day.

To get there from Heathrow you can take the heathrow express to paddington, then get the circle line round to Victoria.

For easy access to Gatwick I'd book near London Bridge or Victoria as this is where the trans depart from and both are really central for sightseeing on your doorstep. I'm sure the hotel will take your luggage early but if not I know Victoria Station has a luggage storage service if you need it. London Bridge might too.

Don't waste your money on the Heathrow express if you choose to get the train to Paddington get the Elizabeth line!

Or get the Piccadilly line to green park then either walk or jump on the 38 bus to Victoria

Heathrow express is fast but so bloody expensive akin to a rip off.

An alternative way to go from Heathrow to Victoria is to get the Piccadilly line train to Barons Court then take the District line train to Victoria. It’s not step free access at Victoria though, there are steps.

I'm surprised the Heathrow Express is still in business tbh. 20 mins to Paddington from T5 v 34 on the Liz line, it's only a matter of time I think. It was a great seller when they could do it much faster than the alternative Piccadilly line, but not so much now.

We always stay at Brook Green Hotel in Hammersmith, such a hidden gem. It’s got superb transport links as it’s on multiple tube lines so fab for sightseeing and equally handy for both Heathrow and Gatwick - all you have to do is hop on the Piccadilly line to get there directly from Heathrow and then travelling to Gatwick get on the District line to catch the Gatwick Express at Victoria. We adore it and are on to our 5th visit!

They can accommodate kids either with interconnecting rooms or on request have provided our DC fold out beds for no extra cost which was very generous in this day and age! We always drop our luggage off before check in due to early flights and they happily store it for later. Payment is taken at the end of your stay which I quite like as well

Try a hotel near Farringdon station. That’s on the Train line from both Heathrow and Gatwick.